Most people have a Happy Place.
That one place on earth that makes them feel free, happy and safe. A place in
nature, the mall, at home, a favorite restaurant, the back pew at the church
facilities, etc.
Destruction can wipe out these
natural places, however. They are illusive at best. Contrarily, if we find our
Happy Place in the presence of God, it will never be destroyed. It goes with us
wherever we go and no one can take it away from us.
Our Hiding Place in God preserves
us from trouble. God comforts us with songs of deliverance in our spirit (Psalm
32:7). He keeps us safe as our shield, as we hope in His Word (Psalm 119:114).
His presence is a shelter and
shade from the struggles and stresses which parch us, and a refuge from the
storms of life (Isaiah 4:6). God shelters us from the tempests and gives us the
refreshment of the waterfalls of His love and contentment during dry spells
(Isaiah 32:2).
When disasters destroy our
habitat and water floods our natural hiding place, He offers us the plumb line
of righteousness and the measuring stick of His justice to help us to rebuild on
the foundation of Christ in our life (Isaiah 28:17).
We hope in the promises of His
Word and wait on His instructions when darkness surrounds us on every side
(Psalm 18:11, 119:114). His presence provides us with a constant secluded place
to keep us safe (1 Samuel 19:2).
Prayer:
Father God, remind us that Satan
will hide as a lion in his lair in order to catch the afflicted, many of whom
he wounded from his constant assaults on their life (Psalm 10:9). He lies to us
and we believe his corruption. Yet, You provide us with a hiding place from the
destroyer (Isaiah 16:4).
At times, You will even use
people to present us with a hiding place from life's discouragements and
insecurity (Deuteronomy 32:38). Yet, more often than not, if we look to the
natural world, we trust in a lie for our safety and wellbeing (Isaiah 28:15).
Keep us ever mindful of Your love, surround us with Your angels, and shower us
with your blessings in the midst of this dry and desert land.
Thought for the Day:
If we hide the light of Christ
within us, we fail to shine His saving grace to the world around us; so let us
represent a city on a hill with a promise of a true and secure Hiding Place, as
we offer solace to those God brings into our life (Luke 11:33).
