My Hiding Place

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).

 

Defeating Satan

Read: 1 Peter 5:8-11

“Keep your mind clear, and be alert. Your opponent the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion as he looks for someone to devour.” - 1 Peter 5:8

Sometimes, we have momentary lapses in judgment when we follow the advise of our flesh or Satan’s influence and we rebel, steal, lie, hurt someone, etc. At other times, however, we unwittingly open ourselves up to satanic oppression or possession.

Dabbling in satanic rituals, ouiga boards, seances, sorcery, witchcraft, fortune telling, horoscopes, wicca, tarat cards, voodoo dolls, casting spells, using mystical powers, etc. opens the door of our life to Satan.

Christians who do these things will get oppressed by Satan and this will result in all kinds of entrenched rebellion, negative emotions, unforgiveness, physical illness and despotism. When we parents permit these sorts of things in our children’s lives, then we relinquish Godly authority over our children and hand them over to satanic forces. Non-Christians who do them may get demon possessed and go into Satan worship or worse.

God has equipped ALL Christians to overcome Satan's power. The Apostle Paul said that "the weapons of our warfare are not carnal (of a fleshly or earthly nature), but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds" (2 Cor. 10:4).

The Devil runs from submitted, yielded Christians."Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he WILL flee from you" (James 4:7). Resisting is done through prayer by the power of the Holy Spirit within us. God's power delivers us from satanic bondage, which we or our ancestors allowed into our life. I've seen the Holy Spirit set people free from the results of possession and oppression, which plagued them for years.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, help us to draw near to You and to stand against the wiles of the devil. Help us to walk in Your wisdom and discernment, so that Satan does not push aside our will and take control of our thoughts and actions.

Thought for the Day:

Over time Satan lulls our minds to the point where we call good evil and evil good just as the Bible says would happen in the end times.