Excerpts from a Journal - July 29, 2009

[George]

My refuge and my fortress. Psalm 91

"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the
shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the LORD, "My refuge and my
fortress, my God, in whom I trust." For he will deliver you from the
snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you
with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his
faithfulness is a shield and buckler. You will not fear the terror of
the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that
stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday. A
thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but
it will not come near you. You will only look with your eyes and see
the recompense of the wicked. Because you have made the LORD your
dwelling place-- the Most High, who is my refuge-- no evil shall be
allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent." Psalm 91:1-10

We are never completely isolated from troubles in this world. God's
will is to save us from sin, yet keep us on this earth along with all
of the evil that surrounds us. Yet in all things His faithfulness is a
shield (verse 46). God in His wisdom keeps us in a fallen world,
exposed to temptation, evil and wrong doing by others, disease, and
even our own failures. But in all things God protects us and show us
His kindness. But why?

Verse 14. provides the answer. "Because he holds fast to me in love, I
will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name." -
Psalm 91:14. In addition, verse 15 goes on to say "When he calls to
me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue
him and honor him." -Psalm 91:15.

Because the man of God and the woman of God (..hold fast to God in
love..) and because they (..know God's name..). when they call upon
the Lord, He will answer, He will be with them in times of trouble, He
will rescue and honor them. These are promises to those who hold fast
to God in love, and know His name.

The difficultly comes when in our flesh we don't see these things
happen. We panic, take control and act according to the flesh rather
than waiting on the spirit of God to work things out.

How do we oversome this? I think the role of a healthy church is key
to all of this. God ordained the church to be a community of His
people. What is the purpose of community? it can't be just about what
goes on Sunday monrning. This is were God's people must rally together
to reinforce the faith of brothers and sisters, provide comfort,
wisdom, healing and to be the visible hands of God and conduits of His
love.

To God Alone be the Glory, Amen.