Sheltered in His Arms

As I'm sitting outside, under the covered porch, protected while it's pouring down rain, I make the connection... Just as the storms of life are currently raging around us, on so many levels, there's protection in the shelter of His presence. That intimate place of communion with God is called the Secret Place in the Bible. It's a place that when you place all your attention on Jesus, no doubt, fear or unbelief can penetrate it! The more time is spent there, the more flesh is shed and your view of God and His goodness and love toward you becomes less clouded and more understood. 

You must come to a place that you realize you are deeply, deeply loved! That knowledge can only be experienced in a committed relationship with Christ. I know some of you have expressed that you don't comprehend my faith in the midst of bad news and seemingly negative situations. It's easy to trust someone you know intimately and have no doubt that they love you and would do anything in their power for you. Especially if their ability to change your situation is limitless! Our God is a good Father and as a good Father there's many things He wants to teach us as we grow in our knowledge of Him. So, trials may come, tests may stretch us, but if we continue to worship Him and give Him praise... not to manipulate His hand, but to touch His heart, He reaches out and supplies every need and comforts us with peace while we are waiting.

It's not about coming to God with our expectations and demands, though He does say if we don't have, it's because we are not asking. Prayer is coming to Him with our needs and expecting by faith a good outcome, but that's not what this devotion is about. Abiding in His protective shelter is where we surrender our lives, give Him every area and adore Him no matter what is going on around us. Our praise can not be conditional to our circumstances. He deserves the highest praise even in the midst of the lowest and most difficult seasons. Let's face it, what He's already done in sacrificing His only begotten Son, in exchange for our depravity and sin, effectively allowing us to have a relationship with Him and eternity in heaven...is worthy of a lifetime of praise, even if He never did another thing.

Stop looking for the blessing before you'll worship the King of kings, but give Him the honor He deserves and the blessings will follow. Don't allow that to be your motivation... simply love on Him because your heart desires to bless Him... Not feeling it? Then you just haven't spent enough time getting to know the Lover of your soul. Start today! It's so worth it and it's the only path to a lifestyle of peace and fulfillment, no matter what life throws at you!

HALLELUJAH! He's such a good Father! My heart is full and I'm amazed at His goodness... even in the storm! Ha! I'm not feeling the rain in the shelter of His strong arms!!

By the time I finished this devotion, the sun was shining bright...hmmm...I could write another devotion about that!

Matthew 6:33-34 (TPT) “So above all, constantly chase after the realm of God’s kingdom and the righteousness that proceeds from Him. Then all these less important things will be given to you abundantly. Refuse to worry about tomorrow, but deal with each challenge that comes your way, one day at a time. Tomorrow will take care of itself.”

Psalm 91:1 (NKJV) He who dwells in the Secret Place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

Psalm 91:2-7 (TPT) He’s the hope that holds me and the Stronghold to shelter me, the only God for me, and my great confidence. He will rescue you from every hidden trap of the enemy, and He will protect you from false accusation and any deadly curse. His massive arms are wrapped around you, protecting you. You can run under His covering of majesty and hide. His arms of faithfulness are a shield keeping you from harm. You will never worry about an attack of demonic forces at night nor have to fear a spirit of darkness coming against you. Don’t fear a thing! Whether by night or by day, demonic danger will not trouble you, nor will the powers of evil launched against you. Even in a time of disaster, with thousands and thousands being killed, you will remain unscathed and unharmed.

1 John 4:7-9 (TPT) Those who are loved by God, let his love continually pour from you to one another, because God is love. Everyone who loves is fathered by God and experiences an intimate knowledge of Him.The one who doesn’t love has yet to know God, for God is love. The light of God’s love shined within us when he sent His matchless Son into the world so that we might live through Him.

Psalm 31:20-22 (TPT) So hide all your beloved ones in the sheltered, secret place before your face. Overshadow them by your glory-presence. Keep them from these accusations, the brutal insults of evil men. Tuck them safely away in the tabernacle where you dwell. The name of the Lord is blessed and lifted high! For His marvelous miracle of mercy protected me when I was overwhelmed by my enemies. I spoke hastily when I said, “The Lord has deserted me.” For in truth, you did hear my prayer and came to rescue me.