An urgent message was sent to me. I ask you to pray for these friends in the Ukraine:
"The Russians are attacking the south of Ukraine. Please pray in earnest as the many Lutherans in that area are trying to escape today. Our Romanian helpers are working with them. Many roads are destroyed and the others are dangerous. Please also pray for the Romanian Lutherans who are risking their own life to help. “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Linda Phillips, Helping Hands Eastern European Ministries"
"The Russians are attacking the south of Ukraine. Please pray in earnest as the many Lutherans in that area are trying to escape today. Our Romanian helpers are working with them. Many roads are destroyed and the others are dangerous. Please also pray for the Romanian Lutherans who are risking their own life to help. “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Linda Phillips, Helping Hands Eastern European Ministries"
“For you shall not go out in haste, and you shall not go in flight, for the LORD will go before you, and the God of Israel will be your rear guard.” (Isaiah 52:12, ESV)
My son donned his bicycle helmet. The training wheels had just come off. He was very nervous. This would be his first bicycle ride without the comfort and safety of the training wheels. As we stood together in the parking lot, I saw his trepidation. I knew he doubted what would happen. All kinds of scenarios were running through his head of crashing, falling, scraping his knee, or breaking his arm. To comfort him, I said, “I’ll get you going at the speed where you will be able to ride. I’ll run beside you. I’ve got your back!” A few seconds later, we were on our way, me holding on to his seat, then running beside him. With a big smile, and excitement written all over his face, he took his first real ride on his bicycle!
It's easier to do new things, challenging things, dangerous things, when you know a great supporter has your back! Soldiers going to war know that having a competent and trustworthy friend in the trench brings much comfort. A firefighter entering a burning house has greater confidence because of the trained men and women ready to jump in to help or pull him out of a burning building should something go wrong. Test pilots can focus on their experimental flights because of the engineers and rescue personnel who are in place. A mother is put at ease by the words of a trusted doctor. He is the best around. Her son will be in good hands in that operating room. Competent and trusted people who have your back bring great comfort and support and encouragement and so much more.
Today’s scripture mentions that for the faithful fulfilling God’s plan in life, God also is a great source of strength. If you are willing to follow God’s leading, God will have your back! Isaiah 52:12 is a statement by the prophet Isaiah to the people of Israel who were trying to recover from war and exile. His words were meant to bring comfort and hope to their arduous work. Jerusalem was in shambles. The temple was in ruin. The Babylonian armies had destroyed even the walls of the city. But less than fifty years after that war, God was bringing the people back home to rebuild. The people had suffered enough for their sins. Now was the time to rebuild. Despite all the obstacles before them, the prophet’s words brought hope. God had their back. In the words of Isaiah 52:12, “the God of Israel will be your rear guard.”
Isn’t it nice to know that when you follow God’s plan, God will watch your back? God will protect you in those times when you strike out on a new course. God will watch over you as you take on a new challenge. When you do God’s will, learn to trust in God’s protection. You are never alone when you do what God wants you to do! God doesn’t just set you off to fight your spiritual battles without support! When Satan decides to take you on, God will have your back! You can count on it!
In an interview after 9/11 bombing of the Pentagon in 2001, a man who lived through the destruction of his portion of the Pentagon building spoke to a reporter. The reporter was interested in what happened. Little did the reporter know that the man would share some amazing details of that day.
The reporter asked, “What happened to you just after the plane exploded upon impact at the Pentagon?"
The man responded, “The lights went out. Darkness enveloped me. Then, in that moment, I heard a whimper, like that of a dog. I knew it was the sound of someone in distress. I followed that sound, until I was blocked. The rubble was too deep. I could go no further. My mind was telling me to get away from the building, out of the burning wreckage. But, in that moment, I felt something so amazing, so real, like nothing I’ve ever felt before. I felt this hand upon my shoulder. I felt like God was behind me, leading me, guiding me through the wreckage. But I wasn’t going toward the light of freedom and escape. I was heading toward that whimper. I just knew God was sending me in to save that soul. I found her a few minutes later. She was buried alive, under office equipment and concrete rubble. She was bruised and bloody. Soot covered her face. Had she not whimpered, I wouldn’t have known she was there. Had God not led me her way, I never would have had the courage to get to her. I pulled her from the rubble. I carried her out of the building. I don’t know how I did that in all the smoke, hardly able to breathe, covered in blood, but I did.”
Some people are very surprised when God shows up to lead and guide and protect. You shouldn’t be surprised. You know God’s capabilities. You know God’s power. You know God has the back of the faithful, right?
Because you are a child of God, because you have made promises to Jesus, you never walk alone. You are a protected one. Proverbs 30:5 describes God as a “shield” of protection for “those who take refuge in HIM”. Hundreds of scriptures describe the many ways God provides for the needs of the faithful by guarding their way, directing their steps to safety, and providing for their needs. Your God is a natural protector. It is part of God’s character to watch the back of the faithful. God is your “rear guard” (Isaiah 52:12).
When Jesus’ life was in danger from King Herod, what did the angel say to Joseph? “Fear not!” Why did the angel begin with those words? God was not going to allow Herod to kill Mary and Joseph and the baby Jesus! God protected the holy family by securing a way to Egypt. Along the way, angels protected their journey, offering them safe passage. God had their back. God’s angels secured their way.
When you find yourself in hot water, dangers and obstacles surrounding you, don’t fret. God will provide what you need in that hour. God will direct your steps to where you need to be. I Corinthians 10:13 is a reminder that God will find “a way out” of your predicament. All you need to do is follow HIS leading. Trust HIS voice. Heed HIS words.
God has your back!
It's easier to do new things, challenging things, dangerous things, when you know a great supporter has your back! Soldiers going to war know that having a competent and trustworthy friend in the trench brings much comfort. A firefighter entering a burning house has greater confidence because of the trained men and women ready to jump in to help or pull him out of a burning building should something go wrong. Test pilots can focus on their experimental flights because of the engineers and rescue personnel who are in place. A mother is put at ease by the words of a trusted doctor. He is the best around. Her son will be in good hands in that operating room. Competent and trusted people who have your back bring great comfort and support and encouragement and so much more.
Today’s scripture mentions that for the faithful fulfilling God’s plan in life, God also is a great source of strength. If you are willing to follow God’s leading, God will have your back! Isaiah 52:12 is a statement by the prophet Isaiah to the people of Israel who were trying to recover from war and exile. His words were meant to bring comfort and hope to their arduous work. Jerusalem was in shambles. The temple was in ruin. The Babylonian armies had destroyed even the walls of the city. But less than fifty years after that war, God was bringing the people back home to rebuild. The people had suffered enough for their sins. Now was the time to rebuild. Despite all the obstacles before them, the prophet’s words brought hope. God had their back. In the words of Isaiah 52:12, “the God of Israel will be your rear guard.”
Isn’t it nice to know that when you follow God’s plan, God will watch your back? God will protect you in those times when you strike out on a new course. God will watch over you as you take on a new challenge. When you do God’s will, learn to trust in God’s protection. You are never alone when you do what God wants you to do! God doesn’t just set you off to fight your spiritual battles without support! When Satan decides to take you on, God will have your back! You can count on it!
In an interview after 9/11 bombing of the Pentagon in 2001, a man who lived through the destruction of his portion of the Pentagon building spoke to a reporter. The reporter was interested in what happened. Little did the reporter know that the man would share some amazing details of that day.
The reporter asked, “What happened to you just after the plane exploded upon impact at the Pentagon?"
The man responded, “The lights went out. Darkness enveloped me. Then, in that moment, I heard a whimper, like that of a dog. I knew it was the sound of someone in distress. I followed that sound, until I was blocked. The rubble was too deep. I could go no further. My mind was telling me to get away from the building, out of the burning wreckage. But, in that moment, I felt something so amazing, so real, like nothing I’ve ever felt before. I felt this hand upon my shoulder. I felt like God was behind me, leading me, guiding me through the wreckage. But I wasn’t going toward the light of freedom and escape. I was heading toward that whimper. I just knew God was sending me in to save that soul. I found her a few minutes later. She was buried alive, under office equipment and concrete rubble. She was bruised and bloody. Soot covered her face. Had she not whimpered, I wouldn’t have known she was there. Had God not led me her way, I never would have had the courage to get to her. I pulled her from the rubble. I carried her out of the building. I don’t know how I did that in all the smoke, hardly able to breathe, covered in blood, but I did.”
Some people are very surprised when God shows up to lead and guide and protect. You shouldn’t be surprised. You know God’s capabilities. You know God’s power. You know God has the back of the faithful, right?
Because you are a child of God, because you have made promises to Jesus, you never walk alone. You are a protected one. Proverbs 30:5 describes God as a “shield” of protection for “those who take refuge in HIM”. Hundreds of scriptures describe the many ways God provides for the needs of the faithful by guarding their way, directing their steps to safety, and providing for their needs. Your God is a natural protector. It is part of God’s character to watch the back of the faithful. God is your “rear guard” (Isaiah 52:12).
When Jesus’ life was in danger from King Herod, what did the angel say to Joseph? “Fear not!” Why did the angel begin with those words? God was not going to allow Herod to kill Mary and Joseph and the baby Jesus! God protected the holy family by securing a way to Egypt. Along the way, angels protected their journey, offering them safe passage. God had their back. God’s angels secured their way.
When you find yourself in hot water, dangers and obstacles surrounding you, don’t fret. God will provide what you need in that hour. God will direct your steps to where you need to be. I Corinthians 10:13 is a reminder that God will find “a way out” of your predicament. All you need to do is follow HIS leading. Trust HIS voice. Heed HIS words.
God has your back!