Strength for Today Devotional

"The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the Lord." Proverbs 21:31

How comforting it is to throw our lives away - right into the arms of the omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent God. We live in a world where there are dangers all around. Those who live in lands where martyrs die know better than to trust in the arm of flesh. Their only ark of safety is the Lord. But any Christian - anywhere - is wise to confess and believe the above scripture. Who but the Lord can keep us safe on the wild freeways or the asphalt jungles where everything lurks and anything goes?!

 At times, God may let you virtually feel His presence. Like the time I was allowed to go into Lebanon for five days to minister to both Christians and Muslims. Just to the north of me, in Beirut, were hostages who had been kidnapped. And only five miles away, while I was out in open fields, an American missionary was brutally killed by terrorists. My only assurance was in the Lord; not a guarantee I would not die, but only that as long as I did my Father's will I was immortal until He called me home.

But what about the times we are not in some fearful foreign land but serving the Lord in our hometowns? That verse holds true everywhere, even as we hold true to the Lord. The key is not to try to save our lives, but to daily lay them on the altar to be consumed by God. One man determines to selfishly look after only himself. He prepares elaborate defenses to hide himself from danger, locks his doors...and chokes to death on a piece of meat! Another man chooses to give his all to the Lord and finds himself singing, "Through many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come: Tis grace that brought me safe thus far; and grace will lead my home."

My Prayer:

“Take my life, oh Lord, and order my thoughts and steps in Your Word. I confess with trust and joy that You are my only safety.