Sunday, September 25, 2011

God in Our Hiding Place by Ann Elaine Broughton

“You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance” (Psalm 32:7 NIV).

Whenever we feel afraid we can turn to God to protect us. He is certainly a safe hiding place. Actually, He is the only hiding place that we can depend on when the storms of life threaten to swallow us up.
David wrote this verse and he certainly knew all about finding a hiding place. He had to run away from Saul, who was trying to kill him. He hid in a cave. I am sure he was wondering about his calling from the Lord. But you see even in the cave, God was there with him. David constantly communicated with God and relied on His answers to guide him. The Lord had not abandoned him.
Sometimes we need to go to the hiding place with God in order to get our priorities right. Sometimes we have a tendency to try to take the reins of our lives into our own hands and do what we please instead of asking God. It is in those times when we might end up running for our lives due to poor decisions that has led to harsh consequences. God is there waiting for us to find His hiding place, to rest in His loving arms, and receive His mercy.
When I was a little girl I was tremendously afraid of fierce storms.

When I was young I had witnessed the tornado that went through the area and I believe that the terror surrounding this had made a very big impression on me. So whenever there was a storm brewing with very dark clouds, I would panic and run to my hiding place. I felt safe and secure there. That hiding place was in my mother’s arms on her bed. I felt safe there. Just like my mom’s arms around me, giving me peace, so my Father’s arms give me peace when life’s storms threaten to overwhelm me.
Trust God this week with all of your overwhelming needs. Run to His hiding place and know that He will protect you and will deliver you from your feelings of despondency. He is waiting with arms open wide.
Dear Lord,
You are my hiding place. I know that you are always there when I call upon you for help. You will deliver me from evil and keep my safe.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen

Perseverance: A devotion by Ann Broughton

“ And not only this, but we also exult in tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance proven cha...