BBD 04.22.04 Finding Safety

#1 · April 22, 2004, 11:37 pm

Quote from Forum Archives on April 22, 2004, 11:37 pm
Posted by: wrather <wrather@...>

If you have a Christian website you are invited to add the link to my free
links at the Burning Bush website. The Bravenet free links is near the
bottom of the front page www.theburningbush.org.

If you enjoy the devotional please recommend it to your friends. They may
subscribe by sending a blank email to
burningbushdevo-subscribe@welovegod.org

Please sign the GuestMap at The Burning Bush website. You can plant your
country's flag on the map and leave a message. You can find it on the front
page at www.theburningbush.org

Streaming Videos of our services and my sermons are beginning to be posted
at: www.theburningbush.org/fbcswvideo.html

The Burning Bush Devotional

(Over 13,000 subscribers in 75 countries)

04.22.04

Finding Safety

Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have relieved me in my
distress; have mercy on me, and hear my prayer. How long, O you sons of men,
will you turn my glory to shame? How long will you love worthlessness and
seek falsehood? Selah. But know that the LORD has set apart for Himself him
who is godly; the LORD will hear when I call to Him. Be angry, and do not
sin. Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still. Selah. Offer the
sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD. There are many
who say, "Who will show us any good?" LORD, lift up the light of Your
countenance upon us. You have put gladness in my heart, more than in the
season that their grain and wine increased. I will both lie down in peace,
and sleep; for You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety. - Psalm 4.

While working in the oilfield I was on a job in Canadian, Texas when a storm
came up. A tornado was spotted headed for the town and the storm sirens were
blown. The safest public building in town that I knew of was the courthouse
and so we went there along with many others to wait out the storm.
Thankfully, the tornado missed the town completely. Some in Utica, Illinois
seeking protection from a tornado did exactly what I did. They sought safety
in the sturdiest building that they could find. The Millstone Tavern located
in the bottom floor of a three-story building appeared to be very sturdy.
The building was made with blocks of limestone some weighing as much as 900
pounds. You would think that the tavern would have been safer than the
mobile homes from which some fled. Tragically, at least eight people died
when the building collapsed.

This world in which we live is filled up with dangerous things that could
possibly harm us. From bee stings to hurricanes, there is a vast range of
things that threaten our survival. In addition, we sometimes have to be
concerned about our fellow human beings who may carelessly or intentionally
cause us harm.

Keeping safe can become a preoccupation resulting eventually in a paralysis
of our lives. There are many who are afraid to leave their homes. There are
many who leave there homes but are constantly expecting harm to come upon
them. Of course, we should be aware of our environment and take precautions
to avoid known hazards. However, many go far beyond this with the primary
energies of their lives spent in keeping safe.

In the midst of a dangerous world, how can we live a “normal” life? King
David dealt with this very problem. His world was a more dangerous world
than most of us will ever encounter. David was hunted like an animal and had
to hide out in a foreign land for a time. He had to live in caves at other
times always aware that his enemies could come upon him at any time. At
least once his enemies succeeded and carried away his family and the
families of his men. With God’s empowerment and direction, all was
recovered. The words that David writes in the Psalms are words that he has
personally lived.

God can do for us what He did for David. What did God do for David? Here is
some of what God did, “relieved me in my distress”; “put gladness in my
heart”; “I will lie down in peace and sleep”; and, “You…make me dwell in
safety”. In the middle of David’s hazardous life, God enable him to have
peace and normality. God can do the same for you and me.

David tells us the conditions that are necessary to bring about that peace
and normality. David continually looks to God through prayer for his safety
and knows that God will hear the prayers of the godly. Even during the
night, David meditates upon the goodness and mercies of His God. He “offers
the sacrifices of righteousness” living as he believes God would have him to
and trusts God to honor his righteous living. More than once David could
have killed his nemesis, Saul - however, Saul was the Lord’s anointed and
David refused to take the easy way out. Instead, David allowed God’s will to
be fulfilled in his life even though it was a difficult path. By doing so,
David was able to have “gladness” of heart and sleep in “peace.”

Let us put our trust in the Lord and live life with boldness knowing and
believing He is with us each step of the way.

Copyright © 2004. Ed Wrather. Permission is given for use of the devotionals
on a non-profit basis with source credited. On June 8, 1998 the email
version of the Burning Bush Devotional was first sent.

There is now a webpage available at associate.com where the devotionals are
archived associate.com/groups/burningbushdevo. There is a complete
archive at the Burning Bush website and the address for the archive is
www.theburningbush.org/33.html.

You may subscribe to the pure text group by sending a blank email to
burningbushdevo-subscribe@welovegod.org and you can unsubscribe by sending a
blank email to burningbushdevo-unsubscribe@welovegod.org

You may subscribe to the html text group by sending a blank email to
burningbushhtml-subscribe@welovegod.org and you may unsubscribe by sending a
blank email to burningbushhtml-unsubscribe@welovegod.org

Subscribe to the Burning Bush Prayer Group. Send and receive prayer requests
to over 300 members. Send a blank email to: BBPG-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Subscribe to the Burning Bush Inspirational Group. Send and receive
inspirational material to over 100 members. Send a blank email to:
bbinspire-subscribe@welovegod.org

Subscribe to the Burning Bush Restoration and Recovery Group for those with
addictions or recovering from addictions. Receive devotionals and
inspirational material directed toward those with addictions. Send and
receive prayer requests. Over 200 members. Send a blank email to:
tbbrr-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Subscribe to the Intercede Life Group and pray for and help in practical
ways those who need help. To subscribe send a blank email to
interclife-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. A closely related website is
Peoplefaces which seeks to help those in need
peoplefaces.ohzone.net/index2.htm

Posted by: wrather <wrather@...>

If you have a Christian website you are invited to add the link to my free
links at the Burning Bush website. The Bravenet free links is near the
bottom of the front page http://www.theburningbush.org.

If you enjoy the devotional please recommend it to your friends. They may
subscribe by sending a blank email to
burningbushdevo-subscribe@welovegod.org

Please sign the GuestMap at The Burning Bush website. You can plant your
country's flag on the map and leave a message. You can find it on the front
page at http://www.theburningbush.org

Streaming Videos of our services and my sermons are beginning to be posted
at: http://www.theburningbush.org/fbcswvideo.html

The Burning Bush Devotional

(Over 13,000 subscribers in 75 countries)

04.22.04

Finding Safety

Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have relieved me in my
distress; have mercy on me, and hear my prayer. How long, O you sons of men,
will you turn my glory to shame? How long will you love worthlessness and
seek falsehood? Selah. But know that the LORD has set apart for Himself him
who is godly; the LORD will hear when I call to Him. Be angry, and do not
sin. Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still. Selah. Offer the
sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD. There are many
who say, "Who will show us any good?" LORD, lift up the light of Your
countenance upon us. You have put gladness in my heart, more than in the
season that their grain and wine increased. I will both lie down in peace,
and sleep; for You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety. - Psalm 4.

While working in the oilfield I was on a job in Canadian, Texas when a storm
came up. A tornado was spotted headed for the town and the storm sirens were
blown. The safest public building in town that I knew of was the courthouse
and so we went there along with many others to wait out the storm.
Thankfully, the tornado missed the town completely. Some in Utica, Illinois
seeking protection from a tornado did exactly what I did. They sought safety
in the sturdiest building that they could find. The Millstone Tavern located
in the bottom floor of a three-story building appeared to be very sturdy.
The building was made with blocks of limestone some weighing as much as 900
pounds. You would think that the tavern would have been safer than the
mobile homes from which some fled. Tragically, at least eight people died
when the building collapsed.

This world in which we live is filled up with dangerous things that could
possibly harm us. From bee stings to hurricanes, there is a vast range of
things that threaten our survival. In addition, we sometimes have to be
concerned about our fellow human beings who may carelessly or intentionally
cause us harm.

Keeping safe can become a preoccupation resulting eventually in a paralysis
of our lives. There are many who are afraid to leave their homes. There are
many who leave there homes but are constantly expecting harm to come upon
them. Of course, we should be aware of our environment and take precautions
to avoid known hazards. However, many go far beyond this with the primary
energies of their lives spent in keeping safe.

In the midst of a dangerous world, how can we live a “normal” life? King
David dealt with this very problem. His world was a more dangerous world
than most of us will ever encounter. David was hunted like an animal and had
to hide out in a foreign land for a time. He had to live in caves at other
times always aware that his enemies could come upon him at any time. At
least once his enemies succeeded and carried away his family and the
families of his men. With God’s empowerment and direction, all was
recovered. The words that David writes in the Psalms are words that he has
personally lived.

God can do for us what He did for David. What did God do for David? Here is
some of what God did, “relieved me in my distress”; “put gladness in my
heart”; “I will lie down in peace and sleep”; and, “You…make me dwell in
safety”. In the middle of David’s hazardous life, God enable him to have
peace and normality. God can do the same for you and me.

David tells us the conditions that are necessary to bring about that peace
and normality. David continually looks to God through prayer for his safety
and knows that God will hear the prayers of the godly. Even during the
night, David meditates upon the goodness and mercies of His God. He “offers
the sacrifices of righteousness” living as he believes God would have him to
and trusts God to honor his righteous living. More than once David could
have killed his nemesis, Saul - however, Saul was the Lord’s anointed and
David refused to take the easy way out. Instead, David allowed God’s will to
be fulfilled in his life even though it was a difficult path. By doing so,
David was able to have “gladness” of heart and sleep in “peace.”

Let us put our trust in the Lord and live life with boldness knowing and
believing He is with us each step of the way.

Copyright © 2004. Ed Wrather. Permission is given for use of the devotionals
on a non-profit basis with source credited. On June 8, 1998 the email
version of the Burning Bush Devotional was first sent.

There is now a webpage available at associate.com where the devotionals are
archived associate.com/groups/burningbushdevo. There is a complete
archive at the Burning Bush website and the address for the archive is
http://www.theburningbush.org/33.html.

You may subscribe to the pure text group by sending a blank email to
burningbushdevo-subscribe@welovegod.org and you can unsubscribe by sending a
blank email to burningbushdevo-unsubscribe@welovegod.org

You may subscribe to the html text group by sending a blank email to
burningbushhtml-subscribe@welovegod.org and you may unsubscribe by sending a
blank email to burningbushhtml-unsubscribe@welovegod.org

Subscribe to the Burning Bush Prayer Group. Send and receive prayer requests
to over 300 members. Send a blank email to: BBPG-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Subscribe to the Burning Bush Inspirational Group. Send and receive
inspirational material to over 100 members. Send a blank email to:
bbinspire-subscribe@welovegod.org

Subscribe to the Burning Bush Restoration and Recovery Group for those with
addictions or recovering from addictions. Receive devotionals and
inspirational material directed toward those with addictions. Send and
receive prayer requests. Over 200 members. Send a blank email to:
tbbrr-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Subscribe to the Intercede Life Group and pray for and help in practical
ways those who need help. To subscribe send a blank email to
interclife-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. A closely related website is
Peoplefaces which seeks to help those in need
peoplefaces.ohzone.net/index2.htm