“Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:29-30

The turn of events this eventide has created a lasting impression on me. The discourse with a friend inspired me to embrace God’s yoke and burden in its entirety without an iota of displeasure. Many a time I watched the birds of the air but never so intently as this evening when a pigeon landed on the windowsill outside my living room. If the pigeon had refused to accept the wings that God bestowed on her, what would be her plight? Imagine a pigeon incapacitated from taking her flight, just for a moment.

A pigeon’s wings are much larger than her entire body but the potential they provide to her is indescribable. She is liberated to explore the world in greater heights with these wings than without. Such is the yoke and burden of God for us. God’s yoke and burden will empower us to explore the unknown and reach the heights He wants us to reach. By rejecting His yoke and burden, we are shooing away the opportunity to fly high in the sky.

What is God’s yoke and burden on you? As I ponder this tonight, I can say my current toil with Multiple Sclerosis is God’s yoke and burden to me. He has thus enabled me when I am disabled, to experience His tender mercies and grace. He is certifying me to fly high in the sky with His promise that His yoke is easy and His burden light! I march onward as a good soldier of Christ to fight this fight of faith with Him at the forefront. I am already a conqueror through Christ. Will you please accept God’s yoke and burden without murmuring? Remember, He can lift that off in no time if that is His desire for you.

Psalm 91:11-12
“For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.”

June 10, 2010 is another memorable day in my life where I believe God has given His angels charge over me, to keep me in all my ways. They did bear me up in their hands and prevented me from what could have been a worst accident. It was just a few days before that I had gained strength to walk alone a few blocks. God had kept me all through the remission and has progressed me far enough so I could walk alone a few blocks in the neighborhood.

My husband and son insisted that they would accompany for my longer walk on June 10th but I resisted and wanted to do it alone. After they both proceeded to my son’s martial arts class, I headed out to meet my very dear friend in Christ who returned from Australia and lives a few blocks away. The joy of meeting her and spending some time with her was much beyond words can say. I said a quick prayer for God’s protection and held a rose in my one hand and a purse in the other. After walking an avenue, I was getting ready to cross Northern Boulevard and half way down, I heard a car right behind me. Before I turned to look back, I was hit by the car and all I remember was me crashing down hitting my head against the bumper. I lost my consciousness very briefly and the next thing I know I was in a woman’s arms safe and secure but in a state of shock. I knew not the sense of pain at that moment but I desperately wanted to speak to my husband. Some one had already called the police and was ready to help me with placing a call to my husband. I spoke to my husband who said he will be there in just a few minutes. By then, I was shuddering all over and a gentleman covered me with something and calmed me down. It started drizzling and another gentleman held out an umbrella for me. A few folks sat next to me and held me in place. My dear husband came onto the scene, held me, planted a kiss on my forehead, prayed over me and said that God will help us out. I suddenly sensed peace welling up within me. The emergency police had arrived by then. My head was bursting with pain and when I touched it, I felt a very big bump which slightly scared me. The police tied me onto a board, with my head and neck in place. I started praising God for protecting me from death and very serious injuries. That was a busy hour (6PM) and the traffic was heavy yet God’s protection over me was heavier than anything.

After reaching the hospital, I had to go through a few tests with the head and neck braces on. I was ready to pull them out as the pain in my head and neck was nearly uncontrollable. A friendly family that lives across the street picked up my son from his class and brought him to the hospital to see me. As soon as he arrived, he kissed me and said he loves me. My son stayed that night at another wonderful family’s home. At the hospital every nurse that nursed me was gracious enough to lift me up as I could not move at all. All the tests and scans proved that there were no major injuries. What a joy and what a relief to me and my family members to know this! The doctor suggested I follow up with my PCP for further tests and discharged me. I said within myself that I will try and walk to the car. Little did I realize that the inflammation was severe and nearly numbing my entire right leg. When I placed my leg down and stood up I felt like my right hip and right thigh had just been smashed that left me almost lame. Immediately, a nurse brought a wheel chair and for the first time I was on a wheel chair pushed by my husband. I said in my heart, “Dear Lord, enable me to walk!” and cried bitterly. After reaching home, I gained strength to take a few steps to the elevator with my husband’s support. When I went into my apartment, I was overjoyed and started worshipping the King of Glory for bringing me back home safely. I just couldn’t sleep for various reasons and both of us prayed with tears rolling down our cheeks. We witnessed the hand of God operating mightily the whole of the previous evening and night. I could see God had given his angels charge over me. Through whom could the Lord keep His promises but us, His children? I said heartily, “Let your will be done in my life forever!” No need for fear or tear for God is in complete control over anything and everything that concerns us.

In a few weeks time, I had developed severe symptoms in my body. I went to the naturopath and he gave me a few medicines and advised me on a few things. I tried that for a week or two but the symptoms continued to worsen and a few times I could not lift my back up and needed support to get out of bed. I figured it is high time I see the neurologist. The neurologist mentioned that after the accident I seem to have developed new lesions in my spine and this wonderful man assured me that I will get better and put me through a course of treatment. Even in this, I could see God has lifted me up amazingly.

I would like to conclude this note with a word of gratitude to all those who supported me and encouraged me during my recovery from the accident. I am continuing to recover by God’s never ending grace. Journey with Christ is one that is never boring, ever challenging and forever transforming. If you are in your life’s journey without Christ, take heed and allow Him into your life. He is standing at the door of your heart and waiting for you to open it for Him. His love is ultimate; His grace is sufficient; His mercy is enduring; His peace passeth all human understanding; His protection is constant; His everlasting arms are larger than you can ever imagine; His comfort can soothe any torment or turmoil you are experiencing now or you may experience in future! Make Christ your Lord and Savior and life will never be the same. You will live your life like a King or a Queen as the King of Kings adorns your heart and pleases you at all times.

Song of Solomon 2:1
I am the Rose of Sharon, and the Lily of the valleys.

Jesus Christ is the Rose of Sharon and the Lily of the valleys.

The Rose of Sharon

The Rose of Sharon: The Rose is the most beautiful flower of all the flowers. Sharon is a pristine and fertile land at the foot of Mount Carmel. The Rose of Sharon is the flower that blooms and blossoms in the fertile land of Sharon. The fertile land represents a heart well-grounded in Christ. No matter what befalls, albeit a behemoth, the heart stays fixed on Christ. This heart waits on God, nurtures on the Word of God, goes by the Will of God, does not rely on its own understanding, acknowledges Christ at every turn and surrenders to Christ completely. Such fertile land is mentioned in the Parable of the Sower in Mark 4:20 where it says, “And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.” If the seeds (the Word of God) sown fall on a good ground (heart in Christ) the fruit is a certainty! The fruit may vary from person to person. Some may be thirtyfold, some sixtyfold and some hundredfold. No matter what, the fruit is a definite result!

The phrase “Rose of Sharon” signifies that the beauty of the budded flower (Rose), on the most fertile grounds of Sharon, is incomparable to any other flowers of the field. The red color of the Rose represents the blood of Jesus Christ that is holy and divine. When we are adorned by the precious Blood of the Lamb of God (Jesus), the perfection and loveliness is delightful to the beholder. Does your life reflect the Rose of Sharon? Can people see you and get a glimpse of the glorious Lord, you say you so love? Does your walk reflect the Living Lord? I weighed on these questions for days and meditated on this verse. I sought the face of the Lord. I deeply desire that His face should shine on me. To my Lord I surrender and let Him have His way in me! Will you allow Him to transform you as well?

This beautiful deer is hearty and happy!

Psalm 42:1-5

As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God? My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God? When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday. Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.

The above picture was captured by Ms. Carmie Rowell from her beautiful home and she courteously permitted me to use it for my devotional. As I was gazing at this marvelous picture of the deer above, I sensed that this deer was content strolling on the green pastures. I wondered how a panting deer would appear in its state of utmost expectancy to find the water brooks. This instantly reminded me of the song “As the deer panteth for the water…” and the Psalm 42. I dwelled on these five verses for quite some time and I positioned myself in place of the Psalmist.

A panting deer would have no desire other than an intense longing to find the water creek just so he may quench his thirst. The Psalmist is saying that his soul is panting after God in a similar fashion. His soul is panting for the Living God; not an idol that fails to hear, see, understand or sense the human longing. Yes, this Living God is the one who is all-pervading, the great I AM, the Alpha and Omega, the Creator, the Omnipotent, and the all-sustaining God of Ages! He is my Rock, my Shield, My Protector, my First-Love and the Bishop of My Soul. My soul hungers and thirsts for the selfsame Living God all-through. While the mundane concerns of this life may try to divert my focus for a moment, the deep passion and longing for my Savior pulls me like a magnet. Oh, how my soul longs to inhabit the courts of the Lord forever!

The Psalmist seems to have been terribly troubled by the countering question, “Where is thy God?” Perhaps he felt forsaken at the point in time for he was in a foreign land farther away from his own. In this foreign land he was deprived of this awesome privilege of worshipping with his people in the House of God. When we go through times like these, where we sense an abandoning in the spirit, that is when the divine longing intensifies and the power of God manifests in a supernatural way. When we are satiated in all spheres, the need for the King of Glory is very minimal or may be nil. The Psalmist is pouring out his soul in himself and crying within. The cry of his heart is to be in the House of God where he had once worshipped with the voice of joy and praise.

In the next verse, he is addressing his soul by saying, “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.” This is where we should exactly land on. Our hope should be in the Lord. Why should our soul be disquieted in us? We should be uplifted because our hope is neither in us nor in the people around us but in the Lord alone. Just as the Psalmist felt strange in a foreign land where his dwelling was only temporary, we should feel while we are here on earth. The earth is a foreign land for us because we are strangers sojourning here for a while preparing to meet the King in the everlasting life afterward. Even when we go through a time of despondency, well before it takes us, let us rejoice and praise the Lord for the help of His countenance. Seek His face that is so fulfilling than fixing eyes on the temporal passions that are sure to fade away! When we are filled with God’s eternal expression of joy, we will be exactly like the deer that is well satisfied in the picture above. Yes, our panting for the Lord will be quenched when we commune with Him. While a soul that doesn’t pant for the Lord is casting eyes on things that are mortal, the soul that pants for the Lord is seeking the things that are spiritual and everlasting. This panting soul for the Lord will feast on the divine manna and drink from the fountain of the Living Waters.

I am in awe of God and His goodness in my life. Looking back I can see God walked me through various trials of my life. He extended His gracious hand and lifted me up when I knew I was in the miry clay and could not see a way out. The quagmire of problems that surmounted me at several points in my life taught me lessons that I cherish from within. I am here today, jotting down a little about my recent trial. I am able to do this merely by God’s grace and mercy! As I start typing this, I am filled with mixed emotions of happiness, utter gratitude for my life, and worship to God in toto; God so graciously is walking me through this new journey of mine. His immense grace is simply sufficient, for He is with me all through.

Seven months back on September 12^th of 2009, I woke up with a weird numbness in my legs. I tried stretching and walking a bit. I tried striking my legs to relieve me of this numbness. No matter what I did, the weird feeling intensified and my anxiety joined in a chorus. All this started on a day when I so wanted to go to church and meet my cousin’s husband that afternoon. I prayed within my heart and managed to get to church and later had a memorable time with my cousin’s husband Mr. Enoch Era. He shared some of his poems and his book with me. I finished reading the book the very night. Just before it was time to go to bed, I again prayed that God would give me a good night’s rest so I could be at work in the morning.

I struggled in the bed with numbness, creepy sensation in my legs, pain in my back and right then a sudden surge of fear rushed in me. My husband, who was noticing me, knew that something was terribly wrong. We both prayed together just so that we could pass that night to see the doctor next morning. Amazingly enough, God gave rest to my weary body and soul.

The next morning I informed my gracious boss and colleagues about my situation. I took an appointment with my neurologist and he checked me that evening. Initially, he and I thought it was some spinal problem and a few compressed nerves. After several weeks of physical therapy, I did notice some improvement in my condition but the weird feelings in my legs and arms did not fade away. A few times I noticed that I had to think a lot to express myself. On several occasions, my speech was slurry and I struggled to speak clearly. I groaned many times with intense pain and soaked my pillow with tears. But when I lifted my voice and praised the King of Glory, He filled my heart with anthems of praise that made me wonder where these praises flew from. Two nights I had tremors in my body and I thought it was due to cold temperatures outside. I shook violently and needed help to stay calm. My husband, a man of great patience, stayed by me and I knew there was nothing anybody could do but my God.

One morning when I was in shower, I prayed a sincere prayer from the depth of my heart, with tears gushing through. This was my prayer… “Lord, reveal how you will bring healing to this aching body. That day you healed Naaman by using a little servant girl. Today how are you going to heal me? My God, forgive me, cleanse me, heal me and make me whole”. After this prayer I had a great relief in my Spirit even when my body was suffering greatly. The next evening, I called up my cousin Dr. Sunil Mahanthi in India. While speaking to me, my cousin said, “God healed Naaman using a little servant girl. He is using me to heal you now!” This was a confirmation for my prayer. This man is a man after God’s own heart. His prayers and support reached me at a time when I needed the most! My cousin administered homeopathy medicines to me without seeing me or without knowing what my exact condition was. After using the medicines my condition definitely improved. But, I could see that there was something wrong with my body. I was getting tired easily and my body was not the same any more.

I had to go through several tests even while I was taking homeopathy medicines. I had MRI of cervical spine, brain, thoracic spine, lumbar spine and some had to be repeated with contrast. Every time I went into the tunnel (although the first time I was scared), I felt like God covered me under His protective umbrella. Even though the equipment made all sorts of scary sounds, right in the tunnel I dozed off several times. I know not how this happened but some special warmth always surrounded me there. I had a spinal tap late December 2009. God put me in the hands of a compassionate doctor, Dr. Brian Apatoff, who prepared me mentally and gave me ample time to rest before and after the test. Spinal tap confirmed that I had Multiple Sclerosis. On Jan 7^th 2010, the doctor confirmed that it was Multiple Sclerosis and he put me on corticosteroids for ten days. I started taking Copaxone shots starting on Feb 1^st 2010. My cousin sent homeopathy medicines for Multiple Sclerosis to me and I am using them.

Shortly before I started Copaxone, I woke up one morning with “Collard Greens” on my lips. I asked my husband to get collard greens and started having them. God spoke to me about diet through this dream. After this dream, my friend Ruth Jen Wright spoke to me about Juice Fast and on bitter herbs. I did not know how I should do this. As I waited on the Lord and sought His guidance, He guided me with His eye and led me by His hands thus far. I was always a conscious eater but I had to make substantial changes in my dietary habits to cope up with my MS symptoms. Another friend of mine, Kathy Houghton mentioned to me about toxins and the Multiple Chemical Sensitivity. I gained some understanding in this area as well. A very dear friend in Christ, Shelly Krull, spoke to me about avoiding specific grains. Later I got to know how a gluten-free diet could benefit an MS sufferer. I can say that all this is still a work in progress but my Master, the Super Physician (God) has touched me and I have touched the hem of His garment. Every bit of change I have made is helping me.

When I couldn’t go to the House of God to worship, God brought the messages to me right in my bed through “The Healing and Resting Place”. Pastor Troy Clerk delivered messages that addressed my need directly. Although he wasn’t aware of my situation personally, God used Pastor Troy Clerk to speak to me the great words of comfort from the Holy Word of God. The Healing and Resting Place has become a ministry very dear to my heart and all my family members as well.

I cannot thank enough all the dear friends in Christ who cried and prayed with me. The list of family, friends and colleagues that were with me during my tough battle is never ending. There are some that I haven’t met personally but I will meet them some day here on earth, God willing (if not in heaven for sure!). The support rendered to me by my parents and in-laws is inexpressible. My heart wells up with deep gratitude for everyone in my family starting with my siblings and their families, my uncle, my cousins, aunts, uncles, friends far and near. God brought well meaningful men and women my way through this ordeal. Special heartfelt thanks to my boss and colleagues who are very understanding and highly cooperative; God blessed me with wonderful colleagues who are all full of grace!

Over years I have had many severe pain experiences. In 2002 when I had my first attack with a stabbing pain in my right shoulder, God brought me closer unto Him. The orthopaedic surgeon in El Paso gave me a cortisone shot that brought some relief to me. After my diagnosis, I can see some explanation to the various pain episodes I have had. I can say gladly that all these years my body was waning but the inner man was renewed by the Spirit of God, during and after each and every ordeal. I fix my eyes on my Savior, Jesus Christ who died on the cross to bring spiritual and physical healing to our hearts and mortal bodies. By His stripes I am healed and so are you!

Psalm 91:14-16

Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.

This is a wonderful Psalm of deliverance! Again the deliverance comes to those who set their love upon the Lord God. When you love the Lord, you long to spend time with Him, you sit at His holy feet, you take time to talk to Him, praise Him, worship Him, you seek His precious face and you honor Him with all your heart!

The Lord will set you on high, because you have known His name. When the Lord sets you on high, the world and its traps will not harm you. You will rise up high like an eagle with strong wings, you will run and not be weary, you will walk and not faint (Isaiah 40:31). His name is Emmanuel (Isaiah 7:14), God with us, Jesus (Luke 1:31), the Son of the Highest (Luke 1:32), the Son of God (Luke 1:35), the Savior of the World, the Alpha and Omega (Revelation 1:8), the Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6) and the list goes on and on.

He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. This promise of deliverance is so comforting! Yes, He will answer our prayers; the cry of our heart is well heard by the Master even before it is presented. He is and will be with us in our trouble. Amidst the storm so raging, take heart, He is with you to deliver you and honor you. Endure and stay focused on the Lord. Fix your eyes upon Jesus and the cares of the world will not bother you.

He promises to give us long SATISFYING life and will show His salvation unto us, His children, and the crown of His creation! These promises of deliverance are there for us to claim and stand on. To God be the glory… Amen!

Psalm 91:9-13

 Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.

The promises in these verses are for those who have made the LORD their refuge and their habitation. If you have made the Lord your habitation, you dwell there and seek His refuge at all times. These are perilous times and the adversary like a roaring lion, is walking about, seeking whom he may devour (I Peter 5:8-9). Resist the enemy and he will flee away from you. If you have made the Most High your habitation, He will enable you to resist the devil for He has made us conquerors in Christ Jesus who first loved us (Romans 8:37)!

Promise 1: There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. This promise is actually two-fold. What an amazing promise this is! No evil shall befall those who dwell with the Lord and make Him their habitation. All the wicked plots of the enemy are destroyed as the Spirit of the Lord lifts up a standard against the enemy on our behalf (Isaiah 59:19). No plague shall come near thy dwelling. Plague is a pestilence or an epidemic disease. Who does not desire this promise? We all need good health, free of disease or calamity of any kind. This promise is for His children who dwell with the Lord! I have claimed this promise for me and my family.

Here, I would like to state that God tests His children and tries their faith. I Peter 1:7 says, “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.” Our faith should be in the right place at all times; that is upon God and His precious Word. When you claim a promise of God, you stand on His Word in steadfast faith and the Lord’s Word will come to pass in His time, you will see the salvation of the Lord, you will rejoice at His deliverance and give God the glory! Remember, we are the living epistles read of all men (II Corinthians 3:2-3). When we are tested and our faith is tried, God works in our hearts and changes us into His image from glory to glory (II Corinthians 3:18) as we yield to Him.

Promise 2: For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. This promise states that He commands His angels to keep us in all our ways. We can always ask the Lord to give his angels charge over us to keep us in all our ways. When you or your loved one head out of the house, start a new task, go out into the deep sea (world) to share the good news (gospel of Jesus Christ) and stand for the truth, seek the Lord to give His angels charge over you. The angels shall bear thee up in their hands and will not allow your foot to dash against a stone. When your foot dashes against a stone, it hurts. The hurt some times is bad and the other times it is not so bad. The angels will see to it that you are not hurt. What a mighty protection! Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were cast into the fiery furnace by Nebuchadnezzar, yet the fire had no power on them, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them (Daniel 3:20-27).

Jesus Christ was tempted in the wilderness after He fasted for forty days and forty nights using Psalm 91:11-12. Jesus Christ, the Lord God left His heavenly abode and was born through Virgin Mary, lived the life of a humble human being, tempted in every way like as we are, yet remained SINLESS and HOLY. This holy Lord alone could go all the way to the cross of calvary to redeem us and provide salvation unto us human beings. Hebrews 2:3 says, “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him.”

Promise 3: Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet. This promise says that God will give us power and authority to tread upon the lion, the adder (venomous viper), the young lion and the dragon. The Lord Jesus Christ has given this power to the seventy that He sent out to spread the gospel. Luke 10:19 says, “Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” The power that we have is over ALL the power of the enemy and nothing shall by any means hurt us!

a)      The adversary, devil is referred to as the lion. We are given power over the devil and so we don’t need to be afraid of the attacks of this evil one. God has got us and so the enemy has no power over us.

b)      The adder was the snake that tempted Eve in the Garden of Eden. This tempter will come in a very cunning way and so we should be cognizant of its deceptive tricks. Christ defeated the enemy on the CROSS and so we through Him will defeat the enemy!

c)      The young lion is a cub or a youngling and soon and very soon it will grow out to be a lion. The same power of the lion rests in this young lion. We should be aware of the young deceivers as well.

d)      The dragon is a legendary creature that is featured in myths. It is a fictional character. Lord has given us power over tricks of the devil to deceive us through our imaginations.

Are you ready to enjoy these promises of God? If so, have you made the Lord God’s holy dwelling as your habitation? If not, dwell in the secret place of the Most High and claim these wonderful promises in your life today!

Next: Thy Deliverer

Psalm 91:1

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

Psalm 91 is full of promises for God’s children. I have recently finished reading a book called “Psalm 91” by Peggy Joyce Ruth and God opened my eyes to the many promises embedded in this wonderful Psalm. This is also a Psalm of deliverance!

Who shall abide (rest per NIV) under the shadow of the Almighty? The answer is, only those that dwell in the secret place of the Most High! Abiding under the shadow of the Almighty means to rest under His shadow where you are protected from the snares of the wicked one.

This reminds me of my experience walking from school in the street on a very hot summer day back home in India. When I walk under the shadow of a tree, it felt like heaven. Just standing for a few minutes under the cool shadow of the tree was an amazing experience. I used to look for the trees all along my way until I reached home. This tree only protected me from the scorching heat of the sun but when you rest under the shadow of the Almighty, you are protected from the fiery darts of the wicked one all through your life. You don’t get to rest under the shadow of the Almighty if you don’t dwell in the secret place of the Most High.

Dwelling in the secret place of the Most High means you made the secret place of the Most High your shelter. You constantly (24*7) commune with Him, seek His face, His counsel, His direction, His guidance in your everyday walk of life, praise and worship Him, love Him, adore Him, trust Him and He is your everything! Your will for life is in alignment with His will for yours.

Are you dwelling in the secret place of the Most High? If not make the secret place of the Most High your dwelling place and abide under the shadow of the Almighty. He is Omnipotent God of the Universe and there is NONE in comparison to Him. He desires to protect you and cover you under His precious and mighty wings. With all that we are witnessing in the world today around us, it is high time you seek to dwell at the right place. The only right place to dwell is the secret place of the Most High to be under His shadow!

Next: What is thy habitation?

Genesis 22:11-14

And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I. And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me. And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son. And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen.

Abraham withstood the test of faith! His test demonstrated that Abraham’s love for God superseded his love for his only son Isaac. Do you have something or someone before God in your life? If so now is the time to give that place to God. The first and the foremost place in your life should be to God and God alone. Abraham was asked to offer his only son as a burnt offering not anywhere close to his home but in the land of Moriah atop a mountain. Moriah represents the lonely place where you and I are tested by God and we are all alone with Him. Moriah is the same as the wilderness experience of Israelites before they reached the Promised Land. If you are at Moriah with God, you are at the best place. Surrender everything to Him and depend on Him for His divine provision. After your Moriah experience you will certainly see the salvation of God and His provision for you will bring out the best praise possible from your heart.

Let us take a quick look at Genesis 22:5. It says, “And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you.” These are the words of Abraham to his two young men that accompanied him and his son Isaac. Abraham is asking the young men to stay with the donkey while he and his son proceed to the place where God wanted him to offer Isaac. Special attention needs to be paid to the fact that only Abraham and his son Isaac proceeded to this place. Also notice Abraham’s words: “I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and COME AGAIN TO YOU.” He is certain that both, he and Isaac will come again to the young men. He is stating that he and Isaac will go there and WORSHIP and return as opposed to saying that he will offer Isaac at that place. This place that Abraham and Isaac were headed to is the place of WORSHIP, a place of total SURRENDER to God, a place of enjoying God’s divine provision, a place where Abraham will experience a new dimension of God and a place where he will come victorious withstanding the test of his faith!

Isaac asked his father a very genuine question as to where the lamb for the burnt offering is. See Abraham’s response in Genesis 22:8. “And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.” Abraham was certain of God’s provision of himself as a lamb for a burnt offering. This is a great picture of the salvation of the Lord God through His only son Jesus Christ who was offered as a lamb instead of us. Yes, we are all worthy of crucifixion but God crucified His son Jesus Christ instead of us. Jesus Christ was the Lamb of God. John 1:29 says, “The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”

In his heart Abraham knew very well the covenant that God established with him. The covenant that God made with Abraham is through his son Isaac. Genesis 17:19 states: “And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.” Abraham knew that God will and has to make a provision for a lamb in order to keep the covenant. His faith was on God’s word and His covenant promise! Do you have faith in God’s Word and His promises for you? Are you wavering in your faith or do you have steadfast faith in God and His Word? If not now is the time to stand in complete faith like Abraham’s. Hold onto God’s promises even when everything around you seems unpromising to you. What appears to you before your eyes will change if you stand on God’s promises in firm faith!

Abraham was ready to offer his son as a sacrifice. Genesis 22:10 says, “And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.” Just when he was about to do this, the angel of the Lord stopped him by calling him out of heaven. The angel is commending Abraham for not withholding his son, his only son Isaac from God. When Abraham lifted up his eyes he saw a ram caught in a thicket by his horns. Here is God’s provision for Abraham’s offering: a ram in place of Isaac. Yes, God’s eternal provision of salvation for us is Jesus Christ in place of our own lives. God loved us so much that He offered His son Jesus Christ for our sakes.

Abraham called that place Jehovah-jireh which is interpreted as “The LORD will provide”. He is our provider just as He was a provider unto Abraham. Through God’s provision for Abraham, God kept His covenant promise. Through God’s provision to you, God will keep His promises if you stand on Him and His promises. How will God prove Himself as a MIGHTY PROVIDER if you don’t submit to Him completely? He has to use you and me to implement His promises through us. Are you willing to completely surrender to Him and enjoy His divine provision today to praise Him in a NEW way with a NEW SONG? He is my Jehovah-jireh!!! Is He yours?

Next: The Shadow of the Almighty