"For in the day of trouble He will keep me safe in His dwelling,
He will hide me in the shelter of His tabernacle
and set me high upon a rock."
(Psalm 27:5)
Dear Faithful One,
I pray you are finding refreshment as you carve away intimate time to be with the Lord. You may be finding yourself weak, hungry, tired, and maybe even a little battered by the attacks of the enemy, but don't despair! Be encouraged, dear one, our God is faithful and He is doing a might work - in and through you (reference Hebrews 12:1-3)!
There is something glorious the Lord desires to show us as we approach the midpoint of our 40 day journey together. We might feel as if we have gone far enough (or even question why we are going down this path at all), but don't stop here, there is so much more for us to learn, glean, and grow from if we remain faithful to His call.
This week the Lord led me back to the water's edge. In the aftermath of hurricanes', Gustav and Ike, it was not the place I wanted to linger, but if you are willing, I'd like for you to join me there. Put your toes in the water - don't be afraid to get them wet - for there is something beautiful the Lord wants us to see.
We meet Him in the 13th chapter of the Book of Exodus as He faithfully leads the Israelites out of bondage from Egypt. Israel began their journey "armed for battle" (v.18), but the Lord did not want His people to go into battle armed in their own strength. He knew that "if they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt" (v.17). They had been in bondage for many years and were not aware of how weak they truly were. God had something He purposed for them to see so they would be prepared before they would face their first battle.
As believers, living in this great country, we may not be fully aware of how spiritually weak we have become. Far too long we've been captivated by a land that is not our home and have become increasingly blinded to the deception that is weighing on us. Remember that faulty framework of fabrications that became rubble at our feet last week? It's time to break free from that heap of deceptive debris that has halted us in our path time and time again; instead, we must ground ourselves in the foundation of Truth that will rise to become a highway to prepare the way for the Lord (reference Isaiah 40:3-5; 62:10)!
"By day the LORD went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud
to guide them on their way
and by night a pillar of fire to give them their light,
so that they could travel by day or night.
Neither...left its place in front of the people."
(Exodus 13:21)
The Israelites "marched out boldly" (Exodus 14:8) following the path the Lord had laid for them, armed for battle lest anyone dare get in their way. Little did they know that there was a lesson ahead of them on their journey to freedom: For it would not be the opposition of a rival people the Lord desired them to face, instead He would lead them to face their own fears and lack of faith.
There are times when the enemy is standing right in front of us to knock us down and other times he is on our heels to trip us up. When the Israelites reached the edge of the Red Sea they looked behind them, "...and there were the Egyptians marching after them. They were terrified and cried out to the Lord" (v.10).
How the enemy loves to get a hold of our feet to extinguish all progress we are making in God's plan for our life. The great enemy of God desires to stop us in our tracks and drag us back down the path we came, desiring to trap us in our sin and leave us to wallow in our guilt and shame. Our Lord would rather we face our sin, repent of our waywardness, turn from the direction of destruction, and follow the path of forgiveness and freedom - the path He has already prepared for us (reference Jeremiah 3:14-15; Revelation 2:4-5).
"When I weep and fast, I must endure scorn...
But I pray to You, O LORD, in the time of your favor;
In Your great love, O God, answer me with Your sure salvation."
(Psalm 69:10, 13)
The Israelites fell right into the enemy's trap, and as soon as they found themselves backed into a corner (or so they thought!) they immediately wanted to return to their old lifestyle. How quickly we fall back into our old familiar (and sinful!) lifestyles, easily forgetting how much pain, grief, trial, and agony we were in while we were there, instead of running to the Rock of our salvation! Do not be deceived, faithful one, the enemy is threatened by the advances you are making in the Kingdom of God and he would not be pursuing you, trying to trip you up and stop you in your path, if he wasn't aware his time is up!
"Do not be afraid.
Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD
will bring you today.
The LORD will fight for you;
you need only to be still."
(Exodus 14:13-14)
The enemy might have thought he had the Israelites right were he wanted them - between a rock and a hard place - but unfortunately for him (and most fortunate for us!) that the Rock he backed them up against was none other than the Lord God, Himself, the Holy One of Israel! Our Lord cannot be fooled - His plans are always good and perfect - and His object lessons will always trump the enemy's evil plans!
My friend, we are standing on the edge of a great sea - the sea of FAITH! It looms before us like a vast ocean of possibility and we have no surfboard, outboard, or flotation device to help us cross over to the other side. The sound of the waves of deception ring in our ears, and the endless dark waters of destruction frightens us to the point that we want to turn on our heels and run. We must not waiver, for while this path of faith has no promise of ease, it has the full promise of His presence. That powerful platform of possibility should be enough to stand upon and springboard us forward (reference Deuteronomy 31:6)!
" ' Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.'
So we say with confidence.
'The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.
What can man do to me?' "
(Hebrews 13:5b-6)
Feel free to take of your shoes and socks, because the place you are standing is holy ground! There is something wonderful and holy we are about to embark upon if we are willing to go forward fully focused on the Lord and freed from our fears!
"Then the angel of God,
Who had been traveling in front of Israel's army,
withdrew and went behind them.
The pillar of cloud also moved from in front and stood behind them,
coming between the armies of Egypt and Israel."
(Exodus 14:19)
As you continue in your fast, praying and feasting on His powerful all-sustaining Word, I pray your eyes are being opened to a greater sense of clarity to His plans and purposes. As you are being still and waiting upon the Lord (and what a challenge it has been in the midst of many disruptive and distractive circumstances), may you sense His presence and come to the realization that He has you covered on all sides. He is surrounding you - you are cloaked in His presence(reference Psalm 5:12;125:2)! I pray you sense His pleasure! No need to look over your shoulder - simply move forward in faith - He will guide your every step and will become your rear guard as you faithfully pursue His precepts and proclaim His praises (reference Psalm 91:1-2; Isaiah 58:8).
"But you will not leave in haste or go in flight;
for the LORD will go before you,
the God of Israel will be your rear guard."
(Isaiah 52:12)
For the Israelites, they would discover the Lord to be more than mere guide, they would be fully engulfed in His presence and protection as He illumines the path before them and opens the door to greater faith. They would soon build a tabernacle as a symbol of the Lord's central and permanent presence in their lives. This would be a constant reminder of the Lord's protection and a testimony of His faithfulness for countless generations to come.
"Let this be written for a future generation,
that a people not yet created may praise the LORD."
(Psalm 102:18)
As we press on this week, and in the weeks that remain, let us take notes from the wise man who built his house upon the rock: "The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundations on the rock" (Matthew 7:24-25). We must stay faithful to the task before us: Removing the obstacles and standing firm on the Rock as the foundation of Truth begins to rise to the surface.
"In the time of My favor I will answer you,
and in the day of salvation I will help you;
I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people,
to restore the land
and to reassign its desolate inheritances,
to say to the captives, 'Come out,'
and to those in darkness 'Be free!'
They will feed beside the roads
and find pasture on every barren hill.
They will neither hunger nor thirst,
nor will the desert heat or the sun beat upon them.
He who has compassion on them will guide them
and lead them beside springs of water.
I will turn my mountains into roads,
and my highways will be raised up."
(Isaiah 49:8-11)
There is a highway being built - the paths of righteousness are being restored - as one faithful, humble, repentant heart returns to the Lord after another. Do not waver as the enemy pursues you from behind or the waves comes crashing at your feet - the Lord is faithfully surrounding you - rest secure in His covering of protection (reference Psalm 17:8; 18:1-6; 36:5-12)!
Press on, for there is a greater treasure for those who are willing to persevere (reference Hebrews 10:19-25). May you be blessed for your faithfulness! May His praises be continually on your lips, and His Word imbedded in your heart, as you continue to feast upon His Word (reference Psalm 19:14; 34:1; 144:1-8)!
Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you (2 Thessalonians 3:16),
Traci A. Alexander
Trumpet and Torch Ministries
"For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers,
that our forefathers were all under the cloud
and that they all passed through the sea.
They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea.
They all ate the same spiritual food
and drank the same spiritual drink;
for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them,
and that rock was Christ."
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