Prayer and Discernment

There are A LOT of differing opinions and perspectives shouting loud in our ears right now. Many, many voices are screaming out their views from wells of deep emotions and feelings running strongly within. I too have definite opinions and views regarding a number of issues right now, and I would love to share them with you. I'm not going to though.  

I would imagine the majority of you are adults. Therefore, you are more than capable of searching out truth for yourselves. You don't need my opinion to discover truth. You need someone to walk along beside you praying the presence of Jehovah Shalom over you. I am honored to be that someone.

Because the voices surrounding us are so very very loud and intense, I am inviting you to draw close to God with me, to seek His face, search our hearts, and listen to the One who IS Truth. He will lead us in the way that is right and true. 

As we draw close to Him, the confusion and chaos clears. It is as the old song says "Turn your eyes upon Jesus ... and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace." 

When Jesus is our focus, truth is present. Fake news, inaccurate information presented as scientific fact, propaganda, falsehoods, fear mongering, none of these evils can influence us when we are in the secret place with our hearts and minds focused and stayed on Jesus. 

(Isaiah 26:3 - reading this verse in a variety of translations and versions of the Bible is a worth the time. It strengthens the heart and soul.)

Doctors who care more about money than people and extreme politicians desiring to strip the American people of liberty and justice cannot corrupt the peace and goodness of God. Another song is singing inside of me right now: "In the presence of Jehovah/ God Almighty/ Prince of Peace/ troubles vanish/ hearts are mended/ in the presence of the King." 

Jehovah Shalom, God our Peace, will keep us in His perfect peace when our minds are stayed on Him because we trust in Him. He will. He said He will, therefore, He will. However, we can't trust someone we don't know, and we can't know someone we don't spend time with. We need time with God our Peace. 

As we are sheltering in place during this time we are free to also shelter in the secret place of the Most High and abide under the shadow of the Almighty. We can say of the Lord He is our refuge, our fortress, our God, in Him we can confidently lean on, rely, and trust. For surely He WILL deliver us from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. (Psalm 91 - this portion of scripture too read and meditated on in various translations strengthens our spirits)

Psalm 91 The Passion Translation (TPT)

Safe and Secure

91 When you sit enthroned[a] under the shadow of Shaddai,[b]
you are hidden[c] in the strength of God Most High.
2 He's the hope that holds me and the Stronghold to shelter me,
the only God for me, and my great confidence.
3 He will rescue you from every hidden trap of the enemy,[d]
and he will protect you from false accusation
and any deadly curse.[e]
4 His massive arms[f] are wrapped around you, protecting you.
You can run under his covering of majesty and hide.
His arms of faithfulness are a shield keeping you from harm.
5 You will never worry about an attack of demonic forces at night
nor have to fear a spirit of darkness coming against you.
6 Don't fear a thing!
Whether by night or by day, demonic danger will not trouble you,[g]
nor will the powers of evil launched against you.
7 Even in a time of disaster, with thousands and thousands being killed,
you will remain unscathed and unharmed.
8 you will be a spectator as the wicked perish in judgment,
for they will be paid back for what they have done!
9–10 When we live our lives within the shadow of God Most High,
our secret hiding place, we will always be shielded from harm.
How then could evil prevail against us or disease infect us?
11 God sends angels with special orders to protect you wherever you go,
defending you from all harm.
12 If you walk into a trap, they'll be there for you
and keep you from stumbling.
13 You'll even walk unharmed among the fiercest powers of darkness,[h]
trampling every one of them beneath your feet!
14 For here is what the Lord has spoken to me:
"Because you have delighted in me as my great lover,
I will greatly protect you.
I will set you in a high place, safe and secure before my face.
15 I will answer your cry for help every time you pray,
and you will find and feel my presence
even in your time of pressure and trouble.
I will be your glorious hero and give you a feast.
16 You will be satisfied with a full life and with all that I do for you.
For you will enjoy the fullness of my salvation!"

Footnotes:

1. Psalm 91:1 Or "O, you who sits enthroned." The Hebrew word yashab is often associated with one seated as royalty. It is translated in Ezek. 27:8 as "leaders or rulers."
2. Psalm 91:1 Shaddai (šadday) is taken from a Hebrew root word with many expressive meanings. It can mean "God of the Mountain, God the Destroyer of Enemies, God the Self-Sufficient One, God the Nurturer of Babies, God the Almighty."
3. Psalm 91:1 Or "I endure through the night." See Job 39:28, where the same Hebrew word is used for an eagle passing the night on the high cliffs.
4. Psalm 91:3 Or "hunter."
5. Psalm 91:3 As translated from the most ancient Hebrew manuscripts and the Septuagint. The Hebrew word can mean "poisoned arrows."
6. Psalm 91:4 Or "wings." Also found in the next sentence, "under his wings," which speaks not of God having wings, but of the wings of the cherubim resting on the mercy seat. The implication is that we can always come to the mercy seat and rest without fear.
7. Psalm 91:6 Verses 5–6 are seen by many Jewish scholars as a reference not merely to pestilence and natural dangers but to the realm of spiritual darkness that would come against God's servants. These spirits are equated to "arrows that fly in daytime" or "a pestilence that walks" in the darkness. God's sheltered ones are kept from the harm that could come from natural sources or supernatural sources. What a wonderful place to hide and be secure!
8. Psalm 91:13 The Hebrew includes the words for "lions," "snakes," and "dragons" (Heb. basilisk) as the three great symbols of satanic power.

The Passion Translation (TPT)

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