God is our Refuge and Strength

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” The crisis you face right now may seem insurmountable. But God will see you through any crisis in your life. He will give you His love, joy, peace, protection, healing, a sound mind, and hope for a new day!

NAAV prayers warriors and NAAV staff are praying for your health, mind, soul and spirit in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Several years ago, NAAV wrote a letter to a member of NAAV a nonprofit organization. He was Jewish and did not believe in Jesus Christ. He was a Greek Orthodox Jew. This is a copy of the letter NAAV sent to him in November 2010. This letter was prompted by the power of the Holy Spirit and took a few months to write and send to him. NAAV shared many testimonials with him, and NAAV prayers and staff prayed for his soul and spirit in Christ Jesus the Lord God. We are also praying for our Servicemember, Veterans and their caregivers and family members that God will continue to bless them, open doors for them and provide food, divine healing, transportation and affordable housing for them in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Some people refuse to believe that Jesus, the Christ is God in the flesh. Some people just do not care. God’s love does not affect them one way or another. However, many open their hearts to God and receive the benefits of His love because they are aware of their sin and the need for salvation. Some people are overwhelmed with thanks for God’s love through Christ Jesus and welcome it freely. Some people, overwhelmed by God’s love, love Him deeply in return and grow in that love.

Everyone is loved by God, but not everyone responds to that love in the same way. The Lord God does not force us to accept His love. He leaves that up to us. We can either believe in Him or refuse.

As for me, I choose to love Him with all my heart, mind, soul, spirit, and strength and my neighbor as myself. For this is His very first commandment. Every day I give thanks to the Lord God and the blessed trinity for grace, salvation and eternal life through Christ Jesus.

How Can I Keep Myself in God’s Love?

I believe the answer rest in Jude verses 20, 21 when he wrote:

“But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.”

Jude recognized that we could do much more than we are doing to receive the love of God and to reflect it on to others. Christ also said the same to His disciples:

“As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandants, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in His love (John 15:9.10).”

Remember that God loves you and NAAV love you too! Everyone, at some time in their lives, deals with a crisis or problem. For some, the crisis is overwhelming: a hurricane (Katrina); a fire; a tragic car accident; a lost of a loved one; health problems, disappointment of a dream; or an early retirement. No matter their size, crises or problems can make people feel like God has abandoned them. How could God allow this to happen to me? If you are feeling that way right now, do not worry. You are not alone. A common reaction to problems or crisis is fear or abandonment. I have lost everything, you think. No one can help me now.

Well, my friend, I have good news for you. You have not lost everything. And someone can help you: God. God your heavenly Father did not cause your crisis or problem to happen. But even as you read this, he is right beside you, waiting patiently for you to turn to him. That might seem hard to believe. But it is true. And if you let yourself believe it, even just a little bit at first, you will find that your impossible-seeming situation has a solution. For with God, all things are possible.

We know that with God, all things are possible. God can calm all fears, help you deal with sorrow, pain, transportation, get new housing, regain your strength and, ultimately, live a life of hope. The Holy Bible tells us that a person who turns to God “shall not be afraid of evil tidings. His heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord.” With God, you can and will not only overcome your crisis; you will emerge intellectually, emotionally and spiritually fortified.

Prayer:

Lord God, we thank You for the many blessings You have bestowed upon us in this life. Thank You for the plentiful food we eat, especially the wonderful feast we enjoy today.
Thank You for the warmth of home, and the love and joy of family and friends. Please comfort those who are alone today, those who are homeless or hungry, or sick or suffering, especially of COVID-19 and social injustice. Help us Lord God to be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present our requests to You heavenly Father. (Philippians 4:6) We ask for Your continued blessings, love, joy, peace, and protection through Jesus Christ Your Son. Amen.

Scripture verses are taken from the New King James Version of the Holy Bible.

By: Constance A. Burns, NAAV Contributor for Moments of Mediation and Scriptural Readings; email: cburns@naavets.org

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