Today's Devotion Friday, October 27, 2000 "Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee." (Psalm 91:5-7) Today's Thought How many times have we walked through the valley . . . everything within us screaming to us that we're not going to make it or that something bad is going to happen to us! If we'd be honest with ourselves, we'd all have to say we've been there one time or another. These feelings are not privately experienced . . . every child of God at some time in their life, will face dark hours, or days, or even months, when they feel so isolated and alienated by God and His presence. But the scripture gives us hope to hang on to as we journey through the valley. Many times there is a still small voice that speaks a comforting word or just a quick feeling of "safety" that suddenly hits in the middle of the night. It's almost as if we can hear the Father say . . . "Peace!" and suddenly the storm raging around us calms to a balmy peace! These are precious times . . . times when our minds are being flooded with fear and doubt that God makes His presence known. They're intimate times . . . personal moments that nobody can take away or dispute with you about! It is in these times that our faith is stretched to "hold on", but that stretching also causes growth that is not easily reversed! Growth is produced when God confirms His Word in our hearts and in our lives, and we know that we know that we know He has heard our cry, seen our trouble, and moved in our situation. We truly have nothing to be afraid of . . . no terror by night, no arrow flying during the daytime, no pestilence, no destruction . . . God has us in the palm of His hand. Isaiah 49:16 says, "See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands. . . " How could anyone forget something that is permanently and vividly engraved on the palm of their hand! We couldn't . . . God won't! Hallelujah!!! Today's Prayer Father, thank You for what You are doing in my life . . . teaching me to trust You when it appears that everything around me is falling apart. Lord, continue to remind me when I walk thorugh the valley in the dark of night that it is in these times that Your faithfulness to me is so overwhelming . . . that You have not forsaken me nor forgotten me. Speak into my heart through Your Word of the greatness of Your provision for me. Thank You, Father, for Your comfort . . . thank You for your reassurance. Thank You for that still, small voice that reminds me of Your unfailing love. You are truly my Redeemer and my Friend . . . life without You would not be worth living . . . I doubt that I could take another step wihtout the knowledge of Your presence in my life! I love You, Lord . . . more and more every day! Amen! **** An urgent prayer whispered In the still of the night. A cry of despair . . . Then the awesome awareness of His presence! He Hears! He Comforts! He Moves! An overwhelming peace In the still of the night. A whisper of praise . . . For the awesome awareness of His presence! (c. J. Ross, 1989) ****** Have a blessed day! Jan Ross jross@... http://focusontheword.com ICQ#18767082 "Sha'alu Shalom Yerushalayim" (Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem) Psalm 122:6 ~*~*~*~*~*~* Focus On the Word Banner Exchange--Sign Up Today and Receive 2,500 Free Credits http://focusontheword.com/banex [NOTE: Today's Devotion is provided automatically to all subscribers of End-Times, End-Times_News, and FOW-Bible discussion lists as well as many others who have requested subscriptions. If you do not wish to receive them, please follow the directions at the end of this message to unsubscribe. Please feel free to share these with friends and loved ones, and encourage others to subscribe also. Thank you!]