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Take Cover!

by Tonja Taylor
9/03/2023 / Christian Living

1 Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy! I look to you for protection. I will hide beneath the shadow of your wings until the danger passes by. 2 I cry out to God Most High, to God who will fulfill his purpose for me. --Psalm 57:1-2, NLT

When a storm is coming, the authorities tell us to “take cover”; to find protection; to hide till the disaster has passed.

The main ways to "take cover" are (1) cultivate the relationship with Christ Jesus every day, through Bible reading, prayer, and listening to Bible-based teaching, preaching, and worship; (2) regularly attending a Bible-believing church; (3) relating to other true Believers outside of church time, to create and strengthen godly friendships, where they will pray for you and encourage you and sharpen you to desire more of God and His ways, while you do the same for them; (4) tithing off the gross and giving offerings as the LORD leads; and (5) making corrections in your life as the LORD shows you.

There is power in numbers; even the wicked people know that.

In these crazy, terrible days of the world system, true Believers need to gather with other true Believers, to be strengthened and encouraged, provided for, and protected by prayer and the Word!

It is a lie of the enemy that, with just us and God, we can "make it on our own."

No, we can't. I know that many got accustomed during the virus attack (created and sent by the enemy, by the way!) to either not going to church or just attending church onine. Praise the LORD for the churches continuing to stream services and preach and teach the Word during that terrible couple of years!

Now, He has brought us out, and it is for us that we are to gather with other people. We need each other, even if we don't think or feel like we do.

The LORD has ordained and commanded that we meet regularly with other Believers; people who believe like us.

Not forsaking or neglecting to assemble together [as believers], as is the habit of some people, but admonishing (warning, urging, and encouraging) one another, and all the more faithfully as you see the day approaching.--Hebrews 10:25, AMPC

It's not for Him; it's for us!

When we draw close to the LORD--starting with confessing our sins and asking Him to forgive and cleanse us by the blood of Jesus, shed on the cross over 2,000 years ago, HALLELUJAH--then thanking Him daily, and learning His Word (which is His will for us!); attending church and pursuing godly relatoinships while staying away from toxic people and activities that would draw us away from God's Word; then we are "taking cover".

The LORD will help us!

We can claim the promises of the Bible, when we are seeking God and truly open to His correction, and realizing He loves us so much; that His mercy and faithfulness has kept us so far, and that He delights in us as His creation, and then more as His children, when we receive Christ Jesus as Savior and LORD.

For instance, we can claim Psalm 91, which is excellent to quote aloud over ourselves and our loved ones; even just the first two verses:

1 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty [Whose power no foe can withstand]. 2 I will say of the Lord, He is my Refuge and my Fortress, my God; on Him I lean and rely, and in Him I [confidently] trust!--Psalm 91:1-2, AMPC

"Taking cover" is also found in developing relationships with other Believers in Christ, so we can have each other's backs.

Jesus is our Covenant God, Who will never leave us nor forsake us, and He is contstantly (through His Holy Spirit) circling around us, watching over us, and keeping us from harm we may never know was trying to get to us. Great is His faithfulness and mercy! Hallelujah!

After that, we can depend on other people (although no person but Jesus is perfect!), and the closer they are to the LORD and really living the Word every day, the more dependable they are, but not perfect.

Thus says the Lord: As the juice [of the grape] is found in the cluster, and one says, Do not destroy it, for there is a blessing in it, so will I do for My servants’ sake, that I may not destroy them all.--Isaiah 65:8, AMPC

Sometimes, the LORD does tell us to separate ourselves from the world (system), and often, when other Believers, or even the pastors, act like the world, it can be discouraging and disappointing, and make us just want to stay home and be with God alone.

I totally understand that.

The only thing wrong with church, of course, is the people, and, as one pastor says, "I'm a people."

Yes, we're in the world, but not of it, and we have to finally learn (It has taken me wayyyyyy too long on this matter, but I'm getting it, with the help and grace of the LORD!) that every person has different experiences, training, and more---and that's OK.

Praise the LORD, we are not responsible for anyone but ourselves.

I speak of the fact that, ultimately, each of us will stand before the LORD to answer for our deeds on earth (or lack of them.

I’m so thankful God is merciful, and that His mercy precedes His judgement!

With the exception of parents raising children, teachers directing students, we should only be concerned with evaluating/judging/having opinions about our own life. In every part of life, we should work to be Christlike examples, and put not our own opinions on those under our charge, but what God said. What does the Bible say? The Bible is our final Authority on what to think, do, and say!

So how do we protect ourselves from the wrong weirdness of the world system? By taking cover in the LORD.

The Holy Spirit will guide you specifically, and He will warn you inside, by causing a lack of peace, if something is wrong. He is faithful forever. Even if you miss it, He will work it for good (Romans 8:28).

Trust God. He is faithful forever, and always has your best interest at heart. The more you get to know Him through His Word, worship, prayer, Bible-based teaching and preaching and God-honoring relationships, the more you will realize His love for you, and how He is the only true Cover!

Through books, courses, presentations, service, prayer, worship, and more, Tonja and her husband live to exalt God. Her series for girls, P.O.W.E.R. GIRL ADVENTURES, is now out (books I-V), along with LEGACY; YOUR HOLY HEALTH: VISIONS OF THE KING, and more. See the "River Rain Creative" YT channel.

Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com-CHRISTIAN WRITERS

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