God is sheltering you
It has been raining a lot in Buffalo this week, and the temperature has been cooling off quite a bit at night. I definitely feel the chill of fall, my favorite season, in the air. When I woke up this morning, it was chilly in the house. But a long sleeve shirt and a nice, hot cup of black coffee warmed me up. Tonight, the temperature is supposed to drop to 44 degrees. Brrr!
This morning, as the raindrops pitter-pattered on the roof before the sun peeked through the clouds, I felt relaxed. I always love that sound.
Well, almost always.
Earlier this year, rainfall filled me with a sense of dread, because our roof was damaged from a storm and needed to be replaced, so water droplets got inside. Every time the forecast called for the wet stuff, I’d sigh deeply and brace myself.
Finding someone to replace the roof proved to be more difficult than my husband Kenya and I expected. When we finally found a roofer that fit our desired timeline and budget, we were overjoyed!
After our roof was replaced, the first time it rained, I found myself tensing up. I had forgotten that there was no need to worry about leaks anymore. We finally had a reliable covering to shelter us from the rain. And now, I can smile again and relax when showers from heaven pour down.
Knowing that you’re protected gives you a feeling of peace and security, right? That’s why it’s wonderful to know that God is our shelter at all times. But what’s even better about Him is, unlike a roof, His protection is never compromised in a storm, no matter what kind of storm you face!
Moses faced a storm of controversy in his family in Numbers 12. Miriam and Aaron, Moses’s sister and brother, were upset with Moses for marrying a Cushite woman –Ethiopian and dark-skinned. Since Moses made this decision without their approval, they felt slighted and disregarded, so Miriam and Aaron challenged Moses’s divinely-bestowed position of authority.
“Hasn’t he spoken through us, too?” the pair said, pointing out that they, like Moses, could hear from God (v. 2). Moses didn’t hear the two of them, but God did.
“A strategic attack the enemy launched against you just backfired! God is sheltering you from the storm, shielding you from the attack, and stopping the weapon formed from prospering against you! ”
The devil is just shameless, isn’t he? He was busy here, working hard to cause division in this family. Satan will use anybody and anything. He doesn’t care. He just wants to hinder the work of the Lord, get you off course, and destroy you. But God won’t let him do it.
As the two assumed a posture of rebellion, God was angered and stood up for Moses by chastising Miriam and Aaron. However, Miriam got the harshest punishment. She was stricken with leprosy, a horrible skin disease, and was forced to live outside the camp for a seven-day period of purification (vv. 10-15). Despite her being out of line, Moses prayed for Miriam and asked God to heal her. He never fought back or defended himself. He didn’t have to, after all. God had already fought for him and defended the position He elevated Moses to.
Here’s the point: when God puts you in position, and you are His anointed, He will protect you, shelter you and defend you against attacks. You don’t have to waste time and worry about who or what the enemy tries to use against you – even if it’s betrayal from those you love. The Lord will shelter you, vindicate you, validate you, favor you, fight for you, and give you victory in spite of it all. Moses had no idea what Miriam and Aaron were up to, but God knew it, because the Lord sees all.
Seeing God’s response to Miriam and Aaron should inspire confidence in you through whatever comes your way. God stands up for those who love Him, trust Him, and live to bring His name glory. Right now, God is sheltering you from a storm – one you can’t even see. He’s fighting battles for you that you don’t recognize and coming against whatever is coming against you. So be confident. Keep putting your trust in the Lord. And don’t spend an ounce of energy wondering and worrying about what Satan has up his sleeve, because the weapon might be formed, but it won’t prosper.
To remind you that God is sheltering you today, I’m stirring Nahum 1:7 into your cup of inspiration, which says, “The Lord is good, a strong refuge when trouble comes. He is close to those who trust in him.”
As you drink down the contents of your cup, know that you don’t even need to fight in this battle. It belongs to the Lord. Just walk closely with Him. You will witness God’s power, and He will be the strong refuge and defense you need every single time.
Now, let’s pray.
God, thank You for the assurance that You are sheltering me from the storm, defending me against attacks, and causing Satan’s strategies against me to come to nothing. I praise You for being my strong refuge, deliverer, and lover of my soul. I rejoice that victory is mine, because You fight for me, and You have never lost a battle. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
If you desire prayer, please allow me, along with my intercessory prayer team, to stand in faith with you for breakthrough. We would be so honored. We have seen God work over and over again. There is power in agreement. Click here to request prayer now.
As always, thanks for reading and until next time... may today's cup of inspiration uplift, encourage, and empower you!
