June 19, 2012

Arrows Of Deliverance!

2 Kings 13:15-19 (KJV), "And Elisha said unto him, Take bow and arrows. And he took unto him bow and arrows.    And he said to the king of Israel, Put thine hand upon the bow. And he put his hand upon it: and Elisha put his hands upon the king's hands.  And he said, Open the window eastward. And he opened it.  Then Elisha said, Shoot. And he shot.  And he said, The arrow of the LORD'S deliverance, and the arrow of deliverance from Syria: for thou shalt smite the Syrians in Aphek, till thou have consumed them.  And he said, Take the arrows.  And he took them.  And he said unto the king of Israel, Smite upon the ground. And he smote thrice, and stayed.  And the man of God was wroth with him, and said  Thou shouldest have smitten five or six times; then hadst thou smitten Syria till thou hadst consumed it: whereas now thou shalt smite Syria but thrice."
This is the story that came to my mind when I read this quote earlier today:  "An arrow can only be shot by pulling it backwards.  When life is pulling you back with difficulties, just imagine that it's going to launch you into something great.
We all have difficulties and trials in this life.  Too many times, we allow them to distract us or cause us to lose sight of His plan for our lives.  But, if we could use those trials and difficulties as arrows to launch us forward into the great things He has for us, we would  also find His deliverance. 

Deliverance, according to Merriam-Webster, is the saving from danger or evil.  Some synonyms are recovery, redemption, preservation, safekeeping and defense. 

Genesis 50:20a (MSG) says, "Don't you see, you planned evil against me but God used those same plans for my good." 

Psalm 7:10 (KJV), "My defence is of God, which saveth the upright in heart."

Psalm 59:16 (KJV), " But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble."

Psalm 32:7 (KJV), "Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah."

2 Timothy 4:18 (KJV), "And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen."

What is it that you are faced with today, or this week?  God wants to take your difficulties and trials and use them to launch you in to greater things and deliverance.   He will be your defense.  He will preserve you.  He will help you recover from the hurt and pain.  He will surround you and keep you safe.  He'll be your refuge.  Stop and see that the things that have been meant to drag you down and distract you will be the things that God used to perfect His will and plan in your life. 

What an AWESOME God we serve!  Lord, help me to see that any difficulty and trials that I face can be used by you to launch me into something great and into a refreshing deliverance.  ♥

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