"He will my shield and portion be as long as life shall last" is one of the great lines in John Newton's classic hymn, Amazing Grace. Newton's Christian experience certainly summarizes my ministry testimony over the last nine years and I am sure faithful reader that it highlights your Christian pilgrimage as well. God charges His servants to be courageous in spiritual battle but courage without Divine protection is spiritual suicide. Make no mistake about it, without the protection of Almighty God my church revitalization ministry in Freeport would have been over long ago. After many dangers, toils, and snares I am still standing here only because of Him!
So with the Psalmist I joyfully declare, Thou O Lord are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head.
The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
He is my steadfast love and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield and He in whom I take refuge, who subdues peoples under me.
The LORD is my strength and my shield; in Him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with song I give Him thanks.
One of the great blessings God's people experience when they "stick their necks on the line" for Jesus is the opportunity to witness the saving power of God on display in their lives. Now God does not always choose to deliver every Christian servant from every perilous trial in this life but when He does we must stop and give Him the honor and worship He so deserves. If you do not agree with me I would challenge you to read through the Psalms with a special emphasis on the words "shield" and "deliverer."
As I trace the invisible hand of Providence at work in my present ministry I believe the Lord has rescued me from a couple of mutinies and other related dangers. My Shield has covered my flank many times over. He has been my back-plate of deliverance and my mighty fortress. Amazing grace!
