Most believers are familiar with Psalm 91, the
protection chapter in the Book of Psalm. And just for the sheer beauty of the promise, and the reassurance, I share it here in the KJV:
1He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
3Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
4He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
5Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
6Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
7A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.
8Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.
9Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;
10There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
11For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
12They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
13Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.
14Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.
15He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.
16With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.
I have a testimony.
Yesterday, while I was at work in my office, my car was broken into and the perpetrators tried to steal it. In broad day light, in a public parking lot at a professional suite of offices - two young men (I will not describe them further than that), rolled up in a black Nissan. One of them got out, and according to a witness who happens to work with a friend of mine, went to a white (my) car, looking suspicious. The witness began to think that maybe the young man knew the owner of the car, because he was so smooth. He got the car door open on the driver's side, then popped the trunk and looked inside. In a few minutes, they rolled away. This happened between 3:30 and 4:45 p.m.. I had just gotten to the office at 3:00.
When I got to my car at the end of the day, around 6:00 - I noticed that my window was rolled down, and the door was unlocked. Strange. I KNOW my door was locked....but I got on in and put my key in the ignition...but the key didn't fit! I turned it every which way, but my car would not start! Then it dawned on me:
someone tried to STEAL my CAR!
Thankfully my friend was still nearby, and I called her (we had walked out to the parking lot together). As I was telling her what I thought had happened, she REMEMBERED what her co-worker had said earlier. She realized that, in fact, her co-worker had been right to be suspicious. I made three calls immediately: 1. the police 2. AutoZone (my girlfriend and I correctly assessed that I need a new ignition cylinder) 3. my mechanic. Then I began to count my blessings.
1. I was safe. I had not been IN the car when they tried to take it.
2. The car was still here. They had not been able to steal it. Whatever they took, can be replaced.
3. I WAS SAFE. AND GOD'S TIMING IS PERFECT!!
While waiting for the police, I made calls to my Supervisor and the Director of the agency. They were stunned. I had eyeballed the interior of my car, checked the trunk - and the eye witness from my friend's job returned to give her statement. At first blush, I thought they hadn't taken anything. We waited longer than I expected for the police to arrive - and I wasn't leaving my car in the parking lot. I needed to call the tow truck, but wanted to get the police report done first. However, it was getting dark, and we were three women in a place that isn't as safe as we once thought. (well, nowhere is truly safe). Even though we waited inside my locked office, it was eerie outside as the sun set.
At 9:00 p.m., after my car and I were dropped off by the tow guy, I walked in my door, went to my bedroom and fell on my knees. I thanked the Lord, again, for His protection. I thanked the Lord for His mercy and grace. While on my knees I remembered that earlier, as I was traveling to the office, I was thanking God for the blessing of transportation that has been such a reliable and faithful machine (thanks to my excellent mechanic!). And I prayed for continued mercies and protection for my children, who are away, living their lives. (my middle daughter is out of town for a few days on a much-needed vacation with some of her friends; I didn't worry her with this.)
Upon further inspection of my car this morning, I found that they had taken some CDs, and my Bible. I cannot express how hurt I felt when I realized my special study Bible, given to me by my late husband, is gone. (I ran back into the house to see if it was inside. But no, it wasn't) All that came to mind was, "Lord, deal with them." The pain of that loss is slow in subsiding.
I'm at work today, and I'm feeling good. I've warned my co-workers about making sure their windows are all the way up and their doors are locked. I do believe my doors were locked, but the window on the driver's side may not have been up all the way. I know that I'm blessed because I'm able to share this testimony. As I wrote the other day,
http://thewomaninmyattic2.blogspot.com/2012/03/are-you-ready.html , though the current events are heinous and the times are perilous, I'm not frightened, nor am I afraid. I've been blessed with some kind of spiritual lens, complete with some sort of outer, full-body covering that, while I'm sure it can be pierced through (and my body can be destroyed) - it's really protecting my soul.
By God's grace and power, I'm still on the path. My car's gonna be fixed by tomorrow - and I'll be rolling again! These are the plans I've laid out before the Lord. I'm trusting He'll make it so.
Amen!
