OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL SUNDAY 22ND DECEMBER 2019 – DIVINE PROTECTION BY PST. ADEBOYE

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL
DATE: SUNDAY 22ND DECEMBER 2019
THEME: DIVINE PROTECTION.
MEMORISE:
Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. Psalm 127:1
READ: Psalm 91:1-16
1He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.
8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.
9 Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;
10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.
14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.
15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.
16 With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.
MESSAGE
A Refuge is a secured shelter or a place of protection from danger and distress. It is a good stronghold that is commonly used for retreat, healing and renewal. It is therefore comforting that the Bible refers to God as our refuge 2 Samuel 22:3 says:
“ The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence.”
In effect, God is our Fortress, Strong Tower, Rock of Defense, our shield, our shade of protection and our shelter in the time of storms. Indeed, He is a mighty God with incredible capabilities. As the Lord of hosts and our Mighty man in battle, He is mighty to deliver and mighty to save.
A father’s capability and actions go a long way in affecting the life of his child. Our heavenly Father does not only neutralize weapons designed against His children; He also protect them from harm. I have experienced His goodness in this regard several times, and I would like to share one of these with you today. At a time when I was still very young in the 50’s, we had mining activities going on in my village and our roads were very narrow. Nigeria was still under colonial rule back then. Usually, white men came in a jeep to collect the gold that the miners got. The white men were so powerful in those days that the villagers believed that if a white man killed person’s child, that person would still have to say “thankyou” to them, to avoid being sent to prison. For this reason, they were very much dreaded. One day, my sister and I were returning from the farm when we suddenly heard the sound of a jeep moving towards us at top speed, my sister immediately grabbed my hand and we both jumped out of the way, landing in an empty mine pit. We barely escaped the jeep, but before we could heave a sigh of relief, we found ourselves before a deadly snake. However, because our heavenly Father can preserve lives, I lived to tell the story. In Luke 10:19, God empowered all believers in Christ to have authority over snakes, scorpions and over demonic agents and all their activities. I therefore prophesy in the Name that is above all other names: God will protect you and defend everything that is yours this season. I testify that God’s word is trustworthy, reliable and dependable, and this word says in Psalm 20:7-8:
“Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God. They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright.”
Irrespective of what you may be passing through right now, trust God and call upon His Name today, and He will give you all-round peace.
PRAYER POINT:
Father, that You for being my hiding place and my refuge; please keep me secure to fulfil my assignment in life, in Jesus’ Name.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Proverbs 16-19
Zechariah 10
AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE
HYMN 12: MY FAITH LOOKS UP TO THEE.

1. My faith looks up to Thee,
   Thou Lamb of Calvary,
   Savior divine!
   Now hear me while I pray,
   Take all my guilt away,
   Oh, let me from this day
   Be wholly Thine!
2. May Thy rich grace impart
   Strength to my fainting heart,
   My zeal inspire!
   As Thou hast died for me,
   Oh, may my love to Thee
   Pure, warm, and changeless be,
   A living fire!
3. While life’s dark maze I tread,
   And griefs around me spread,
   Be Thou my guide;
   Bid darkness turn to day,
   Wipe sorrow’s tears away,
   Nor let me ever stray
   From Thee aside.
4. When ends life’s transient dream,
   When death’s cold, sullen stream
   Shall o’er me roll;
   Blest Savior, then in love,
   Fear and distrust remove;
   Oh, bear me safe above,
   A ransomed soul!