Prayer requests

Recently I was reading in Psalms and re-read this passage:

The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. (Psalm 18:2)

And this one:

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High    will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.  I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,    my God, in whom I trust.” Psalm 91:1-2)

There are other verses that capture this same idea. With so many references to our Father God being a refuge, a fortress, a stronghold, perhaps we do well to remind ourselves.

I don't know what all of the people who read this post are going through. I know that it's quite possible that you are having a rough go of it, and that you might need to hear this. So please let me tell you again what you have heard before!

The picture above is of a very real place in Israel. It's the fortress called Masada. It is there that the Romans had their final victory over the Hebrew rebels, in about 73AD. (Yes, I know, I'm being politically incorrect.) It's a huge mountain with a plateau at the top, and Herod had built a palace, baths, etc there. The Jewish rebels were determined not to be conquered, but to live and worship ruled only by God.

The only way up to Masada is a tiny path called "the Snake." I believe I've read that it was so twisty, and so narrow, that it was impossible for two people to walk side-by-side up the path. Now picture the Roman armies, who are used to marching and attacking in large groups -- soldiers marching side-by-side with shields held before them. There was no way to use their usual tactics here! And that is what led to the long siege of Masada.

That siege had an unhappy ending, but when the devil or our circumstances (or both) besiege us, we can have victory --

“Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him;    I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call on me, and I will answer him;    I will be with him in trouble,    I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him    and show him my salvation.” (Psalm 91:14-16)

Like Naomi in our studies this week, we can be surrounded by terrible things happening, but we can have victory in the Lord!

Please, if you are overwhelmed and we can pray with you, let us know. It's an honor to join in prayer with other believers. If you have a praise, of answered prayer, let us rejoice with you, too!