The Devotional

Papa “J” says

With a pair of binoculars things far away are brought close, focused and clear. With the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, God can be seen, life will have purpose and His Plan will be clear. John 16:13-15.

For twenty three years I served in the United States Navy. Most of my days were spent under the waters of the Atlantic Ocean and the various seas of Northern and Southern Europe. I visited many places and was obedient to my every command. Exploring depths that ordinary people do not see. Well I had some trouble seeing these depths too, it is very dark at depths of a thousand feet, but with sonar I was able to paint a picture of things in front of me and things to my port or starboard side. The hard part is to not know what is going on behind you so ever so often I would need to wiggle a little, called a maneuver to see if anyone was following me. Sometimes I would not feel good and my labor to stay focused was hard. Swimming about in these times of trouble made me use backup procedures that limited my ability to defend myself. Once I remember that I was so weak that I had trouble moving and all I wanted to do was sink to the bottom. My heart pounded and every vital nerve in my body was actively involved to keep me going. Oh, I survived or I would not be writing to you today. I had a strong will to live! Now I am retired and I am safe. My roots are found in the Los Angeles Class Submarine, My name is: USS Hyman G. Rickover (SSN 709) I have fought the good fight, my crew can now rest in peace. Psalm 4:8

Psalm 18

Psalm 18:1-19 The Psalm is very long, but it carries the theme of victory. The victory of one individual named David, the servant of the LORD who very soon after became king over Israel. The LORD delivered David from all of his enemies and from the hand of king Saul who was tormented with evil until the day he died. We like David face the battle of evil daily, the trouble is that many of us do not see it coming and we become victims rather than victors.

The LORD's strength and His deliverance are as solid as a rock, God is worthy to be trusted. God never fails. Surrounded by ungodliness, one can feel the grip of hell tightening and the grip of death clutching at our soul. In these distresses we cry out to God and from His temple where Victory sits at His right Hand the deliverance comes. His anger over evil is visible and a devouring fire begins to rage.

The dark spiritual world shutters as the LORD prepares to battle for us. He rides the cherub and sails on the wings of the wind. The LORD thunders from the heavens, He lets His arrows fly. At His rebuke the foundations of the world are uncovered. Then He finds us and delivers our soul out of many troubled waters. Personally, I am freed from the grip of the enemy and those who hate me. Not because of who I am, I am nothing. He delivered me because He delights in His Son, whom I have come to love and trust.