Saturday, May 06, 2006

How to Stay Safe when Faced with Danger

How to Stay Safe when Faced with Danger…

Have you ever been in a situation that turned out to be dangerous? Have you wondered what you’d do if suddenly faced with a gunman? What if your children were there too? And 25 other people? What would you think of this person? Would you scream? Would you stay silent and hope for the best? Is there anything we actually can do?

According to the Bible, there is. Ps 33:20 “He [God] is our help and our shield.” Ps 46:1 “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Prov 3: 5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” So, God is helping us, shielding us and a very present help in trouble. And as long as we’re leaning on Him and trusting in Him, He will direct our paths. We can rejoice in this fact. We can never be in a situation where God isn’t there. There is no where we could possibly go that God isn’t there protecting us. However, it is our job to listen for God’s angel messages.

I went to the post office recently to renew our sons passport. After signing in, I sat on a window sill with both kids on my lap. The regular post line was all the way out the door. As I was sitting waiting, I was just listening for God’s good thoughts. Just then, a man walked in through the door holding what appeared to be a gun under his shirt. I saw this because I was about eye level with his belt and was facing the door. Everyone else in line was turned the other way – facing the front of the post office.

As soon as I saw this, instead of being afraid, the very first thought that came to me was “This is Gods beloved child, in whom He is well pleased.” Then I knew how completely innocent this man was. It was his only choice as Gods child. The man walked to the other side of the post office and I didn’t look at him again. I just stuck to the fact that he was innocent. I stood up and took the children out to the proper passport waiting area. Then, the man left the post office. A minute or two later he came back in with nothing under his shirt. I was so happy for him – that he was the complete, free child of God.

I will never know exactly what he was holding under his shirt, but I do know that he left and came back in without it. I also know that instead of being fearful and expecting something terrible to happen, the only thing I could think was about his innocence as a child of God. I KNEW it was true. I knew it was the only identity this man had.

Later, in thinking of this incident, I was rejoicing that instead of being my usual fearful self, my thoughts immediately turned to the absolute truth – what the Bible tells us – “God made man in his own image.” I was grateful that I had been praying a lot lately and practicing seeing God’s children as His reflection instead of what appears to the material senses. That true identity can only include such qualities as innocence, perfection, satisfaction, joy, tenderness, love, etc. That leaves absolutely no room for anything else. I also know that the next time I’m faced with a startling situation, I will know what to do. I know for a fact that God is there, not only protecting me, but every one of His children.

We can be prepared in advance for any situation. The morning of this incident, I had spent quiet time studying the Bible and Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy. I also spent time just listening for God’s guidance for me that day. When I picked my son up from school that day, I didn’t want to go to the post office at all, but felt led to be there anyway. There was a reason God wanted me there at that moment. I felt everyone at the post office was protected and the man with the apparent gun had a change of heart. Perhaps he caught a glimpse of his real identity as an innocent child of God.How to Stay Safe when Faced with Danger…
By Julie Trevor-Roberts

Have you ever been in a situation that turned out to be dangerous? Have you wondered what you’d do if suddenly faced with a gunman? What if your children were there too? And 25 other people? What would you think of this person? Would you scream? Would you stay silent and hope for the best? Is there anything we actually can do?

According to the Bible, there is. Ps 33:20 “He [God] is our help and our shield.” Ps 46:1 “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Prov 3: 5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” So, God is helping us, shielding us and a very present help in trouble. And as long as we’re leaning on Him and trusting in Him, He will direct our paths. We can rejoice in this fact. We can never be in a situation where God isn’t there. There is no where we could possibly go that God isn’t there protecting us. However, it is our job to listen for God’s angel messages.

I went to the post office recently to renew our sons passport. After signing in, I sat on a window sill with both kids on my lap. The regular post line was all the way out the door. As I was sitting waiting, I was just listening for God’s good thoughts. Just then, a man walked in through the door holding what appeared to be a gun under his shirt. I saw this because I was about eye level with his belt and was facing the door. Everyone else in line was turned the other way – facing the front of the post office.

As soon as I saw this, instead of being afraid, the very first thought that came to me was “This is Gods beloved child, in whom He is well pleased.” Then I knew how completely innocent this man was. It was his only choice as Gods child. The man walked to the other side of the post office and I didn’t look at him again. I just stuck to the fact that he was innocent. I stood up and took the children out to the proper passport waiting area. Then, the man left the post office. A minute or two later he came back in with nothing under his shirt. I was so happy for him – that he was the complete, free child of God.

I will never know exactly what he was holding under his shirt, but I do know that he left and came back in without it. I also know that instead of being fearful and expecting something terrible to happen, the only thing I could think was about his innocence as a child of God. I KNEW it was true. I knew it was the only identity this man had.

Later, in thinking of this incident, I was rejoicing that instead of being my usual fearful self, my thoughts immediately turned to the absolute truth – what the Bible tells us – “God made man in his own image.” I was grateful that I had been praying a lot lately and practicing seeing God’s children as His reflection instead of what appears to the material senses. That true identity can only include such qualities as innocence, perfection, satisfaction, joy, tenderness, love, etc. That leaves absolutely no room for anything else. I also know that the next time I’m faced with a startling situation, I will know what to do. I know for a fact that God is there, not only protecting me, but every one of His children.

We can be prepared in advance for any situation. The morning of this incident, I had spent quiet time studying the Bible and Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy. I also spent time just listening for God’s guidance for me that day. When I picked my son up from school that day, I didn’t want to go to the post office at all, but felt led to be there anyway. There was a reason God wanted me there at that moment. I felt everyone at the post office was protected and the man with the apparent gun had a change of heart. Perhaps he caught a glimpse of his real identity as an innocent child of God.

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