Unseen Hand of Protection
This weekend my niece was nearly fatally injured when her horse stumbled and fell while running a rodeo event. This incident has consumed my mind the past two days, she walked away and the horse was fine but something profound had struck me. As these pictures have been reviewed many times, I can't help but believe an angel was positioned between my niece and the horse. God's saving hand is obvious in these photos, but what about those times He saves us when we are oblivious? His presence is always with us but how often do we acknowledge it? How many times do we say "Wow, that girl was lucky?"
In this situation, all the credit could have been given to the horse. Horses have instincts that can help them move quickly to avoid a collision, so it would be easy to say "Wow, look at that horse, he's trying to keep from falling on the girl." Or, it can be seen as the mighty hand of God intervening into a situation for His honor and glory. This horse story is not unlike many other death defying stories. I'm sure, at some point in life, we have all had at least one story where something equally amazing has happened to us. When something this profound does occur, where do we go with it? Since we walk away unharmed, should we move on our way, unchanged, and a month later it is forgotten. On the contrary, it should be remembered and pondered as to why we were spared, when some, in the same circumstances, were not spared.
Why does he save us so faithfully? Why save one but let another die? For those who fear God, Psalm 106:8 tells us exactly why he saves us:
"Nevertheless, He saved them for the sake of His name,
that He might make His power known."
He saves us so that we will make His power known. This thought is so big to me, that He...the Almighty, the Creator of the universe, wants to use me to make His power known?
So He doesn't save us just so we'll be happy, or so we can move along in life without a major catastrophe messing up our plans, but He saves us for the sake if His name. His name is power, His name is life, His name can break strongholds, His name trustworthy. There is a great and awesome purpose for which He saves us, so that we might uphold His name and tell others of His power.
Pslam 111:4 tells us that "the works of the Lord were made to be remembered." To forget is to be defeated, to remember is to have victory. We must remember on a daily basis. This type of remembering is what gives power to our daily walk and its what He will use to make His power known through us. Let us remember what He has done for us! Psalm 103:1-5; 21-22 "Let all that I am praise the LORD; with my whole heart, I will praise His holy name. Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things He does for me. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies. He fills my life with good things so that my life is renewed like the eagle's. Praise the Lord, you angels, you mighty ones who carry out his plans, listening for each of his commands. Yes, praise the Lord, you armies of angels who serve him and do his will! Praise the Lord, everything he has created, everything in all his kingdom. Praise the Lord."