A Safe Place

On January 20th of this year, the United States of America had its first confirmed case of the coronavirus (COVID-19).  We live in a very rural area.  So rural, in fact, that the gravity of this virus did not sink in until the last two weeks.  I don’t even recall hearing about it until a month ago.  For us, it seemed to come out of nowhere.  (I don’t watch much news because it’s devastating to one’s psyche.  I mean that).  God dropped a memory into my mind during prayer this morning and I felt compelled to share it with you.

On January 5th of this year, before we were even aware of the existence of COVID-19, a prophetic Word was given at our church.  I try to record as many and as much of the prophecies as I remember.  This is what I felt the LORD wanted me to share with you today, directly from my journal:

“I have drawn you in circles of love.  I have called you by name.  I love you.  Come to Me.  Step into My embrace.  Let Me cover you for you do not know the time, the evil, what is coming, what lurks in the shadows, but I do.  I would protect you.  Step into My embrace.  Let Me cover you.  Come into My bosom.  I will be to you a shield and a buckler.  Will you continue to refuse and resist Me?  Do not.  Come to Me.  For you do not know the time or the evil.  I AM your Father, Healer, Friend, Savior, Deliverer–all you could ever want or need–I AM.  Come to Me.” 

I immediately thought of the scripture from Isaiah 26:20:

Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.

In my mind, the message was an upgrade from this particular verse.  The LORD wasn’t telling our congregation to hide themselves, He was saying He would hide whoever would step into His embrace.  That was incredibly comforting.

There were also a few unusual words that stuck out to me so I drug out my Strong’s Concordance.  These are the simple notes I made and scripture I wrote:

bosom-meaning to enclose

shield-prickly, pointed, piercing

buckler-something surrounding the person

He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.  Psalm 91:4

Those who do not refuse or reject Him will be surrounded, totally enclosed with a protective barrier that is covered with an encasement of outward piercing thorns.  A long time ago I got a tip from a woman: she planted rose bushes outside beneath her windows to deter intruders.  Piercing thorns is a big deal.  It’s what the enemy of our souls gets when he messes with God’s kids…and more.

I don’t know that COVID-19 is what God meant when this Word was given to us in January.  To be of a truth, I believe this is more of the earth’s groaning as in the pains of childbirth due to man’s sin (Romans 8:22) and there is more to come, much more.

I can hear you now, “Way to go, Christi, you just ruined your encouraging  word.”

But I did’t.  It is encouraging.  Do you hear?  God’s prophets are speaking.  His Word is alive and well and going forth.  The question is, will we listen and obey?  Obedience brings a blessing (Deuteronomy 28, first half).  Will we receive the Word and act on it today?  The choice is ours.

Please join me today in prayer for a worldwide end to this dreadful virus.  More so, let us pray for worldwide revival.  The LORD has spoken.  We do not totally comprehend the time or the evil that lurks in the shadows, but He does.  God has issued us an invitation to step into His embrace and let Him be to us our shield, our buckler, our everything.  Please join me and accept the invitation.

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.  Romans 8:28