I was so encouraged in faith in our great God and moved by the testimony of a sister in the Lord in Afghanistan which I read a while ago in the Open Door’s magazine. (Open Doors is a ministry who supports persecuted Christians in various nations, (see https://www.opendoorsuk.org/ for further details). In that nation, believers in Messiah Yeshua have to keep their faith hidden, particularly from the authorities – or face likely death or exile. This is what the sister shared (note that the name is not given, for obvious reasons):
“Spiritually, we’re very strong,,” says XXXXX…… “We see God is always at work, and the Holy Spirit is our guide and protector.” Her family gave their lives to Jesus after she shared the gospel with them and now she says they ‘feel a sense of freedom and love from God that they never felt before.’ (Taken from Open Doors March 2025 prayer diary).
I was particularly stirred by the reference to the Holy Spirit being her Protector and reminded through this of the word of God which has so recently struck me as I read Psalm 121. It is at verse 5a which says: ‘The LORD is your keeper.’ I was moved to look up the reference footnote beside the word ‘keeper’ in my bible and saw that it said ‘protector’! The LORD is your protector! You may wish to read the whole of Psalm 121 now – it says this:
I will lift up my eyes to the hills—
From whence comes my help?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
Who made heaven and earth.
3 He will not allow your foot to be moved;
He who keeps you will not slumber.
4 Behold, He who keeps Israel
Shall neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The Lord is your keeper/protector;
The Lord is your shade at your right hand.
6 The sun shall not strike you by day,
Nor the moon by night.
7 The Lord shall preserve you from all evil;
He shall preserve your soul.
8 The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in
From this time forth, and even forevermore.
In these ‘perilous times’ (see 2 Timothy 3:1-5) we can often feel our need of this truth to sink deeper still. Let it do so now, reading it out loud and placing a stress on every word in the verse. It will certainly bless every Spirit-born child of Almighty God by His grace through faith in Lord Yeshua the Messiah, in whom ‘all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God’ (2 Corinthians 1:20).
As we enter into 2026, may we all know more of the Lord’s mercy and grace to help us in our need – whatever those needs may be – that through faith in our Lord Yeshua the Messiah, we can know in ever deepening measure that the LORD IS [our] keeper. As we are taught through 1 Peter 1:3-9:
‘Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honour, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith-the salvation of your souls.
Amen.
Until He calls or comes, shalom and God bless you.
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