Under His Wings

After attending our monthly youth rally, Pastor Eric Kamanu preach a most challenging message that not only tugged on my heartstrings but also convicted me to the core. The story Pastor Kamanu told about sacrificial “Stead Fastness”[Psalm61:3] which helped me to understand Christ and His obedience to the Father and how the Father’s love for me even when I walk through testing and trials of fire that may sometimes threaten my eternal life [John 3:16-17]. I will share only the first of these inspirational urban legends because it has several valuable lessons to be seen with in the tales [1 Corinthians 15:58].

 Psalm 91:4 He will cover you with His feathers; you will take refuge under His wings. His faithfulness will be a protective shield. Holman Christian Standard Bible

“After a forest fire in a national park, a few of the forest rangers trek up a mountain so that they could be able to assess the inferno’s damage. As one of the rangers was walking, he found a bird that had been literally petrified into ashes with wings out stretched [Psalm 63:7] and perched statuesquely on the ground at the base of a tree. After gazing at the eerie sight for several seconds, the forest ranger somewhat sickened by this sight of the bird knocked it over with a stick, as the ashes fell over three tiny chicks scurried from under their dead mother’s wings. This loving mother, profoundly aware of the looming calamity, had carried her off springs to the base of the tree and had gathered them under her wings, instinctively knowing that the toxic smoke would rise, knew that the lower lands would have breathable but sacrificial air, but refused to abandoned her babies. When the blaze had arrived and the heat had scorched her small body, this mother could have flown away to safety the mother and lived to have other chicks and another day, but she had remained steadfast in her sacrifice of love, she choose her children over life and because she was willing to die, those under the cover of her wings could live.”

Upon reading this inspirational story there are several things that came to my mind, the first was… “Daggone it how come I can’t write like that.”, and after that I looked at it saying LORD make me that Mother Bird, give me that kind of love, the love that doesn’t fear the enemy’s fiery darts. 

So it is here I begin…

We sing songs, we read the scriptures, which repeat so often Under the Shelter of His wings or Arms, but how do we get there?

We get under these wonderful wings by FAITH…

Faith that GOD is our protector

Faith that we shall find all that we need in Him

Faith that He will be our comforter

Faith that He will be our refuge

Our security is promised in the midst of danger, just as birds do their young, who cannot cover themselves: the mother in her tenderness for her children will do this to keep them warm, and protect them from those that would hurt them. This should demonstrate to us as being chicks we must rely upon GOD in our helplessness and weaken state, we are unable to defend ourselves but GOD is loving towards us to keep us well protected under His powerful and gracious presence and He comforts us in our tribulations, as well as defends them from our enemies.

Deuteronomy 32:11 As an eagle stirs up its nest, flutters over its young, spreads abroad its wings, takes them, bears them on its wings: King James 2000 Bible

Once again, the scriptures uses a metaphor of GOD’s loving-kindness towards us, as the Eagle cares for her young… The wings out stretched could represents Christ love and how He became our sacrifice [picture the mother bird willing to die for her chicks]; this is how much GOD loved us. 

Just as the mother bird drew her chicks close to her to cover them and redeem them for another day GOD has redeemed us from Sin by providing the Cross at it is at the base of the Cross we all must kneel to be covered by His precious blood [a metaphor for the out stretched wings of the mother bird]. The main clause of the scripture is “TAKES” and “BEARS” in our trials or needs GOD will take us, lift us, and put us in a high safe place. 

The female eagle cherishes for her young and when it is time for her newly fledged children are sufficiently advanced to soar in their native element, she, in their first attempts at flying, supports them on the tip of her wing, encouraging, directing, and aiding their feeble efforts to fly and just as the eagle does this GOD does the same for us. GOD will bear our trials or yokes if you will but we must be willing to “Come” under the safety of His wings.

Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. American King James

I found my answer to how do we get under the shelter of GOD’s wings… BUT THEY THAT WAIT UPON THE LORD… well sister what do you mean by waiting upon the LORD? I’m glad you asked this question. GOD is to be waited on, we should come to Him as children come to their parents, with respect, and expecting, knowing  that GOD will answer our prayers as we wait on Him in prayers and thanksgiving. Our spirits should be with meekness and humbleness. GOD will fill us with His strength, protect us with His wings, and give us His grace so that we obtain His presence. There is no fleeing from GOD’s shelter but we should run into GOD’s loving arms, and in doing this we trust Him for His words.

Psalm 17:8 Keep me as the apple of Your eye, hide me under the shadow of Your wings, American King James Version

Here King David once again uses the metaphor about GOD’s wings, but this was to demonstrate GOD’s ability to keep him safe. But the first part “KEEP ME” as the apple of the eye, could also be said as keep me in the center of Your will [as Christ said… NOT MY WILL BUT THY WILL BE DONE]. Our commitment to GOD should be in trusting in Him and bringing souls into the kingdom of GOD. We are covered with Christ so that we may behold GOD’s face, that we may conform to His likeness which is set before us [in the bible His word]. We will never find rest unto our souls until we find the shelter of His loving arms.

I think it is only appropriate to end this blog instead with a prayer but with the lyrics to “In the Shelter of His loving arms” by The Oak Ridge Boys… let that be our prayer instead.

When my soul was disturbed with sorrow, when my heart was burdened with sin Jesus opened His arms of mercy and tenderly took me in

[Chorus] There is peace in the time of trouble, there is peace in the midst of the storm, there is peace though the world be raging… In the shelter of His arms.  

Tho' the world all-around be raging, and it's filled with many alarms. Trust in Jesus and He will keep you... In the shelter of His arms

Amen… You pray for me and I’ll pray for you… until next blogg.