Are you hidden in Christ?... or just hiding?

Are you hidden in Christ?... or just hiding?

Patricia Ann

I was driving through town after the 16 inches of snow fell recently. Residents were still digging out. Snow still covered many vehicles and sidewalks were not scooped to clear a path for anyone to walk.  
It was dusk and a very dreary evening, but we were out and about to get some groceries and look at the snow.  Gutters had fallen off of houses due to the snow load. Roads were bumpy, still covered with a thick layer of freezing slush.
I looked up in front of me, as I drove down the street.  There was a big bird sitting in the middle of a utility line crossing the street. He captured my gaze and I noticed it was an owl.  Strange, I thought, that he would be sitting there like that. It was something that I hadn't seen before.
Only later did I realize that the owl was hungry.  With 16 inches of snow, where was his prey?  
He sat high up on that line waiting for food. 
I imagine that every little mouse, or frog or other critter that the owl would normally feast on, was buried somewhere under that deep layer of snow, nestled in the warm safety of  their nests....waiting for the warm sun to shine and melt

the snow.  
Sure, they were probably hungry too, unless they had done what these little critters so often do.  They store up food for the winter, busily gathering nuts and seeds for the cold, wet days that winter undoubtedly brings. 
As I pondered the owl sitting up on that utility line, I thought of the loving protection that our Father in Heaven promises us.  He tells us that He is ever present in the midst of every storm and that He watches over us, keeping us safely nestled under His wing.  He keeps us safe from the predator, His adversary, who sits waiting for someone to prey on, someone to devour, to kill, steal and destroy.  
The owl, like the adversary, was sitting and watching, waiting for his next meal. But, nestled under the deep layer of snow, the little creatures had been held in safety, not venturing out in the storm to risk being devoured.  
You see, only those little critters who were unprepared for the storm might venture out in the cold, heavy snow seeking to find food for themselves and likely become food for the owl.  Yet, those who are prepared for the storm are able to stay inside, dwelling in safely, until the storm and its effects are gone away.  
Psalm 91 assures us of our safety, resting under the wing of the Almighty, safe from the snares of the enemy and free from the devouring effects of the storms of the world.
My question for everyone today... 
Are we hidden in Christ or just hiding?
Do we know the promises of our Lord written in Psalm 91?  Can we rest securely in the Almighty that even in what seems the worst of times, He has already set forth a plan to keep us safely prepared for the storm?  
Just as the little critters store up nuts and seeds, we are to store up in our hearts and minds the Word of God, His scriptures, His truth for us to feed on.  
As every storm always comes to an end, just as the snow storm did for the God's little creatures, are we as His children prepared to rest in His care?
Are we truly hidden in Christ?
I promise, there is no better place to be than nestled close to our Father in Heaven. 
If you don't know Him, I encourage you to read His promises in Psalm 91.  Hide His word in your heart and when the next storm comes, you will find yourself nestled under His wing, safe, warm and secure.  
My prayer for today is for the love and glory of God to shine through in every storm.  May we know He is protecting us in its midst. May His word be food to our soul.  Love and blessings to all in the name of our Lord Jesus, Yeshua. 

Psalm 91  (KJV)
He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.
8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.
9 Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;
10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.
14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.
15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.
16 With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.