Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 2 Corinthians 5:17 We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. May your unfailing love be with us, Lord, even as we put our hope in you. Psalm 33:20-22.

Do you ever look at the events going on in this world and feel distress? Has it really changed that much since the time of Judges 20? Civil war. The protection of those who do great wrong. Fighting for “our” tribe.

When the Israelites, 400,000 men armed with swords, came to the Levite so he could tell them about the awful thing that happened, he said, “I and my concubine came to Gibeah in Benjamin to spend the night. During the night the men of Gibeah came after me and surrounded the house, intending to kill me. They raped my concubine, and she died. I took my concubine, cut her into pieces and sent one piece to each region of Israel’s inheritance, because they committed this lewd and outrageous act in Israel. Now, all you Israelites, speak up and tell me what you have decided to do.” v. 4-7. He neglected to tell them he sent her out to be raped to save himself. He didn’t call on God to protect them.

The tribe of Benjamin refused to turn over the men who had raped and killed the woman. Of 400,000 Israeli fighters, 40,030 died. Of the 26,700 fighters from Benjamin, 25,000 fell, 600 of them fled to the wilderness while the towns of Benjamin were destroyed. An awful, bloody war. Can we relate to that today? Yesterday? Tomorrow?

When I look back over my life I can see God’s hand protecting me. He kept me safe through choices I made that were bad. Only in looking back can I see His protection. In the midst I stumbled in great darkness. He never left me. I couldn’t see Him then but He was there. God is so very patient and faithful.

What I am experiencing today in my walk with Him is His Presence here with me. I know He knew the choices I made could bring me great harm and He didn’t stop those choices; He protected me through them. He was right there with me. I didn’t know it then to appreciate it, but I know now and my heart rejoices in His love and protection. How is it different now? I asked Him to come into my life so I could know Him. I needed Him because there is always a time of great need then and now.

Each morning as I read His word and the devotionals expanding my understanding of His love, I am drawn closer and closer to Him and then we talk, and as we talk together, it’s no longer just His word on pages…I feel His Presence in His love and His peace that shelters me. In our conversations, I feel strengthened to walk with Him today.

There will always be wars, strife, great harm. But I know that my Savior will come one day to make all things new, especially our hearts. I rejoice because I don’t have to wait until “one day”. He’s here with me now and He longs to be with you. What is our hope? Christ in you, the hope of glory. Colossians 1:27. How can that be possible?

Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great high priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:19-23. That’s how. Claim His love for you. His love is so personal because He knows you, all of you, and He loves you.