The secret to understanding how God delivers us from afflictions can be found in comprehending how he delivered Israel from their bondage.

“Now these things happened to them as examples and they were written for our admonition” (1 Corinthians 10:11)

Everything that happened to Israel — their bondage, their trials, their deliverance out of Egypt — are testimonies, patterns and examples to us today. Indeed, Israel’s physical deliverance represents the spiritual deliverance we are to see.

“Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another” (1 John 4:11). The love for each other described here is not a mere handshake, a quick hug or flattery. No, this kind of love sees another’s need and does something about it. In fact, according to John, if we see our brother in need and do nothing, the love of God is not in us.

All the true treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Jesus Christ and they are available to us.

God wants to do the impossible because the more impossible the situation, the more glory he receives!

"[God] delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us” (2 Corinthians 1:10).

Paul is speaking here of God’s delivering power — past, present and future! He is saying, “God has delivered us in the past, he is delivering us now, and he will deliver us in every future trouble and trial. We do not have to fear anything that comes our way because we know God is going to deliver us!”

A crucial link is missing in many of our lives, which often is the reason we do not receive answers to many of our prayers. Beloved, that missing link is faith. “Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6).

Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit and from his holy sanctuary within your heart, he breathes his influence on all your emotions — wooing, encouraging, comforting, convicting, guiding, teaching, reproving, manifesting the reality of Christ. What a marvelous gift!

Sadly, many neglect this wonderful gift inside us. And some even ignore God’s Spirit entirely, going about their daily lives as if he doesn’t abide within.

David boldly declared, “[God is] the help of my countenance” (Psalm 42:11). When we talk about countenance, we are referring to facial expression, even body language and tone of voice. David is saying something very important here. Your face is like a billboard that advertises what is going on in your heart — all the joy or turmoil is reflected there. 

When your mind is loaded down with the cares of life, you may have a tendency to frown or even slouch. At the best, you may look preoccupied, with a furrowed brow and a sad appearance. 

As God’s children go about their daily routines, moving on in their walk with Jesus, they may suddenly be hit by a storm, a wave of trouble that comes crashing down from all sides. In Psalm 107:23-26, we read about “those who go down to the sea in ships” and are tossed about by stormy winds. The sailors in this account were so frightened that they almost fainted (verse 26).

God has promised his people a glorious rest that includes peace for the soul. Sadly, too many Christians have no concept of what it means to rest in their salvation. They do not possess the peace that all Christians have available to them in Jesus Christ, the peace that can carry them through any storm.