Cover Me
   With Your
      Hand!

In the Word, God talks about how He covers you as a believer.  When we think of cover we think of comfort, we also think of protection.  In a financial way, we think of someone covering our expenditures and providing for those.  God means all of that when He talks to us about covering our life.  He is also our spiritual refuge.  He is with us in a constant way.  His presence and power sustain us and guard our life.  Discover all the ways God can cover you with His hand when you seek Him.
I.    Show Me Your Goodness.
II.   Show Me Your Provision.
III.  Show Me Your Safety. 
IV.  Show Me Your Strength. 
V.   Show Me Your Knowledge. 

  Air Force
  Beacon:
   God Is
   Good!

   One morning I was about to enter into a time of prayer and I knew a challenging day awaited me.  I also knew I couldn’t do it on my own.  So I prayed, “Cover me with Your hand.”  Meaning I wanted God to cover everything I did that day.  Everything that would come, what I would have to grapple with, what would confront me, and what needs I would have.

   I wanted God to cover me with His hand because I knew there I would be able to overcome anything and have all the support I needed and the power to meet every challenge.  We can pray that to God, “Cover me with Your hand.”  Then know that His mighty, wonderful, merciful, loving, providing hand is there for us.  The good hand of God is greater than anything we can face.

   I think of how a man was in desperate conditions when he called upon the good hand of God to cover him.  What happened was amazing.  He is a colonel who was involved in the confrontation with Iran concerning nuclear disarmament.  He and his pilot were on a high-risk mission when they were shot down in the F-15E fighter plane.

   They both ejected and soon after, the pilot was rescued.  But this man, who was the weapons systems officer, could not be rescued yet where he was in the mountainous region of Iran.  He also had injured his ankle.  So he had to find a way to hide himself until he could be rescued.

   In spite of his injury, he was able to hide in a mountain crevice.  Can you see the spiritual symbolism there?  Hiding in the crevice of the mountain, in God as his refuge.  God always prepares us for the moments we will face.  This officer had been prepared not just by the survival skills the Air Force had given him, but also he had a deep faith in God.

   It would be difficult for anyone to survive very long in that mountainous region with fractures.  Plus, he only had some limited equipment, a pistol, survival vest and a beacon that he could send out.  But he had to restrict his use of the bacon or he would be detected.  The enemy had sent out a message to local people saying they would reward them with almost $60,000 if they helped to capture the U.S. officer.

   In other words, it felt like everything and everyone was working against him.  On a different scale, we can feel that way at times.  Whatever we’re trying to overcome or accomplish seems to be counteracted by so many conditions working against our favor.  But that’s when we can count on God to show His goodness.

   This officer believed that.  We know it because when the time came for him to be able to radio his message so the U.S. forces could find him, he made his way up a 7000-foot ridge and sent out the words, “God is good.”  What a message!  That was his beacon so they could find him!  God is good!

   He knew he was covered in the crevice of that mountain and God was sustaining him so he was seeing His goodness.  But it was also a prayer that the goodness of God would be seen in his final rescue.  So after surviving almost 48 hours, injured, hiding in the crevice, he sent his message and the U.S. forces picked it up.

   At first they thought it may be a trap sent from the enemy because the phrase sounded unusual.  The words, “God is good.”  But those who knew the officer knew about his strong faith and felt the message was authentic.  So the order was given for the rescue operation to begin.

   Special operation forces were supported by CIA tracking him, and there were over 150 aircraft involved.  They went in and after an amazing rescue operation, the President reported, “WE GOT HIM!…and who I am thrilled to let you know is now SAFE and SOUND!”

   The goodness of God had been witnessed!  The whole time he was in jeopardy, what was going on?  The hand of God covered him.  I guarantee you before he ever went on that mission, someone prayed for the divine hand to cover him.  Therefore, the goodness of God was seen.

   Psalm 138 says, Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch forth Your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and Your right hand will save me.  (Ref. Psalm 138:7.)  His right hand did save that officer.  The Secretary of War said of the officer, “In that moment of isolation and danger, his faith and fighting spirit shone through.”

   The enemy may have tried to bring you down, but you are covered by the hand of God.  Your faith and fighting spirit will shine through.  Believe God will show you His goodness.

Spiritual powerline to say out loud:

“YOUR GOOD HAND COVERS ME!”

Here is a powerful prayer to say out loud:

Lord, as I face this day, I know Your hand is covering me.  I shall see Your GOODNESS.  In the midst of the challenges, Your hand is making a way for my deliverance.  I praise You for this.  In the name of Jesus.  Amen.

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