<Filled with God's Love>

Thursday, September 13, 2012

God's Protection

A few days ago, the manager of our clinic asked two representatives from the four of us in our clinic to join the seminar to be conducted in SBH in Riyadh. My close friend Cyrell volunteered to go for the additional purpose of claiming the prize that is long overdue. She asked me if I wanted to go with her and without any hesitation, I refused for I know that the seminar will be about the Islam religion. It would also include statements that refute the belief of Christians. Cyrell has attended that seminar before and from her experience, she narrated that they would try to alter the TRUTH that Christians hold. They would also try to convince people to convert into their religion as they try to present them with the material benefits and privileges they would get if they conform.

I do not want to compromise my faith and most of all I do not want to hear falsehood from those people. These past few days I have been reading the books of Jeremiah and Ezekiel and they are all about prophesies about God’s punishment to the people for they have been committing abominable acts which include creating idols. God was angry at what they have been doing and so he gave the nations a message through Jeremiah and Ezekiel that He will cause great turmoil because of what they have been doing. I have been relating those events to what has happening in Syria and to the practices people have been doing here. This was going on through my mind that when Cyrell asked me if I wanted to go with her, I immediately refused. Minutes later, she asked another co-nurse and she told me that Fritzie represented to go instead. I was relieved but at the same time I was praying to God that He would strengthen their faith and that He would shut their ears to the falsehood they would hear.

Two days later, Fritzie asked me if I wanted to go to Riyadh and I refused. That night, she stated she did not want to go to Riyadh because traveling would make her head ache. The next day, our manager came to our station and confirmed who will be going to Riyadh. He told us that Fritzie does not want to go and suggested for me to go instead. Ever since Fritzie asked me that question, I have been thinking quite a lot. Was it a wise decision to refuse that favor? Was I only thinking of saving myself from the falsehood I will hear? How about her? Is her faith strong enough to handle the fallacies they are going to throw against her faith? These thoughts have been flooding my mind in the past few days that I have come to pray more often and I asked God if it would be better if I should go. For I know the TRUTH in my heart and I love Jesus Christ so much that whatever they will say will not affect the faith I have in Him. I prayed and I lifted all my anxieties to Him. So when our manager suggested that I should go, I accepted the invitation. That night I prayed with all my might. I read the Bible and placed in my heart the message in Ephesians 6 about putting God’s armor which includes the helmet of salvation and the shield of the Word of God. I prayed earnestly and gave all my anxieties unto Him.

When we reached the hospital where the seminar will be conducted, I met my friends whom I have not seen for a very long time! It was a very heartwarming and happy reunion. We talked about all kinds of things. We took pictures, drank coffee, and ate muffins. We did all kinds of activities for almost 3 hours. We were able to do so because the speaker has not arrived yet. The two of them decided to go back to their clinic there in Riyadh because they still have duty. For the rest of us, we continued to wait until it was already almost 6pm and no speaker came. We decided to head home with our driver having a heavy heart for we have not accomplished anything. However, in my heart, I was rejoicing for it was God’s doing and I felt God is protecting me from whatever they are trying to throw at me for He loves me. He does not want anyone to corrupt my mind or any of the minds of the Christians with us at that time. I am truly grateful to You My Father. I love You Lord. While going home, I was crying for I felt that He really truly loves me and I thank Him for protecting me and for answering my prayers tenfold. I was praying for Him to shut my ears from those foolish words and He did. He did more. His unconditional love is just amazing! I love You Lord.