Our Savior delivers, who is our God, our shield, and the lifter of the horn of our salvation. This means He is the One who empowers our strength, our might, our fortitude, and our glory. Salvation purchased by Jesus is mighty and powerful. The word salvation (‘sozo’) means to save or deliver from danger, to heal, preserve or keep from corruption, whole or cure from disease. When we face circumstances that need divine intervention, we must do as the psalmist David did when he wrote Psalm 3:3,4 - “Many are they who say of me, ‘There is no help for him in God.’ But You, O Lord, are a shield for me, my glory and the lifter of my head. I cried to the Lord with my voice, and He heard me from His holy hill.” The psalmist spoke the word in his heart that he knew to be true, he cried out to God, and God heard him. 

There will be times when we must encourage ourselves in the Lord, by speaking aloud the Word of God. Reading and meditating upon it until it becomes truth in our own hearts, then being mixed with faith, speak into our circumstances. Then that which is spiritual will change what is in the natural. “By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.” (Hebrews 11:2) And “The word is near you in your mouth and in your heart (that is the word of faith which we preach)…” (Romans 10:8) This is the power to set free, heal and deliver, that the devil did not want you to see.  

There is also power in the name of Jesus. Our Savior gave us authority to speak and to pray in his name. “And whatsoever you ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.” (John 14:13,14) How powerful is his name? “Therefore God also has highly exalted him and given him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth …” (Philippians 2:9,10) There is victory in the name of Jesus. There is power in his name. Speak the name of Jesus.   

So who then, is the strength of our lives and the lifter of the horn of our salvation? Why, it is God Almighty, the Lord Jesus Christ!

    

Dear Heavenly Father,

Why am I so slow to call on You when things begin to be tough? Why are You so often my last resort? Oh Father, forgive me. Give me Your Holy Spirit and remind me to call on You to provide me with the way out of every temptation – fear, lust, excess of food and drink. Help me more and more to have victory over sin at the temptation stage, so that I do not dig a deeper pit and get entangled in the cords of death and need to cry out for deliverance from the consequences of my sin. In the Name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

Today’s Scripture is clear that true strength and peace are found in God. We trust in Jesus. In contrast, we are not working ourselves up into an attitude of personal pride and self- confidence by repeating affirmations. Jesus is not a good luck charm. In some cultures, horn shaped jewelry is worn as a symbol of human strength and for good luck. Pastor Franklin warned us against trusting in false strength, false horns. Consider today whether you can say with King David, “God is the strength of my life and my portion forever.” (Psalm 73:26)