November 20, 2009, "Not to Harm You"

Triumphant Victorious Reminders
Inspired by the Holy Spirit
Written By: Teresa Criswell

"For I know the
thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope."
~ Jeremiah 29:11 ~

I don't know who this devotional is for, however, as I was trying to sleep this great 'unction' on the inside of me from the Holy Spirit led me with great fervency to write the following words. I pray that it ministers to you and you feel the hope of God rising up on the inside.

It was June 15, 1944. Bodies lay scattered on the ground. The bodies of 30,000 Japanese, Korean slave laborers and original inhabitants of Saipan; their bodies strewn throughout the island. They jumped to their death as they would rather die than surrender; especially due to speculated fears that they were told by their own people that our American soldiers would torture and kill them and their children. One particular father in his desperation because of the fears of his children being taken captive; overtook his own children by slitting their throats then pushing them over the edge of the cliff and then he followed by jumping to his death.

As I watched World War II in HD on the History Channel with my husband, I wept uncontrollably. To see the bodies of these I would assume hard working, loving families overtaken by the fears was utterly shocking.

The American soldiers were horrified and forever changed at what they found. They tried in great desperation to stop the people from jumping to their death. Somehow in their desperation they found a Japanese translator who was given a type of microphone to speak over the loud speakers pleading with his fellow people to surrender. He attempted to assure them that harm would not come near them. He went on to let them know that they would be fed, given water and they would be helped. Some listened, yet many others did not trust that the translator was telling the truth. Many thought he was being used to trick them; in which they jumped to their death.

This reminded me of the deceiving voices many of us here even today. "You're not good enough." "You didn't do anything you wanted to, what a waste." "You're a failure, you can't even take care of your family." "End your life now, they'd be better off without you." The voices of "He/She is a hopeless case. Why did you marry him/her in the first place?" The voices that subtly lead us away from the destiny of God over our lives.

When the temptation to jump and end it all; remember that God has a great plan and purpose; never to harm you! You will get through IF you choose to walk with and in Him. Is it difficult at first? Yes, but then as we start to praise Him for His great faithfulness, in the midst of our own faithlessness, we will be overcome by His overwhelming presence of peace and grace. We will run to worship Him at all times. The rewards of our praise in the midst of great mounting fears will save generations to come.

As I saw the lives lost due to the mass suicide of the mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters, husbands and wives because of the lies that they believed; ended not only their lives but the generations after them. .

God is the Restorer! He is the Redeemer! God is Love who casts out fear!

When fear tries to drive us to our death; may we run to our refuge, surrendering to Him through Jesus Christ as we are led by the Holy Spirit. As we run with and after Him may we shout with the voice of triumph knowing we have the victory because of Almighty God, through Jesus revealed by the Holy Spirit!

Comments

  1. Teresa, this is so well written. I am so glad you listened to the whispers on your heart and got up to write this post. I pray that whoever this was intended for will read it and know that the Lord loves them and has a plan and a purpose for their life, if only they turn and walk hand-in-hand with Him. He is a good God. He loves us all and He sent His Son to save us. Such a tragedy for anyone to miss out on the plans that God has already designed for their lives. So many live life without Christ, and I don't know how they do it. Such a dead-end road. But with God, life is filled with hope and a purpose...and so many blessing that He has in store for His children. Praise God for His unfailing love and forgiveness!

    Have a blessed weekend! <><
    ~Tanya

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  2. Another great post Teresa! I also cry my eyes out when I am watching war type documentaries on the History Channel. I have to remind myself that God has a purpose for even horrific events such as war.

    -c

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  3. i love you ladies so much! Thank you for your comments..along with the Lord's great help, when you post a comment it sends great encouragement my way to keep going! Love, love you all!!!

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  4. Oh my I didn't know this part of WW history. How tragic and sad. I was just reading about the tradegy that happened on Saipan this morning as well. Sigh...

    My hubby really enjoys watching the history channel as well. I'll have to ask him if he saw this one.

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