I went to Pakistan with a ministry team. We went to one of the oldest cities on earth, extremely primitive, and very dangerous. Three weeks prior, two American diplomats were murdered. Seemingly this was not the right time for a group of Americans to go to Pakistan and preach the gospel.
The first time there, when we first got off the plane, we went into the baggage handler and the first thing we saw was lots of AK47s and people staring at us. Consequently, on our second trip to Pakistan, the ministers who were helping put on the meeting were very much afraid that we were going to be harmed.
I remember when the plane flew into the air space I could feel the demon power. That night as I prayed, I had a knowing that the next day we were going to be attacked. And as I continued to pray I heard the Lord speak to me. He said, "Being in the center of My will is the safest place you could ever be."
Now, I had a choice when I heard it. I could have said, "But God, they've got AKs, and I'm an American. I'm in the wrong place at the wrong time." But instead I decided to mix faith with what God said. And when God said it, I relaxed instantly.
When you are in God's will you are in the secret place of the Most High. You abide under the shadow of the Almighty. The psalmist says, "I say unto the Lord, He is my refuge, He is my fortress, my mighty God in a time of trouble. A thousand may fall by my side and ten thousand by my right hand, but it's not coming near me. I'm not being afraid of the arrows by day or the pestilence that walk by the noon day, or the arrows that fly at night. With long life will He satisfy me and show me His deliverance."
Psalm 91 came to mind and I had rest. I slept well that night and got up and preached that morning to those people and didn't even look around to see who was out there. The rest of God came on me. Why? I decided to mix faith with the Word that God gave me.
Scripture References: Psalm 91; 17:8; 27:5; 64:2; 143:9
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Keith Butler has been an ordained minister since 1974. He is a graduate of the University of Michigan and holds diplomas from Canada Christian College and Rhema Bible Training Center.
He serves in ministry with the support of his lovely wife, Pastor Deborah L. Butler, and their children: Pastor Andre Butler (granddaughters Alexis, Angela, and April), Pastor MiChelle Ferguson and husband Pastor Lee (grandson Lucas), and Minister Kristina Jenkins and husband Pastor Joel (grandsons Andrew and Austin, and granddaughter Alyssa).
