| Panic Room or Safe Zone? |
| Copyright © 2004-2009 Dancing Bulls Advertising All rights reserved. Used by permission. |
| JoyUs Musing Edition #10-12 |
There was a 2002 movie (I didn’t see it) called, “Panic Room.” The story was about a woman and her daughter
who purchased an apartment that came equipped with a panic room. When bad guys broke into the apartment
looking for a hidden cache of money, the mother and daughter locked themselves into the panic room for
protection.
A panic room is a fortified room which is installed in a private residence (or business) to provide a safe hiding
place for the inhabitants in the event of a break-in, home invasion or other threat. Safe rooms usually contain
communication equipment so that the law enforcement authorities can be contacted.
The premise of the panic room is that you will be “safe” from criminals because it is a room so secure, no one can
get into it. There may also be a monitor for external security cameras and an alarm system. In basic safe rooms,
a peephole in the door may be used for a similar purpose. Safe rooms are typically stocked with basic emergency
and survival items.
As I was doing my Bible study the other morning, I came across the Word that reminded me of this movie and
made me see something I want to share with you.
Psalm 91 talks about a secret place. Researching the word “secret place” helps you better understand what the
psalmist meant when he wrote those words: You are under the protection of the Most High. It is a hiding place, a
covert place, a protection place; a shelter; all that conceal or hide.
Sounds an awful lot like a “panic” room, doesn’t it!? But here’s another thing I saw. The very name of the room is
wrapped in FEAR. Panic is another word for terror, fright, dread, alarm, fear, and horror. Since God always tells
us not to fear, then the very meaning of this room is based on the enemy’s thought process.
Now I’m not saying a person can’t have a panic room. What I am saying is not to put your trust in a panic room.
Psalm 91 tells us the Bible way to live – how to have a safe zone (secret place) where the enemy cannot get to
you. Part of the answer is in verse 2 – “I will SAY of the Lord, HE is my refuge and my fortress, my God, therefore
in Him will I trust (my life).”
So your mouth has to speak that God is your safe zone. Verses 3-7 talk about God protecting you from things
that sound far worse than someone breaking into your home (although He will protect you from that, too). Verse
10 states boldly that NO EVIL will conquer you and no plague will come near your home (NLT).
Instead of having communication equipment hooked up to law enforcement, God orders His angels, His “protection
enforcers” to protect you.
How do you SAY God is your refuge when the enemy is attacking you from every direction? You don’t get there
by watching television and reading murder mysteries! You get to that place of faith in Him through His Word – the
Bible.
Faith comes by hearing the Word. Hearing implies more than one time – over and over. Faith goes out by saying
what you believe (right or wrong). What is in your heart will come out your mouth. If you will put that Word down
into your heart through your eyes and ears, then it will come out of your mouth in power.
This way, when we boldly say, “God is MY refuge, protection, safe zone, covert place (hidden away from the
enemy)” you mean it. It is said in faith. God can work with faith! He cannot work with fear. He cannot work with
panic!
If you have a panic room, make sure your security is in God’s protection while using it! But you don’t have to have
a physical panic room, because you have the best protection of all. Living in a place of security, safety, and
protection!
Like I told Leland – I don’t have a safe room (another name for panic room), I have a safe house! He said, “Well, I
have a safety zone – everywhere I am!”
Always gotta one-up me!
Oh, and p.s.? If you feel you have been living outside the safety zone and are full on in the middle of a devil-
made mess – now is NOT the time to panic. Now is the time to get into that Word, study, speak, and ask God not
only for His protection, but His restoration! Next week I’ll tell you what He did for us after we called on Him while
standing in the mess a tornado made of our property!
Psalm 91
Romans 10:17
Matt 12:24
Luke 6:45
Sharing the goodness of God:
Musing Copyright © 2010 Nan C Loyd
All rights reserved. Used by permission.
