...A STRONG TOWER...
Little wonder the memory kept tugging at my heart, it makes it a month today, that He rescued me from the jaws of the destroyer. As it is said of me in Isaiah 54:

16“See, it is I who created the blacksmith
who fans the coals into flame
and forges a weapon fit for its work.
And it is I who have created the destroyer to wreak havoc;
17no weapon forged against you will prevail,
and you will refute every tongue that accuses you.
This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord,
and this is their vindication from me,”
declares the Lord.

I have shared this in my church, but I feel the urge to do so again on this platform.

I needed to be in Owerri last Christmas to see a dear big sister and her family. I have not seen them for over a year. I had three pieces of baggage with me, which were not quite heavy though. I did not want to stress myself by trekking down from the main road, where I alighted from the bus, with my luggage to my destination which is about fifteen minutes away on foot. So, I stopped a bike. The bike crossed the highway to pick me. A convoy of vehicles were coming, so he had to hold on for them before crossing the road again with me. There was another car, coming not too far from the convoy. I did not know what came over the okada man, he dashed impatiently across the road while I heard sharp honks from the oncoming car and shouts of panic from within the car.My life flashed before me in a twinkle, and I thought to myself if I was really going to be involved in this collision. The car's driver tried his best to pull at his brake, but too late, he ran into us. I was scared stiff, my heart in my mouth. The only thing in my mouth was a shout of His name:
'Jesus of Nazareth! Jesus, my Lord!'
The bikeman fell with his bike and with me and my baggage. I felt a pang in my back as I landed on my bottom. I was literally bounced off the bike. Shocked, I gathered my luggage, none of them was altered. I had a bruise on my elbow, and the pain in my back, plus the shock. By now, few passersby had gathered plus the people in the car, asking if I was okay. I explained I was fine, and that I would have to do what I was avoiding-trek. My legs and my suede flats were dirty, still shocked. I left the motorcyclist there, minding his leg. Maybe, he broke it, cause he was massaging it and wincing with great pain.

Several thoughts swam through my head as I dragged my feet along the red dusty road linking from the highway to my sister's place. What if I had been seriously injured or killed? They would have ransacked my bag and call the last person I made a call to on my phone, my hostess,and then my family. God forbid! On Christmas day! But there went the Lord, He proved to me that His name is a strong tower that the righteous run into and get safe, secure from all harm and alarm. I called on His name, and He rescued me. None of my bones were broken, not a single one, only a bruise, and a pang in my back. I must see a doctor for a check-up, but I knew I was fine. I was sure the deliverance was thorough.

I arrived at my destination. They were glad to see me. We exchanged pleasantries, it was over a year since I saw them last. If only they knew what happened few minutes ago. I blurted and told them, they aah-ed and oohed and we blessed the
Lord together. My sister told me she felt a nudge to pray for me that morning, against accident. She didn't know why the Lord would bring that prod, for it wasn't my first time of visiting and the journey had always been smooth. I also got some thoughts of accident- crossing the road and jamming a car- hurled at me in the bus, but I rebuked and rejected them immediately. Thank you Jesus.

I didn't tell this to my dad, I didn't want him bothered. I changed my mind about going to see a doctor, I would be X-rayed, I just had one last October, three months ago. But I knew I was perfectly fine, else I would have gone in spite of the exposure to radioactive rays.

I have personalised Psalm 124 below.This is my story, this is my song.

1If the Lord had not been on my side—
let Ayobami say—
2if the Lord had not been on my side
when people attacked me,
3they would have swallowed me alive
when their anger flared against me;
4the flood would have engulfed me,
the torrent would have swept over me,
5the raging waters
would have swept me away.
6Praise be to the Lord,
who has not let me be torn by their teeth.
7I have escaped like a bird
from the fowler’s snare;
the snare has been broken,
and I have escaped.
8My help is in the name of the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.