Thursday, December 20, 2012

Pursue the Word: shield



like many other Moms across the nation, i woke up Monday morning afraid. the "what if's" raided my peace as i thought about the families in Connecticut and imagined buying bullet-proof vests for my entire family to wear all day every day. no place is safe, i feared. 

i laid there in my bed as the sun was rising and i was scared of the world. i needed God. i needed to pray. i took a deep breath and opened my devotional to today's date. this is what i read:

my God is my rock, in whom I find protection.
He is my shield, the power that saves me,
and my place of safety.
He is my refuge, my savior,
the one who saves me from violence.

David's song is the perfect reminder for a time like this of who God is: my shield.

shield /SHÄ“ld/
Noun A broad piece of metal or another suitable material, held by straps or a handle attached on one side, used as a protection against blows.Verb Protect (someone or something) from a danger, risk, or unpleasant experience.

God is my shield! i can face this unsafe place with confidence that God is our shield and our refuge. get closer to Him, get under the protection of His Mighty Hand, and we have nothing to fear. sure, it's not a physical shield, like that of a bullet-proof vest, and yes, there are real dangers in this world. but God's shield is a spiritual shield that we can always count on protecting us if we have faith enough to believe. God's shield gives us hope for a perfectly safe life for eternity with Him.

God’s way is perfect. All the Lord's promises prove true. 
He is a shield for all who look to him for protection. 2 Samuel 22:31

But you, O Lord, are a shield around me; 
you are my glory, the one who holds my head high. Psalm 3:3

The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; 
my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. 
He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety. Psalm 18:2

We put our hope in the Lord. 
He is our help and our shieldPsalm 33:20

Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm 
against all strategies of the devil... 
hold up the shield of faith 
to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Ephesians 6:11 & 16


armed with God's Word in my heart, i'm ready to take up my shield and face this world with hope as my confidence. watch out, world! i'm a fierce woman of God!



Pursue the Word for your every need. it's a great way to find your way through the Bible. my friend Stef Layton and i love to Pursue the Word together. visit Educating Laytons to see the word God has put on Stef's heart.




photo credit: Lawrence OP via photopin cc