But you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, and the one who lifts up my head. [Psalm 3:3 (CSB)]
You are my shelter and my shield; I put my hope in your word. [Psalm 119:114 (CSB)]
I share prayer requests with a group of believers. As I look through the appeals, it becomes obvious that Christians, even Christians of deep faith, are not shielded from the challenges and difficulties of everyday life. Like everyone else, we have marriage problems, unemployment, financial issues, uncertainty, poor health, depression, and chronic pain. Our family members are no different from anyone else’s either; they have addictions, cancer, lack of faith, legal difficulties, and emotional problems. Our needs are the same as anyone’s: wisdom, balance, healing, guidance and strength.
The Psalms represent God as a shield about twenty times. A shield is a weapon of defense and ancient shields were protection against arrows and spears. So, if God is our shield, shouldn’t people of faith be impervious to the slings and arrows of everyday life? Shouldn’t we be protected and sheltered from the storms that plague unbelievers?
Deep faith is no guarantee of a smooth ride in this life. In this broken world, life will inflict its inevitable challenges and obstacles with unpredictability upon us all—both believers and unbelievers. God’s shield doesn’t make us like superman, invulnerable to everything but kryptonite; it doesn’t prevent us from being bombarded with trouble. Look at Job—a man of faith, God’s shield didn’t keep him from losing wealth, family, status, and health!
God’s shield, however, makes an enormous difference when facing those troubles because it keeps us from being defeated by them. Again, look at Job—although Satan hit him with every weapon in his armory, the man never cursed God. While he wanted to know the why of his trouble, he never lost his faith in God!
God’s shield is the armor that sustains us when we have to face challenges, strengthens us when we do battle with evil forces, revives us when we tire or lose heart, guides and comforts us with His word, and provides a refuge when we need a safe haven. It assures us that God is in control, that He loves us, that He’ll never abandon us. His shield also provides us with brothers and sisters in Christ who gladly offer their prayers, support, advice and helping hands.
You can do more than pray after you have prayed, but you cannot do more than pray until you have prayed. Pray often, for prayer is a shield to the soul, a sacrifice to God, and a scourge to Satan. [John Bunyan]
I think of Jesus’ instructions every time I pack for a trip! Take only what I’ve got on my back and the one pair of shoes on my feet? He’s got to be kidding! When we’re taking a trip, wanting to be prepared for any eventuality, it seems like I pack everything but the kitchen sink!
When my eldest grand took advanced calculus, I could neither understand what she was doing nor the purpose in doing it (other than gaining entrance into a good university). The following year, she took something called discrete math. Since I was thinking “discreet,” I couldn’t understand how numbers could be cautious or prudent. Even when she explained “discrete” means “individually separate and distinct” and discrete math is the basis for much of computer science, statistics, and programming, I remained in the dark. Fortunately, I wasn’t the one taking SATs and making application to colleges, so I didn’t need to make sense of her difficult curriculum.
“The Lord is my portion,” wrote the prophet Jeremiah. Throughout the Bible, a wide variety of metaphors are used to describe God— rock, refuge, shield, shepherd, fortress, potter, and light—but portion is one of my favorites. Portion refers to one’s share—be it of plunder, an inheritance, or food. Not being a soldier, I can’t relate to the spoils of war and I’ve seen way too many inheritances argued over or squandered to associate those meanings with God. Food, however, is something to which we all can relate.
That smiling bride in today’s photo is my mother. Taken at her wedding eighty-eight years ago, it’s one of the few photos I have of her. A quiet unassuming woman, I don’t think she thought of herself as pretty and she disliked having her picture taken. Nevertheless, even with her freckled face, unruly hair, overbite, thick glasses and hearing aid, my mother was the most beautiful woman I’ve known…and her smile could light up a room.
Several years ago, an entertainment network did a story on the highlights of Charlotte, North Carolina. Since the Billy Graham Library was considered a point of interest, it was visited by the show’s co-host Kristy Villa and her film crew. Commenting on the many crosses she saw throughout the property, Villa asked, “I see all the crosses, but where is Jesus?” Her guide simply replied, “He’s in Heaven,” adding, ”He is also present in the lives of those who believe in Him and follow Him as their personal Lord and Savior.” Villa exclaimed, “Oh, that’s right! Some worship a crucifix, but Christians worship a risen Christ.” Indeed, Christ’s story doesn’t end with a dead man hanging on a cross. Nevertheless, rather than an empty cross, our emphasis should be on His empty tomb!
Devotions of the Heart 