He will protect you
God’s way is perfect. All the Lord’s promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to him for protection. Psalms 18:30
I am so thankful to be reading through the Psalms. Even though it is the longest book in the bible with the most chapters, it is so easy to read and understand. At one point in my life, I would read through and memorize the Psalm of my age.
Like when I was 34, I read Psalms 34 many times throughout that year. Then, of course, the next year I moved on to Psalms 35. You really get to know a passage when you spend a year’s time reading it over and over. There are so many promises in the book and when you are feeling low, it is one of the best places to look in the scriptures for hope and encouragement.
I remember at one point in my life that I was praying about the safety and protection of my family. I don’t remember the exact circumstances that happened to cause me to be worried about something happening to them. But someone I knew had experienced a loss in their family and it left me with a feeling of fear of the unknown. I felt like there was nothing I could do to prevent something terrible happening in my family and I didn’t why something bad would happen to someone who knew God.
So I did what I always do when anxiety and stress try to come on me. I “cried” out to the Lord for help and understanding. As I talked it over with Him, I really sensed in my heart that He was showing me that I could trust Him with those people that I love. As I prayed over them for protection and wisdom each day, He would be faithful to protect and guide them in life. I couldn’t do anything about it in the natural realm, but by placing them in the hands of Jesus, He faithfully cares and watches over them.
Since that time, I have seen His faithfulness over the years to keep my loved ones in all their ways. I have also prayed many scriptures that I have learned about His provision of protection. Today’s scripture is one of those passages that remind me that He is a shield for all those who look to Him and trust Him for protection. These are not just some poetic and flowery words, it is a promise to people from the Holy Spirit of God.
As I read through the rest of chapter 18, I am reminded that when I am humble, I am actually moving closer to my Father in heaven, but pride pushes Him further away. He is light in my dark times and strength when I am weak. His ways are perfect, and when I follow His Word, I can walk out the plan He designed for my life. He protects me and those I care about as I trust them to His care. He is the one constant in my life, and I can trust that He is always there for me. He sets me in high places and makes my feet firm there, so I won’t fall. He increases my life and makes it plain and clear so that I can know I am following Him. I can shake of the dusty and dirty things in life that try to stick to me, and He keeps me from getting into conflicts when I listen to His wisdom. He is alive and directing my life because I take my refuge in Him. I do that by spending time with Him and praise and worship with Him.
Today, I want to encourage you to trust the Lord. Trust Him to watch over you and protect you and those you commit to His care. Turn every area of your life and all the people that you love over to Him for help and protection. Recognize that He can be trusted. Don’t worry that He might cause evil to come on you because He is good and does good and there is no evil in Him. Whatever life throws at you, He will always provide a way through that trouble, but you must press into Him and follow His way, not the way that looks right to you. He is faithful and He is true. Even when He points to a place that seems different than you would have thought of, trust Him because He can see the big picture and show you secret passages. Let your heavenly Father give you hope and assurance today by trusting the promises He has given you in His Word. He will always come through for you when you determine that His way is the only way!
Today’s scripture reading: Psalms 18:27-50
27You rescue the humble, but you humiliate the proud.
28You light a lamp for me. The Lord, my God, lights up my darkness.
29In your strength I can crush an army; with my God I can scale any wall.
30God’s way is perfect. All the Lord’s promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to him for protection.
31For who is God except the Lord? Who but our God is a solid rock?
32God arms me with strength, and he makes my way perfect.
33He makes me as surefooted as a deer, enabling me to stand on mountain heights.
34He trains my hands for battle; He strengthens my arm to draw a bronze bow.
35You have given me your shield of victory. Your right hand supports me; Your help has made me great.
36You have made a wide path for my feet to keep them from slipping.
37I chased my enemies and caught them; I did not stop until they were conquered.
38I struck them down so they could not get up; they fell beneath my feet.
39You have armed me with strength for the battle; you have subdued my enemies under my feet.
40You placed my foot on their necks. I have destroyed all who hated me.
41They called for help, but no one came to their rescue. They even cried to the Lord, but he refused to answer.
42I ground them as fine as dust in the wind. I swept them into the gutter like dirt.
43You gave me victory over my accusers. You appointed me ruler over nations;
people I don’t even know now serve me.
44As soon as they hear of me, they submit; foreign nations cringe before me.
45They all lose their courage and come trembling from their strongholds.
46The Lord lives! Praise to my Rock! May the God of my salvation be exalted!
47He is the God who pays back those who harm me; He subdues the nations under me
48and rescues me from my enemies. You hold me safe beyond the reach of my enemies; You save me from violent opponents.
49For this, O Lord, I will praise you among the nations; I will sing praises to your name.
50You give great victories to your king; You show unfailing love to your anointed,
to David and all his descendants forever.
The Daily Dose 