Faith As a Shield

I remember the day my wife and I paid the closing costs on our new home. It was the dawn of a dream come true, excitement filling the day with a world full of new possibilities. The closing costs were thousands less than we’d budgeted for; I’d just gotten the full-time job of my dreams, and my wife’s business grew more and more every day. I was so thankful, but now that I’d gotten a home, and family, I needed to protect them both.

The first thing I did once I received the keys was change the locks. Next, I checked the doors and windows, making sure they were as secure as the inspection report said they would be. The inspector seemed like a great guy, but I wasn’t taking any chances.  

Once I made sure the doors, locks, and windows were secure, I had a plan and explored going high tech—researching motion detectors, smart locks, and smart lights. I investigated home warranties and checked the coverage on every insurance we had, just in case. I did everything short of digging a mote around the house to protect us from neighboring kingdoms.

In Proverbs 21:31, we read what King Solman wrote about the sovereignty of God: The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the LORD (NIV).

In this verse we get a glimpse into the mystery of the balance between the plans of men and the sovereignty of God. We make our horses ready for battle, as we should. We secure our homes, build fences, and buy alarms for our cars and homes, as we should, but our victory, our safety, is utterly out of our hands—because our victory, our safety, is in the hands of the Almighty.

King David was a man after God’s own heart. Even at his worst, his heart was always fertile ground for God’s Word, and when he wanted protection for God’s children, he prayed fervently:

Surely, LORD, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield. (Psalm 5:12)

When I read this verse after moving into our home, I understood that the blessings He gives to my family and yours are not only everlasting but guaranteed.

His blessings are secured.

I understood that He blesses us as a matter of course—sustaining us, breath by breath, time after time, and surrounding us with a favor that shields us more than any door, any window, or any alarm system ever could.

In Psalm 4:8 God’s Word tells us: “In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.”

I did all I could to secure our home, letting the Lord establish the work of my hands, and I am thankful, because in the end, when I lie down to sleep, my family’s safety, and your family’s safety, lies in the hands of the Lord.

Blessed be the name of the Lord.

Father in heaven, we thank You that Your loving kindness and Your favor guards us, surrounds us, and sustains us. We pray that You continue to do Your masterful work of favor, protection, and salvation in our lives, and we thank You because You are good and worthy to be praised. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

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Scripture is quoted from the Holy Bible, New International Version^®, NIV^® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.^® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.