I look up to the mountains and hills, longing for God’s help.
But then I realize that our true help and protection
come only from the Lord, our Creator who made the heavens and the earth.
He will guard and guide me, never letting me stumble or fall.
God is my keeper; he will never forget nor ignore me.
He will never slumber nor sleep;
he is the Guardian-God for his people, Israel.
Jehovah himself will watch over you;
he’s always at your side to shelter you safely in his presence.
He’s protecting you from all danger both day and night.
He will keep you from every form of evil or calamity
as he continually watches over you.
You will be guarded by God himself.
You will be safe when you leave your home and safely you will return.
He will protect you now, and he’ll protect you forevermore!
(Psalm 121 TPT)
“He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock
That shadows a dry, thirsty land;
He hideth my life in the depths of His love,
And covers me there with His hand,
And covers me there with His hand.”
(Fannie J. Crosby)
After a busy weekend, I am pausing to reflect on many good things. My hospitalized mama-friend had her baby on Saturday and they were able to come home Monday. Praise God! Today, our son has his four-week post-hip surgery check-up. His recovery has been going very well so far, and he’s experiencing little to no pain. Praise God! I played for church service on Sunday morning, and God did healing and freeing work in the people who were there. Praise God! I had a lovely weekend with the family that was visiting us, and they made it safely home. Praise God!
I realize that “all is (not) right in the world” for everyone, but we must still recognize and remember God’s mercy, grace, and protection. Today, I invite you to take a few moments and focus on how God has sheltered you in his love.
Heavenly Father,
Thank you for making heaven and earth, for creating us in the image of Christ, and for continuing to give us all the beautiful gifts of this life. Thank you that your Way is perfect and your Word is flawless; you shield all who take refuge in you. No matter the circumstances we face, thank you that our true help, security, and protection comes from you. Thank you for guarding and guiding us, never letting us stumble or fall without comforting us with your presence. Thank you that you never forget or ignore us; you are never asleep. You are always at our sides to shelter us safely in your presence and protect us from danger.
Thank you for the everyday ways in which you watch over us. We praise you for new babies, safe travels, good check-ups, and for your Spirit being poured out for healing, salvation, deliverance, and hope. We praise you for sunshine, hummingbirds, green grass, and all the beauty of your Creation. We praise you not only for what you do, but for Who you are.
We ask and pray in Jesus’s name that you would protect us from every form of attack, sin, evil or calamity – in body, mind, soul, spirit, immune systems, livelihood, property, or relationships. Hide our souls in the cleft of you, our Rock, when it seems this dry and thirsty world is overwhelming. Guard us, protect us, and arm us with strength. Hide our lives in the depth of your Love, we pray in Christ’s name, AMEN.
So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. (Genesis 1:27 NIV)
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created. (James 1:17-18 NIV)
As for God, his way is perfect:
The Lord’s word is flawless;
he shields all who take refuge in him.
For who is God besides the Lord?
And who is the Rock except our God?
It is God who arms me with strength
and keeps my way secure. (Psalm 18:30-32 NIV)
(Adapted from prayer originally published January 30, 2021)