Tag: shield
Blessed Sleep
Scripture reading for August 26: Psalm 3:3-6 “But You, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory and the lifter of my head. I cried to the Lord, and He answered me from His holy hill. (Selah) I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the Lord sustained me. I will not be afraid of many thousands of people who have set themselves against me.”
Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
One of the common health issues of our time is sleeplessness. This malady can come from a number of causes from worry and fear to physical problems like sleep apnea and insomnia. God’s Word in Psalms addresses this issue of sleeplessness coming from fear. The psalmist knows and declares by faith that God is his Shield of protection. Even if thousands were arrayed against him, he could still lie down and sleep because God would sustain him. God would nourish his soul and bring him through the night with refreshing sleep. God would also be his Glory and the lifter of his head when burdened down by worry or fear. When the psalmist contemplated God’s glory, his focus was on the greatness and splendor of God and problems melted into the background.
Jesus gave an invitation to all who were weary and heavy with the cares of life. He invited them to come to Him and cast all their cares on Him. They were to take His yoke upon them and learn from Him. He was gentle and humble and through surrender to Him, they would find the rest that they so desperately needed. If you struggle with sleep issues or rest issues, finding yourself tired all the time, why not take Jesus at His Word?
Prayer: Father God, I come to You at Your Word that promises refreshing and sustaining sleep and rest from life’s burdens. Teach me Your humble and gentle way of living, trusting fully in God to meet all my needs. I will find true rest in You. Thank You Lord! Amen!
Prayers that shake the earth!
Scripture reading for December 10th: Revelation 8, Psalm 119-20, Proverbs 30
Key Scriptures: Revelation 8:1-5 “When the Lamb opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. Then I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them. And another angel came and stood at the altar with a golden censer, and he was given much incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar before the throne, and the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, rose before God from the hand of the angel. Then the angel took the censer and filled it with fire from the altar and threw it on the earth, and there were peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake.”
God loves the prayers of His people! The Scripture says that our prayers are like incense offered in a sweet-smelling savor to our Lord. When we call on Him, we honor Him and He will answer and deliver what we need. During the final day of God’s wrath, prayers will be offered and God will answer with actions on earth that shake the world!
Faith Confession: Lord, thank You for Your faithfulness to answer our prayers and prayers of Your people everywhere. Thank You for the Holy Spirit who enables us to pray according to Your perfect will.
Proverbs 30:5 “Every Word of God proves true; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.”
Sin’s power broken under Grace!
Scripture reading for June 20th: Romans 6, Psalm 123, Proverbs 30
Key Scriptures: Romans 6:12-14 “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.”
Paul instructed the Romans in simple truth. Living under the Law stirs up desires to break it. In giving ourselves to Jesus Christ, who perfectly kept God’s Law, we receive forgiveness of sins by His Grace. We are free then to present ourselves and the members of our body to God to be used by Him for righteous purposes. Sin loses its power over us because we have received grace. Sin’s power through the law is broken and we are free to serve God!
Faith Confession: Sin’s power over me is broken through faith in Jesus Christ and receiving grace as a gift. I serve God in freedom and freely offer my body to Him as a living sacrifice. (Faith action: Apply this truth to any besetting sin in your life today, declaring sin’s power broken!)
Proverbs 30:5 “Every Word of God proves true’ He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.”