Community Devotions

A Shield About Me

SCRIPTURE

“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.” - Psalm 3:3-4

OBSERVATION

Context gives meaning to everything. The context of Psalm 3 is found in the subtitle, “A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son.” Imagine literally running for your life and the person who wants to kill you is your own son. When David pens that he has many enemies and they are rising against him it was a real credible threat on his life. Yet he declares that God himself (Yahweh) is a shield about him. God will take the hits intended to injure him. The Lord protects from assault meaning to hurt him. David’s glory was not found in his accomplishment and accolades but his glory is God himself. God is his strength and encouragement because God is the lifter of his head. God heard when David cried out to him.

APPLICATION

Let God fight my battles. When there are arrows of accusation and strikes of slander—God is my shield. He will take the hits. God will absorb the assaults. I don’t need to be defensive and let it penetrate my heart. But I need to be honest and come before him in prayer so that he can be my glory and the lifter of my head. I also need to find my encouragement in God. When my head is down and I am discouraged, He alone is the lifter of my head. Remember that when I cry out to the Lord, he answers me from his holy hill.

PRAYER

 Heavenly Father,

Thank you for being a shield about me. You have protected me millions of times and I may have only been aware of ten of them. Thank you for answering my prayers when I cry out to you. 

Sense Defying Faith

SCRIPTURE

 Matthew 14:29-31

 29 “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”  31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

OBSERVATION

Jesus said, everything is possible with God.  Peter is the living example of God’s power and frailty of our faith.  It is one thing to read about the eyewitness account of Jesus, the Son of God, walking on water but it is entirely another issue to learn about what Peter, a mere fisherman, was able to do.  Here was the catch – Peter walked on the water so long as he had faith in Jesus. 

I can picture Peter, as he got out of the boat to walk to Jesus.  He was an impulsive man.  He probably climbed out of the boat without much deliberation in his mind.  Now that he was out of the boat, Peter was all in, or all out.  It dawned on him just then, what he was doing was pretty crazy.  Yet, Peter had seen all the miracles to date.  Peter fixed his eyes on Jesus, as if there was a lifeline that he was holding on to, because that was who he had trusted when he climbed out of the boat.  It was when his faith was tested by all that was around him, he started sinking.  Peter took his eyes off Jesus and started paying attention to the wind that caused the waves to be treacherous and rocked the boat.  So, it made perfect sense to be afraid of the wind since the apostles were already having a tough time inside the boat.  It was reasonable for Peter to trust his senses.  After all, God gave him eyes to see and ears to hear, right?  But it was that sense-defying faith enabled Peter to walk on the water.

So everything in the world can tell me that what I am doing is not useful or even senseless, like Peter walking on water.

APPLICATION

I can only do what is not possible when I fix my eyes on Jesus.  It is through his power that I can accomplish my impossible goals, knowing that Jesus demonstrated his power throughout his ministry.

Doubt, although inevitable, is the greatest obstacle to the miracles that are promised through Jesus.

PRAYER

Father God, thank you for your demonstration of your divinity in the flesh in Jesus. I am encouraged to know that I can do all things through your son, Jesus.  Bless and protect Michael, Joshua and Daniel today.  Watch over them, guide their hearts and protect them against all evil.  Bless Chris as she goes about the day.  I love you Father.  In Jesus name, I pray.  Amen.