A Shield Around Me
Psalm 3 (NLT)
1 O Lord, I have so many enemies; so many are against me. 2 So many are saying, “God will never rescue him!”
3 But you, O Lord, are a shield around me; you are my glory, the one who holds my head high. 4 I cried out to the Lord, and he answered me from his holy mountain.
5 I lay down and slept, yet I woke up in safety, for the Lord was watching over me. 6 I am not afraid of ten thousand enemies who surround me on every side.
7 Arise, O Lord! Rescue me, my God! Slap all my enemies in the face! Shatter the teeth of the wicked! 8 Victory comes from you, O Lord. May you bless your people.
Reflection
Betrayal is hard. Betrayal is harder when it involves someone close to you. Betrayal can be controlling and consuming. It can change us and affect so many different areas of our lives. But that is not what God wants for us. God doesn’t want us to spend our time trying to seek out justice from those who did wrong to us. God wants us to cry out to Him and trust Him with our hurt.
One of my favorite verses to remember when I feel that I have been wronged is Exodus 14:14: “The Lord Himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.” In today’s passage, we see that David took Moses’ advice. David’s own son was trying to kill him. I don’t know about you, but that is one betrayal I wouldn’t take lightly. I would want justice! Yet David knew and trusted that God was his shield and that he did not have to be afraid. David knew that he couldn’t change the circumstances that were happening to him; but he did know that he could cry out to God. He knew that God was in control and that he could trust Him.
In those hurtful instances when we have been betrayed by someone close to us, go to God. Instead of letting the pain control you, let God control the situation. Let Him fight for you. Let Him fill you with His peace. Let Him be the shield that surrounds you.
Action Steps
Reflect on these questions: How do you handle betrayal? This can be in general, or specific to certain situations. How have you handled betrayal and hurtful things that have happened to you in the past, especially from someone close to you? Do you look for opportunities to let them know just how much they hurt you? Do you look for justice? Or do you turn to the One who will fight for you and allow Him to fight your battles?
Prayer
Lord, I pray that You help me to go to You when I am hurt. I pray that I allow You to handle the situation as You know the full picture and I do not. I pray that I have understanding and peace in these situations. You alone are good and You alone fight for me. I love You, Lord. Amen.
1 O Lord, I have so many enemies; so many are against me. 2 So many are saying, “God will never rescue him!”
3 But you, O Lord, are a shield around me; you are my glory, the one who holds my head high. 4 I cried out to the Lord, and he answered me from his holy mountain.
5 I lay down and slept, yet I woke up in safety, for the Lord was watching over me. 6 I am not afraid of ten thousand enemies who surround me on every side.
7 Arise, O Lord! Rescue me, my God! Slap all my enemies in the face! Shatter the teeth of the wicked! 8 Victory comes from you, O Lord. May you bless your people.
Reflection
Betrayal is hard. Betrayal is harder when it involves someone close to you. Betrayal can be controlling and consuming. It can change us and affect so many different areas of our lives. But that is not what God wants for us. God doesn’t want us to spend our time trying to seek out justice from those who did wrong to us. God wants us to cry out to Him and trust Him with our hurt.
One of my favorite verses to remember when I feel that I have been wronged is Exodus 14:14: “The Lord Himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.” In today’s passage, we see that David took Moses’ advice. David’s own son was trying to kill him. I don’t know about you, but that is one betrayal I wouldn’t take lightly. I would want justice! Yet David knew and trusted that God was his shield and that he did not have to be afraid. David knew that he couldn’t change the circumstances that were happening to him; but he did know that he could cry out to God. He knew that God was in control and that he could trust Him.
In those hurtful instances when we have been betrayed by someone close to us, go to God. Instead of letting the pain control you, let God control the situation. Let Him fight for you. Let Him fill you with His peace. Let Him be the shield that surrounds you.
Action Steps
Reflect on these questions: How do you handle betrayal? This can be in general, or specific to certain situations. How have you handled betrayal and hurtful things that have happened to you in the past, especially from someone close to you? Do you look for opportunities to let them know just how much they hurt you? Do you look for justice? Or do you turn to the One who will fight for you and allow Him to fight your battles?
Prayer
Lord, I pray that You help me to go to You when I am hurt. I pray that I allow You to handle the situation as You know the full picture and I do not. I pray that I have understanding and peace in these situations. You alone are good and You alone fight for me. I love You, Lord. Amen.
Posted in Tree Church Daily Devo
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"but he did know that he could cry out to God. He knew that God was in control and that he could trust Him."....Thank you, Lord for hearing our prayers.