The second P in the The 10 P's of Trusting God to Overcome Fear Devotional
This is installment number two of a ten point series: trusting God to overcome fear. Today’s topic is God’s Protection. I’ve included only a few complete scripture verses, but there are many others that actually can point to any one of the areas of protection I listed. Are there any I have not listed that you know of?
We go about our daily life and sometimes forget that God is with us and protects us in all things… even in those times we struggle and don’t think He’s there… He is. We seek Him to give us wisdom in all things especially seeing His Glory through His Word.
There are so many areas in our lives where God protects His children. Let’s talk about the few I came up with (in no particular order) and examine what God’s Word says.
God protects our jobs. They are God’s provision. Eking out a living is no small challenge in today’s world. My husband and I have both faced job losses over the years and we have learned to depend and trust He will give us other employment… and He has. Even with a job loss at 61, we prayed, and God provided my husband with a better job in a better location. He plans to retire from that position in a few years. God is good. Has God ever provided a job for you or your loved one when you thought all hope was lost?
Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin. James 4:13-17
God protects our finances. Finances are tricky. With inflation, things cost more and we aren’t getting more money to offset the costs. Most people don’t talk about this with our friends or family. At least I don’t. An excellent time to the Lord for His provision and protection. Over the years, my husband and I have had to depend on the Lord to see us through very tough times and He was always with us. He never promised us things would always go well for us. We know from the word that we’d have tribulation.
And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Phillipians 4:19
Therefore, do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Matthew 6:31-33 (My husband’s favorite verses!)
God protects our homes. I don’t know about you, but my home is my sanctuary. No matter where I am… even when I am in church, the most peaceful place I know, I long for the peace of my home. How about you?
The Lord’s curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the dwelling of the righteous. Proverbs 3:33
In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety. Psalm 4:8
God protects our possessions. After clearing away mom’s clutter when she passed (and I’m still not done going through her things), I recognized I didn’t want to leave my kids with that chore when I go to live with Jesus. So, I’ve begun to whittle away at things I no longer need or want, choosing to keep only those things that I love and use. But in all of that, I know God protects my possessions from damage and theft. How about you?
“And if you faithfully obey the voice of the Lord your God, being careful to do all his commandments that I command you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the Lord your God. Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the field. Blessed shall be the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your ground and the fruit of your cattle, the increase of your herds and the young of your flock. Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl. Deuteronomy 28:1-14
Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. Job 1:10
God protects our families. This is a constant prayer in our household. We ask God to protect our families. So many things can happen when our loved ones travel to and from work or school to activities that we must be constantly vigilant to pray for them.
In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence, and his children will have a refuge. Proverbs 14:26
This God—his way is perfect; the word of the Lord proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him. 2 Samuel 22:31
God protects our bodies. Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit, so the Lord can and does protect us from harm. So many instances over the years, God has protected my body from destruction and death. Has He ever protected you?
No evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. Psalm 91:10-11
He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity, guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of his saints. Proverbs 2:7-8
God protects our minds. A former pastor used to say the biggest problem we have is that area between our ears. Our minds can and do cause us to veer in directions we should not go, which is why we should be in the word constantly to protect ourselves from harm.
You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Isaiah 26:3
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7
God protects our souls. God is a trinity, a three in one person: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It is a mystery we won’t solve until we meet the savior face to face. Man too is a three part being: body, soul, and spirit. I love that God made man in His own image. I like to think of the soul as the “heart” of man.
For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? Matthew 16:26 (Mark 8:36, too)
“And now I am about to go the way of all the earth, and you know in your hearts and souls, all of you, that not one word has failed of all the good things that the Lord your God promised concerning you. All have come to pass for you; not one of them has failed. Joshua 23:14
My lips will shout for joy, when I sing praises to you; my soul also, which you have redeemed. Psalm 71:23
God protects our salvation. There are those who believe man can lose their salvation. Personally, I don’t believe it. Why? Because the Word is clear about it. I won’t go into that right now, only that He protects our salvation. We can’t lose it, but we can lose the rewards He has for us. So if we can’t lose our salvation, how does He protect it. I believe He protects it for us before we accept Him as Lord and savior.
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:10-12
No weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their vindication from me, declares the Lord.” Isaiah 54:17
I’m sure you can think of many other areas where God protects His children and verses that point to those protections. Please share with me your thoughts on this devotion and if you have any other verse references you think would apply. I look forward to hearing from you.
First published in Seralynn Lewis’ Red Hearts Newsletter,Volume 24-04.