A Shield of Faith but faith in what?

Grace and peace to you my friends,

"  But let all who take refuge in you rejoice;
        let them ever sing for joy,
    and spread your protection over them,
        that those who love your name may exult in you.
    For you bless the righteous, O LORD;
        you cover him with favor as with a shield."
Psalm 5:11-12 ESV

Friends, do you know the kind of comfort that David is talking about here? Does your knowledge of God's Word and the promises therein bring you peace and protection during the storm?

David is rejoicing because He is confident in God his refuge. Confident because of what God has done for Him in the past and confident because he believes that God can and will do all that He has promised to do in His Word. We to have His Word today. God still uses His Word in the life and hearts of His people. With it He wields His love and protection over them like a shield. Having the Word in our minds readily available in our heads for any circumstance is one of the major ways we are protected by it. We would never notice the smell of sin creeping into our lives if not for our knowledge of God's Word and His Spirit working in us. We are told in the New Testament to put on the shield of faith to protect us from our enemies. That shield is a solid faith in something secure and sure. IF you don't know what your faith is in or have only a vague idea of what it should be. That's no shield at all!

A sure faith in nothing specific, surly protects you from nothing specific!

Friends, my plea for you is that you would seek after the Lord with all your heart. Seek Him where He is most easily found, in His Word. For it is there that the strength of your shield of faith is forged. Desire to grow in your understanding of Him and His ways. The more time you spend in His Word the stronger your defenses against the weapons of the enemy. Now I do not advocate spending time in His Word merely to check it off a list or simply for entertainment. No, our time spent in the Word should be intentional with the end goal of discovering all that God is for us in Christ Jesus.

The clearer our understanding of the beauty of Christ, the deeper our gaze and focus on Him can be. It's that clarity and focus on Christ and His Word that helps us have peace in the storms of life. It's that keeping of our eyes on the prize that brings hope and strength for endurance. God doesn't any where in Scripture promise to keep us out of or away from the effects of this fallen world. He does however give sure promise that we shall not be abandoned, forsaken or over come. He has given His Word, unbreakable and sure, that He will be all that we need to victoriously endure until the end when He remakes all things new for the glory of His name. Indeed He is our refuge and shield.

Yesterday at Church we heard a wonderfully pricking message from the Word. And the last note that I wrote down from the message was this paraphrase from Pastor Thomas's last point. "We must keep our vertical perspective rightly on Christ, for then we will always be satisfied and full of joy no matter what this life deals out to us." There is surely misery and hopelessness waiting for us if we try to look elsewhere for our happiness and protection.

Only Christ can be your righteousness, your life and your shield. What are you putting your faith in for your protection today? Can you even identify the enemy your seeking to be protected from? Christ Jesus my friends, Christ. Only He can illuminate your eyes and be every thing you need.

"Precious Father help us to keep our eyes on the prize of Jesus Christ. Fill us oh Lord God with renewed delight and desire for your life giving Word. Be praised Mighty God for your steadfast love and the grace that opened our eyes to your power and mercy. For the glory of your name that endures forever, Amen"

For the Joy of Your Faith,
Teagan