Protected In the Shadow of Your Wings

 “Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.” Psalm 63:7 (NIV)

    My husband was the manager of a propane company for many years, and he often filled in for his drivers by delivering propane to the homes of his customers. One customer, an elderly woman, had a small dog that was a constant irritation.

    Every time my husband stepped out of his propane truck, the dog would greet him by nipping his ankles and legs. No amount of kicking at it or yelling would stop it from attacking. Every delivery to her home would result in rips in his work pants and cuts on his legs.

    Finally, in complete frustration with the dog’s persistence, he grabbed a wrench from the truck seat and thumped the dog on the head. It immediately yipped its way to the back of the house. “I thought THAT would take care of the problem,” my husband later told me.

    As soon as he reached the customer’s door and started to knock, he heard the dog yipping again as it came around the corner of the house – but this time a huge Doberman pincher was leading the way with the smaller dog close behind. He may have been little, but he was not worried because he had a much bigger dog watching over him and serving as his protector.

    “That little dog danced around under the back legs of the big dog as I stood pinned to the house until the lady came out to help,” my husband continued. “I swear it was taunting me and singing ‘Takin’ Care of Business.’ There was no way I could move,” he went on.

    I can’t help but think of Psalm 63:7 when I think of that story. David understood the feeling of being attacked. But his attacker was King Saul, and he didn’t want to simply nip David’s ankle – he wanted to kill him! Even so, David knew that no matter what came his way, God was his deliverer.

    And David also understood something else: he could sing praises of joy and deliverance in all circumstances because God was his protector, watching over him, and defending his life.

    What are you facing that is nipping at your ankles every time you turn around? What keeps you awake at night and rolls around in your mind all day? Absolutely nothing is bigger than God’s ability to handle it and to protect you. Seek His help. Call on His name. When we allow the Creator of the Universe to take care of us, we can sing and praise from the shadow and protection of His wings.

    Father, thank you for protecting me in the shadow of your wings as you watch over my every need. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

R.A.P. it up . . . 

Reflect

•  Have you had a problem or situation that has been on your mind constantly, and you are unable to get it off your mind? 

•  Did you call on the Lord to help you? Why or why not?

Apply

•  In your journal, draw a picture of huge wings.

•  Now list every problem, worry, or situation you are facing under the picture of those wings. Then praise the Lord for His protection as you sing in His shadow.

Power 

•   Psalm 63:7 (NIV) “Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.”

•   Nahum 1:7 (NIV) “The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him. . .”

•   II Corinthians 4:8-9 (NIV) “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.”