Lift That Shield
SARAH FREYMUTH
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“The LORD is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.” Psalm 28:7 (ESV)
We’re finally seeing hints of spring after a long Wisconsin winter. Branches with the tiniest of buds, a warmer wind that isn’t laced with ice that whips across my face. And slowly but surely, a sun that’s staying up in the sky later and later into the early evening hours.
But man, how we fought the dark, dreary drudgery of months that buried us inside as we huddled under layers and that left us weary with longing for the days when we could fill our lungs with freshness. I’m worn out — especially from going through depleting anxiety and depression while working my way back from the aftermath of a rough year of health scares for myself and my husband.
This world can make me feel weak. How about you? From the constant demands of family life and taking care of others to hearing about tragedy after tragedy in the news — it’s too much for our weary hearts to hold. If you’re like me, sometimes you’re not sure you can take one step more; your faith feels so frail when you’re pouring out your energy simply to make it through the day.
The enemy does his best to keep us down, with discouragement and distraction coming at us from all angles. As the steady stream of trials washes over our hearts, we’re left exposed and worn, in desperate need of reprieve.
But God knew we’d face adversity, that unyielding winter of our hearts. So He’s given us tactics and tools to remember who He is and to call on Him to come into the battle.
Psalm 7:10 reminds us God is our shield, among many other things: “My shield is with God, who saves the upright in heart” (ESV).
Impenetrable. Strong. Resilient. God never grows weary, and He never gets tired of coming to our rescue. In fact, He delights in it.
God fights for us as we rely on Him. (Deuteronomy 3:22) So while He fights for us, our greatest weapon is our shield of faith in Him. (Ephesians 6:16)
The function of a shield is to keep the enemy from getting to us. It stands between us and our adversary. Because the Lord is our shield, He protects us from lies and attacks of the enemy. With the Lord at work for us, nothing can cut us too deeply for Him to heal, as His Truth and banner hold steady. He is our steady hand and ever-present help in times of trouble. He gives us the grace to endure the battle and offers the hope of lasting victory.
“The LORD is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.” (Psalm 28:7)
But we have a role in this too. It’s a combined partnership; we battle alongside God. He does the great work of fighting for us and offering protection, and we have the task of lifting that shield of faith over our minds, our hearts and our bodies. We hold to His Word, reminding ourselves who God is: Strong Tower, Refuge, Redeemer, Shepherd, Deliverer, Defender. And we repeat Truth to ourselves over and over throughout the day, even through the night.
God has equipped us with every piece of armor and Truth we need when the negative self-talk static rolls in loudly and the unexpected sucker punch of bad news threatens to drag us down. The more we exercise our faith, the more we begin to build our strength and stand firm against the enemy’s schemes and the world’s chaos.
Weary friend, warrior sister, pull out your shield. Lift it in front of your mind and heart. Keep it raised forever high.
Father, I feel so weak. My heart feels battered, and while spring is coming, renewal still feels so far off in me. I’m tired. My faith is tender. Would You help me lift and keep up my shield of faith? Would You be my shield of protection, my defender, the One who fights my battle? Thank You that You are strong and steadfast and that You love protecting Your children. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
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FOR DEEPER STUDY
Romans 8:31, “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” (ESV)
How does knowing God is for you change the way you approach your current battle?
Make a list of God’s attributes and repeat them to yourself whenever you find yourself getting tired or afraid. This will help you hold high your shield of faith.
We’d love to hear from you! Share your thoughts in the comments.
© 2023 by Sarah Freymuth. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 31 Ministries
P.O. Box 3189
Matthews, NC 28106
www.Proverbs31.org
Originally published Tuesday, 25 April 2023.
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