January 30, 2021 Prayer - Protected by God

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for making heaven and earth, for creating us in the image of Christ, and for continuing to give us all the beautiful gifts of this life.  Thank you that your Way is perfect and your Word is flawless; you shield all who take refuge in you.  No matter the circumstances we face, thank you that our true help, security, and protection comes from you.  Thank you for guarding and guiding us, never letting us stumble or fall without comforting us with your presence.  Thank you that you never forget or ignore us; you are never asleep.  You are always at our sides to shelter us safely in your presence and protect us from danger.  We ask and pray in Jesus's name that you would protect us from every form of attack, sin, evil or calamity - in body, mind, soul, spirit, immune systems, livelihood, property, or relationships.  Hide our souls in the cleft of you, our Rock, when it seems this dry and thirsty world is overwhelming.  Guard us, protect us, and arm us with strength.  Hide our lives in the depth of your Love, we pray in Christ's name, Amen. 

"So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them." (Genesis 1:27 NIV)

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created." (James 1:17-18 NIV)

"I look up to the mountains and hills, longing for God’s help.

But then I realize that our true help and protection

come only from the Lord,

our Creator who made the heavens and the earth.

He will guard and guide me, never letting me stumble or fall.

God is my keeper; he will never forget nor ignore me.

He will never slumber nor sleep;

he is the Guardian-God for his people, Israel.

Jehovah himself will watch over you;

he’s always at your side to shelter you safely in his presence.

He’s protecting you from all danger both day and night.

He will keep you from every form of evil or calamity

as he continually watches over you.

You will be guarded by God himself.

You will be safe when you leave your home

and safely you will return.

He will protect you now,

and he’ll protect you forevermore!"  (Psalm 121 TPT)

"As for God, his way is perfect:

    The Lord’s word is flawless;

    he shields all who take refuge in him.

For who is God besides the Lord?

    And who is the Rock except our God?

It is God who arms me with strength

    and keeps my way secure." (Psalm 18:30-32 NIV)

"He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock

  That shadows a dry, thirsty land;

He hideth my life in the depths of His love,

  And covers me there with His hand,

    And covers me there with His hand." (Fannie J. Crosby)

Between the paws of the true Aslan

Recently I reread "The Last Battle" from the Chronicles of Narnia series by CS Lewis.  It is a child's eye view of the End of the World, but filled with hope and God's protection over his beloved.  In the middle of the book the AntiChrist character and his lackeys (Calormenes) have set up camp around a shed in the woods.  The last, true King of Narnia, Tirian, and his followers are hiding around the camp, preparing for battle.  The bad guys have called down their god "Tash" who they say is equal to Aslan [Christ] but who they really don't believe in.  In preparation for the battle to come, we read this:

Tirian bent his head to hear something that Jill was trying to whisper in his ear. "What do you think is really inside the stable?" she said. "Who knows?" said Tirian. "Two Calormenes with drawn swords, as likely as not, one on each side of the door." "You don't think," said Jill, "it might be . . . you know . . . that horrid thing we saw?" "Tash himself?" whispered Tirian. "There's no knowing. But courage, child: we are all between the paws of the true Aslan."   (http://www.mylibrarybook.com/books/673/C.S-Lewis/The-Last-Battle-6.html)

I don't know about you, but it seems like there is plenty of uncertainty, pain, and angst swirling around us right now.  Each of us probably has different definitions of what our own "angst" may be, but whatever that is, hear again these words:  "Child, we are all between the paws of the true Christ."  We are each held in the palms of God's hands.  We are each sheltered under God's wings.  We are each known securely by a loving Father.

"You who sit down in the High God's presence, spend the night in Shaddai's shadow, 
   Say this: "God, you're my refuge. 
      I trust in you and I'm safe!" 
   That's right—he rescues you from hidden traps, 
      shields you from deadly hazards. 
   His huge outstretched arms protect you— 
      under them you're perfectly safe; 
      his arms fend off all harm. 

"If you'll hold on to me for dear life," says God, 
      "I'll get you out of any trouble. 
   I'll give you the best of care 
      if you'll only get to know and trust me. 
   Call me and I'll answer, be at your side in bad times; 
      I'll rescue you, then throw you a party. 
   I'll give you a long life, 
      give you a long drink of salvation!"  (From Ps. 91 MSG)

God, you are our refuge and we trust in you for our safety.   Thank you for rescuing us from traps, shielding us from hazards, fending off harm.  Thank you for protection against all the angst of this life. Help us call out to you and hear your answer.  Help us hold on to you for life - spiritual, emotional, professional, financial, relational, etc. - and know your loving care.  Give us the gift of long life lived with you and the abundance of peace in our salvation and friendship with you.  Thank you for holding us in your arms, protecting us under your wings, and loving us so much you go to the cross for us.  In Christ's name we pray, amen.