GOD WILL CARRY YOU THROUGH
- Key Verse
- "But you are a shield around me, O Lord; you bestow glory on me and lift up my head." (Psalm 3:3)
READ THE CHAPTER
Central Truth
Nothing happens to us that isn't filtered through the hand of God. He will walk with us and sustain us through whatever life brings.
Reflections
David wrote this psalm when he was fleeing from his son Absalom. Thankfully, I have never had to flee from my son, nor have I had tens of thousands of soldiers after me! But I have had times in my life where it seemed that someone had something against me.
All my life I have been a people pleaser. I want happy, harmonious relationships, and I work very hard for that outcome. And the thing that makes me want to flee is when someone misconstrues my motives or falsely accuses me. It isn't so much because I am being thought of badly, but because I feel as if my life–to this person–does not glorify God. I don't have a good Christian testimony to them, and I desperately want to fix it.
In this psalm, like many of the psalms, David cries out to God. The more he is pursued and beaten down, the harder he clings to God. In verse 3, David proclaims that God is his protector (shield), his honor (glory), and his joy (lifter of his head)! David trusts God's provision for him so intensely that even while being pursued by thousands of angry men, David can still lie down and sleep (v. 5), because he knows that it is God who sustains him. I'm struck by this because I have lost many hours of sleep during trials and relational conflicts.
I so strongly desire for my life to glorify God, to be a testimony to others for God to use to draw people to Himself. I have learned, though, that it is God who brings the glory to Himself. My working hard for harmonious relationships and desperately trying to fix my testimony to others doesn't do it. But as I cling to God, abide in Him, cry out to Him, and trust Him intensely like David did, He is glorified simply because He is who He is: an all-powerful God, who brings beauty from ashes and who works intimately in the lives of His people, whom He loves. It's all about Him!
Discussion Questions
1. When you are in the midst of a trial, do you run to God, or try to fix it by your own power?
2. During trials, how do your actions show others that you are relying on God to sustain you?
3. Sit back, close your eyes, and sing this hymn (if you know it): "Thou, oh Lord, art a shield about me, You're my glory, You're the lifter of my head." While you are singing it, think about what that means to you. How has God shielded you? How has He been the lifter of your head?
randy
January 5, 2010 07:02 AM
I started singing the hymn, but my joyful noise seemed more like noise that joy, so I am attaching a youtube video of this song... thank you Barbara for devo this morning! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9OT4vsZYoo&feature=related
Cindy S. Brown
January 5, 2010 07:19 AM
Thank you for this timely and thoughtful devotional, Barbara! You did a GREAT job with this Psalm! I especially appreciated where you wrote, "David proclaims that God is his protector (shield), his honor (glory), and his joy (lifter of his head)!" If we could hold onto those truths every moment, I think those 3 truths would probably be adequate to answer any prayer request we ever have! WELL DONE! (And I WOULD like to meet you for coffee...)
Bruce Eric Anderson
January 5, 2010 07:30 AM
Thanks for your insights in today's devotion, Barbara. I like the word picture that comes to my mind when I read these verses. God is our protector and provider. He is our shield.
Chip Smith
January 5, 2010 07:43 AM
Great log Barbara! Psalm 3 is such a great comfort when you are dealing with those who are out to bring you down. I have never prayed verse seven, however, I have come close but ended up just asking God to convict them and bring them into a right relationship with Him. I have prayed verse eight and watched God fulfill verse seven. Those instances left me with a desire to be a friend of God. In fact, I have a current situation that I can truly testify that God hears you when you cry out to Him and trust Him. Have a great day.
Tim Hawks
January 5, 2010 07:57 AM
Well, I did sing the song too. Thanks Barbara for putting it in my head this morning. Seeing God as a shield implies that we will experience a steady stream of "incoming" issues. Our God provides protection in the daily battles and restful sleep at night!
Kim Lammons
January 5, 2010 08:09 AM
Timely devo. for me today as I am dealing with a situation at work where I am trusting God as a shield and praying he will change the heart of a coworker. How encouraging God protects us and gives us peace in the midst of troubles.
Jen Jordan
January 5, 2010 08:53 AM
Just what I needed to be reminded of today. God is so amazing how He plans these devotionals so far in advance knowing what will be happening in our lives the day each one is published. Trusting God as my shield and provider like I never have before.
Amy Calhoun
January 5, 2010 09:07 AM
Thanks Barbara for this great devotion. It is EXCACTLY what my husband and I needed to hear. Great job! My husband is hurting due to an estranged relationship with one of his sons so this spoke directly to him today. Thank you thank you!
Jamie Phillips
January 5, 2010 12:21 PM
Thanks so much for the words of inspiration. You expressed your self in a great way and it inspired me to let go and let God have control. I need that followship to keep me grounded. Thanks so much.
Jamie Phillips
January 5, 2010 12:21 PM
Thanks so much for the words of inspiration. You expressed your self in a great way and it inspired me to let go and let God have control. I need that followship to keep me grounded. Thanks so much.
Scott Stone
January 5, 2010 12:49 PM
Very well put. We do at times think that a shield can never protect us, but God surely does as we put our faith in Him. I pray that God will protect us from the worldly possessions that inflict our lives everyday..
norma harais
January 5, 2010 01:05 PM
Wow...just this morning i had someone misconstrue my motives and his words caused me a lot of pain -- not because i was wrong in speaking the truth "in love" to another believer, but because he still felt attacked by my words. God stopped me from allowing my ugliness to surface back at him and instead gave me peace with His shield. Thanks so much, Barbara, for God's words He clearly spoke through you! He used you to calm my anxieties and "lift my head".
Terry Melle
January 5, 2010 04:28 PM
YHWH Nissi. Exactly enough.
Lisa Rutledge
January 5, 2010 04:40 PM
Barbara, We apply this psalm the same way,as I empathize completely with your passion for harmony and greive at its absence. Thank you for pointing us back to God's power alone to build anything good in our relationships.
Rich Heller
January 6, 2010 06:37 AM
Great Devo Barbara
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April 12, 2011 05:36 AM
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