Community Devotions

A Shield About Me

SCRIPTURE

“But you, O LORD, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. I cried to the Lord, and he answered me from his holy hill.” - Psalm 3:3-4

OBSERVATION

Context gives meaning to everything. The context of Psalm 3 is found in the subtitle, “A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son.” Imagine literally running for your life and the person who wants to kill you is your own son. When David pens that he has many enemies and they are rising against him it was a real credible threat on his life. Yet he declares that God himself (Yahweh) is a shield about him. God will take the hits intended to injure him. The Lord protects from assault meaning to hurt him. David’s glory was not found in his accomplishment and accolades but his glory is God himself. God is his strength and encouragement because God is the lifter of his head. God heard when David cried out to him.

APPLICATION

Let God fight my battles. When there are arrows of accusation and strikes of slander—God is my shield. He will take the hits. God will absorb the assaults. I don’t need to be defensive and let it penetrate my heart. But I need to be honest and come before him in prayer so that he can be my glory and the lifter of my head. I also need to find my encouragement in God. When my head is down and I am discouraged, He alone is the lifter of my head. Remember that when I cry out to the Lord, he answers me from his holy hill.

PRAYER

 Heavenly Father,

Thank you for being a shield about me. You have protected me millions of times and I may have only been aware of ten of them. Thank you for answering my prayers when I cry out to you. 

Guard the Gift!

Scripture

"By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you." - 2 Timothy 1:14

Observation

We guard things that hold value to us. We guard our homes and lock our doors at night because the safety and health of our families are valuable. We guard and alarm our cars because transportation is valuable to us. We even guard and screen lock our phones because financial information and privacy are valuable to us. Paul tells Timothy that there has been a good deposit that has been entrusted to him and it’s value is worth guarding and protecting. This good deposit I believe is the “gift of God” that he is to "fan into flame" which he received through the laying of hands (1:6). In other words, Timothy is to guard and protect his anointing, spiritual gift and ministry calling. The means through which he is to guard his anointing is through the strength, power and the agency of the Holy Spirit—not his own might, self discipline or effort.

Application

How much do I value God’s anointing over my life? Many are called but few are chosen to shepherd’s God’s people through preaching the gospel and leading with selfless love. Are there areas of compromise that I’m letting my guard down and not guarding my anointing? Points of Obedience:

• 2:1, “You then, my child, be strengthened in the grace that is in Christ Jesus” — Stand strong in the gospel of God’s grace! I can never earn or work for his gift upon my life. Transfer from my head to my heart that I am fully loved, forgiven and accepted solely on the merit of Christ’s righteousness.
• 2:15, “Do your best to present yourself to God, as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth”— Be diligent in the study, preparation and exegesis of God’s word! Be accountable and work hard "before the face of the Lord” (Ante faciem domini).
• 2:21, “Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work” — Be quick to confess and repent! A lifestyle of confession before God is a life of honor, holiness, usefulness in the kingdom.

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for speaking to me so clearly this morning. Thank you for choosing me and considering me faithful to be a pastor to shepherd your people. I never want to take that for granted. It is a gracious gift that you would entrust me with your anointing and presence. Jesus I want to be strengthened in your grace and continue to live out of the abundance of gospel truth. Holy Sprit, I need you every hour. May you empower me and remind me to continually guard the good deposit entrusted to me and to guard my heart. Would you please be the Good Shepherd over me, my family and New Hope Community Church? I love you. Maranatha!