Protects

Ancient armies had two types of shields. A large shield was carried in one hand for full body protection. An army could huddle together and raise these shields over their heads as a defensive barrier when fiery arrows were falling from the sky. The shield carried in the other hand was smaller and used for hand-to-hand combat or personal safety when rocks were hurled from the top of city walls. For the believer, God is our shield.

Davonte Jett-Reynolds heard the final lap bell during the men’s 5,000 meters at the 2023 NCAA Division 2 track championships and gave it all he had for the last 200 meters. He finished in third place—only one problem. The race wasn’t over. The electronic lap counter had skipped a lap, and the lap bell had sounded too soon. By the time Jett-Reynolds learned he had another lap, he was spent. He finally finished in eighteenth place. The NCAA refused to re-run the race. The confusion not only cost Jett-Reynolds a medal but kept his team from a second-place finish.

The eternal God is your refuge. He provides safety and security. He cares for you and carries you. He protects you with his powerful, eternal arms.