Bible Society of South Africa
Benescke Janse van Rensburg

Still I will – Day 11

Still I will remind myself of Your protection

Bible text(s)

13The LORD looks down from heaven

and sees the whole human race.

14From where he rules, he looks down

on all who live on earth.

Psalms 33:13-14GNBOpen in Bible reader

10Do not be afraid — I am with you!

I am your God — let nothing terrify you!

I will make you strong and help you;

I will protect you and save you.

Isaiah 41:10GNBOpen in Bible reader

4Even if I go through the deepest darkness,

I will not be afraid, LORD,

for you are with me.

Your shepherd's rod and staff protect me.

Psalms 23:4GNBOpen in Bible reader

The LORD our Protector

1I look to the mountains;

where will my help come from?

2My help will come from the LORD,

who made heaven and earth.

3He will not let you fall;

your protector is always awake.

4The protector of Israel

never dozes or sleeps.

5The LORD will guard you;

he is by your side to protect you.

6The sun will not hurt you during the day,

nor the moon during the night.

7The LORD will protect you from all danger;

he will keep you safe.

8He will protect you as you come and go

now and for ever.

Psalms 121GNBOpen in Bible reader

One day I saw a picture of a lonely surfer on his board in the water near Strandfontein outside Cape Town. He was unaware of large sharks swimming around him. The photographer told how he hovered above the surfer in his gyrocopter for five minutes and saw at least five sharks within 100 meters of the surfer. Yet the surfer was totally unaware of them — even the one passing right underneath his board.

The enemy is out to steal, kill and destroy us (John 10:10). He looks for ways to hurt us and use “sharks” in the form of challenges in the workplace, threats of bankruptcy, gossip to damage our character, conflict with a loved one, flirtation by someone outside our marriage or even our children being bullied at school. These “sharks” fill us with an uneasy feeling, anxiety or even fear.

However, one thing we should remember is that God, like the photographer in the gyrocopter, has a different perspective. He sees every “shark” — even those that we are still unaware of. In Psalm 33:13-14 we read: “The Lord looks down from heaven and sees the whole human race. From his throne he observes all who live on the earth.”

God not only sees the sharks, but He is able to protect us from them. In Isaiah 41:10 we read: “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.” In Psalm 23:4 we read: “Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid …” And in Psalm 121 it is written: “I look up to the mountains — does my help come from there? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not let you stumble; the one who watches over you will not slumber. Indeed, he who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps. The Lord himself watches over you! The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade. The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon at night. The Lord keeps you from all harm and watches over your life. The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever.”

May we go into this week knowing that God is omnipresent and our Protector. He puts a cage of steel around us, when it feels as if we are on a board, deep within the water with sharks closing in on us. Let us thank Him for that protection. God bless.

Bible Society of South Africav.4.17.10
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