Phyllis Nissila
For the complete booklet of Psalm 91 devotionals, click here.
First Line of Defense
“He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.”
You have no doubt heard some variation of the much-used sermon illustration about a little child whose daddy told him to trust in God for protection one stormy night. However, the boy was looking for a little more tangible evidence of safety. As the story goes, the child preferred God “with skin on” so he could see and feel His protection.
In another sense, though, skin is the most apt tangible illustration of the kind of protection God does provide for us.
The body’s largest organ, known as our “first line of defense,” protects us from assault with objects, the extremes of temperature, and disease. Without the protection of our skin which literally surrounds us, we would be vulnerable to a host of ills.
Consider likewise the “covering” the Body of Christ has: God’s promises threaded throughout Scripture; intercessory prayers; the gifts of the Holy Spirit for healing, miracles, direction, and deliverance; and the fellowship of other believers for additional kinds of assistance.
God’s protection detailed in His Word and made possible by the sacrifice of His Only Son, Jesus, the Word Made Flesh (God “with skin on,” you might put it) is much more comprehensive than walls of brick and stone or even this magnificent epidermis in which we live and move.
His protection is our first—and always—line of defense, a “shield” against enemies both seen and unseen who will not, in the end, prevail. Read the last chapter.
And keep this in mind: “God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).
Invitation
Share your own story about a time God protected or provided in some way for you or a loved one.
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Image from the public domain
Related articles
- Psalm 91 in the Midst of the Fray: Verse 3 (pnissila.wordpress.com)
- Psalm 91 in the Midst of the Fray: Preface, Verses 1-2, and Share Your Story (pnissila.wordpress.com)
pnissila 
Many are the Afflictions of the Righteous, but he Delivers them …
God enters a broken spirit and delivers them, through a Contrite Heart!
This happened to me, at the tender age of 51. The Lord, found me, and I was drawn to him and was convicted of my Sins. I was Dead, in my sins, and going nowhere, but pain and suffering without a Saviour.
I was Pre- destined, before the Foundations of the World, to be adopted, as a Child of God!
He took me under His Wing….and slowly showed me his Grace! ( which at the time, I only knew to be a prayer before eating. 🙂
So, my carnal SKIN, protected me, until illness and disaster, took over….and then a Powerful God placed his Holy Shielding Wings on me, and set me Free and showed me , HIS WORD IS TRUTH!
The first Scripture I learned, was Romans 10:17. Faith comes by Hearing, and Hearing the WORD of God! ( it happens to be my RC fathers Birthdate, and Romans tells us how where Justified!) Christ, sent me this Scripture, to show me there is another Father ,more important, than your deceased Earthly father and to point me in Spiritual Life (Everlasting Life!)
Amen
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Cathy,
You will see both scriptures you reference, here, in my next devotional on verse 6! The Word of God is truly powerful and uniting.
Thanks for sharing the other attribute of our “skin”–to keep us together, so to speak, until such time as it is OUR time to consider our personal response to Jesus’ invitation. And where there is still “skin on,” there is still hope.
And because we both are RC survivors, isn’t it nice to know, now, what “grace” really is? I pray this same revelation for all caught up in works-based salvation teachings. It’s a hard and frustrating existence. Compare with “My yoke is easy and my burden, light” (Jesus, who did the hard work on the cross for us).
Blessings,
Phyllis
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