GOD SHIELDS AND SHELTERS YOU

International Bible Baptist Church

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GOD SHIELDS AND SHELTERS YOU

Day 129

May 9, 2024 • Psalm 91:4

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Psalm 91:4

He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

Many of us struggle with worry. Bills, layoffs at work, health problems—all of these are fodder for anxious thoughts and sleepless nights. We may proclaim our trust in God on Sunday, but come Monday when the bills pile up in the mail or we receive frightening reports from the doctor, trust often takes a backseat to worry. We feel like a person who desperately seeks shelter during a storm.

There is good news: God is a refuge! He promises his protection during the storms of life. Like a mother bird sheltering her offspring under her wings, God will shield and protect us with his strong wings and warm feathers. Since many wild birds pluck their own feathers to make their nests comfortable, warm and safe, this is an image of God’s sacrifice, care and love for us.

Ultimate protection is found in God alone. Are you facing a stormy situation? He’s greater than any worry you may have.

GOD’S PROMISE TO ME:

• I will cover you with my wings and shelter you as a mother bird shelters her young.

• You are safe in my hands.

MY PRAYER TO GOD:

Heavenly Father, I’m in the midst of one of life’s storms. I could use your protection. Keep me safe. Be a shield and shelter for me. My life is in your hands. Amen.

GOD’S DISCIPLINE LEADS TO HOLINESS

June 1, 2024 • Hebrews 12:10–11

June 1 GOD’S DISCIPLINE LEADS TO HOLINESS Hebrews 12:10-11 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. Our fathers and mothers disciplined us, and now we discipline our own children. Often, however, our discipline is not perfect, especially when we offer discipline out of irritation or when we are exhausted. God’s discipline, however, is always right—and always good for us. Today’s promise is that God’s discipline means we will share in his holiness. We already share in God’s holiness because of our faith, but God is preparing us to be truly perfect in heaven. Of course, discipline is not enjoyable—in fact, it can be downright painful. Precisely because it is painful, we want to avoid it, and so we try to learn what God wants to avoid further pain. That’s what the writer of Hebrews meant when he said that afterward there would be a quiet harvest of right living. As we become holy, we are being prepared for heaven. GOD’S PROMISE TO ME: • When I discipline you, it is always right and good for you, for I am preparing you to share in my holiness. • My discipline will result in a quiet harvest of right living in your life. MY PRAYER TO GOD: God, you promise that your discipline is always right and good and that I will share in your holiness. Thank you for that promise. I pray that I will learn the lessons you have for me and that I will move on to maturity. Amen.

GOD DISCIPLINES YOU BECAUSE HE DELIGHTS IN YOU

May 31, 2024 • Proverbs 3:11–12

Proverbs 3:11-12 My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord ; neither be weary of his correction: For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth. “This will hurt me more than it hurts you.” Have you heard those words? They’re usually spoken in regard to discipline. We give the advice in these verses to our precious children when we discipline them. We certainly train them never to ignore us, and we also hope that they will not be discouraged by our discipline. Loving discipline teaches our children what is right while showing them that we discipline them because we love them. So it is with God. Like a loving father he disciplines us because he wants us to mature and to act correctly and responsibly. He disciplines us because he delights in us. Holding on to this truth isn’t always easy, especially when we are in the middle of being disciplined by God. We typically get angry or discouraged. Yet discipline, like pruning, is necessary and beneficial. We need to pray that we will not be discouraged but, instead, see God’s discipline as evidence that he delights in us. GOD’S PROMISE TO ME: • I may discipline you at times, but only because I am a loving Father who corrects the child in whom I delight. MY PRAYER TO GOD: Lord, you say that you correct me because you love me and delight in me. I admit that I don’t always see your discipline this way. Help me to grasp the truth that you are disciplining me because you delight in me. Thank you for being a loving Father who cares enough to teach me what is right. Amen.

YOU CAN TRUST IN THE POWER OF PRAYER

May 30, 2024 • James 5:16

James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Does prayer really make a difference? If God knows everything that’s going to happen, why pray? Can we really change God’s mind? We might be tempted to live as though everything happens by chance, and we must sit back and watch it all unfold. We have no control, so why try to do anything? We know that God knows everything, that all our days are in his book and the hairs of our head are numbered. But it’s important to remember that while we don’t know everything, our lives on this earth are a continuous quest of getting to know God better. He knows everything. So we talk to him, asking for guidance and help or protection. Does prayer change anything? Perhaps a better question is how does prayer change us? The Bible promises that our earnest prayers have great power and wonderful results. Prayer changes things—but most of all, it changes us. GOD’S PROMISE TO ME: • Your prayers can have great power and wonderful results. MY PRAYER TO GOD: Heavenly Father, you say that the earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power. I realize this doesn’t mean you answer every prayer with an unequivocal yes. I want to experience that power today. I trust that you hear my prayers and that you will answer. Amen.