Daily Journal: 19 May

God's Protection

Our Standing

When we live in God’s Presence, we rely on His goodness to safeguard our comings and goings, to shield and protect us, to establish our ways, and be our peace in troubled times. We learn to know Him as our Provider, Protector, Defender, Advocate, Deliverer, Saviour, Redeemer, Friend, Counsellor, Shepherd and Father.

Things may not always be easy but we learn who we are in Him and the knowledge of who He is, and we learn to live in that identity. It takes training. It’s important we don’t take it for granted. We can't assume life as normal, drizzled

with a little icing on the top. No. We are made a new creation in Christ Jesus. We need to learn our new identity; the code of conduct, our rights and privileges and our position as an adopted heir, a royal priesthood, a people belonging to God.

1 Peter 2:9 (NIV)

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

Our darkened minds can fling up old ways of thinking. We must train ourselves in the light of the truth of God’s Word and know, no matter what, nothing can separate us from Him. He is always with us. His name is above every other name. We stand in assurance now.

Psalm 121:8 (NASB)

The LORD will guard your going out and your coming in from this time and forever.

Things may not always be easy but we find courage in our comings and goings because we know who stands beside us.

Psalm 16:8 (NLT)

I know the LORD is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.

We take refuge in Him.

Psalm 18:2

(ESV) The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

(CEV) You are my mighty rock, my fortress, my protector, the rock where I am safe, my shield, my powerful weapon, and my place of shelter.

It’s important we learn to trust in God’s protectiveness over our lives. It's important we know our position in Him. It’s important we call on Him when we’re afraid, when we’re in distress, or feeling hopeless.

Psalm 37:25 (ESV)

I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread.

God’s protection is for His children. He doesn’t want us to be victims in hopelessness. God calls us to put away our past and know our standing. All pasts must be put away. Whether it be as a bully or a victim; lazy and a glutton or greedy and vindictive; hateful as a murderer, or covetous as a thief. Laying everything down, deciding it has no hold over us anymore and no place in us anymore, because Christ died to raise us up past those fallen thoughts and that fallen behaviour; we are made new and in Christ Jesus, we have been given the victory.

1 John 5:4-5 (NCV)

because everyone who is a child of God conquers the world. And this is the victory that conquers the world—our faith. So the one who conquers the world is the person who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

We have to choose to take our identity in Christ, our victory and live in it fully and completely. Put away all the things that make us discontent, or emotionally fragile, or doubtful, and understand who God really is and who we really are in Him.

1 Corinthians 15:34 (CEB)

Sober up by acting like you should and don’t sin. Some of you are ignorant about God—I say this because you should be ashamed of yourselves!

We are given a free gift of grace that transcends far beyond what we can imagine. This is the God who died and rose from death to save us. Embrace His fullness and the fullness He longs for us to live in.

Do you need to start thinking differently?

Psalm 24:3-5 (NLT)

Who may climb the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? Only those whose hands and hearts are pure, who do not worship idols and never tell lies. They will receive the Lord’s blessing and have a right relationship with God their savior.