It’s Friday! I’m joining Kate Motaung for Five Minute Friday. One word prompt. Five minutes. No editing. Many of us writing on that same word.
Today’s prompt is … Protect.
Protect is defined as “to defend or guard from attack, invasion, loss, annoyance, insult, etc.; cover or shield from injury or danger.”
There is not a day which passes that we do not need protection of some sort. Sometimes it is even protection from ourselves – our thoughts and emotions. Someone please tell me I am not alone in this.
And we have One who protects us constantly, always, 24/7 –
Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and staff protect and comfort me. (Psalm 23:4, NLT)
The imagery is so powerful. The psalmist, David, was a shepherd and so he knew, firsthand, a shepherd is able to protect his sheep in the moment of their greatest danger. The shepherd’s rod was used to defend, count, guide and protect the sheep.
The rod had a little crook on the end by which the sheep could be pulled back from danger or he could part thick bushes for them to pass through. It was not a stick used to beat or be harsh to the flock. The sheep recognized their shepherd as their source of safety.
Charles Spurgeon expressed this thought of our Shepherd’s protection in these words –
“If He be a shepherd to no one else, He is a Shepherd to me. He cares for me, watches over me, and preserves me.”
May we take comfort today that He is a shepherd, personally, to each one of us.
PS – Recently I had the absolute joy to converse with Holly Barrett. She is a blogger over at “Living A Redeemed Life”. While I have not met Holly in person, I have linked with her many times at her “Testimony Tuesday” and always come away deeply encouraged. Holly is a writer, an encourager, a communicator of God’s truth, and a friend. You will be deeply blessed to hang out with Holly!
Just click on this podcast hyperlink to the interview:
hollybarrett.org/2016/07/lrl-050-joanne-viola.html
Today I am joining … Five Minute Friday and Faith Filled Friday and Grace & Truth and #FreshMarketFriday .
So thankful for this truth, Joanne! Happy Friday!
Joanne, glad I came over today and got encouraged to “take every thought captive to the supremacy of Christ.” #novainimaginations xoxo Going to the podcast NOW.
Susan, thank you for being the encouraging person that you are. I so appreciate that in you!
I’m so glad that our Shepherd Father protects us … sometimes He also charges us with protecting a smaller flock, namely our family. That shepherd’s crook is an instrument of love. And tonight I’m praying how to use it in that manner! A timely message for me.
You raise such a good point, Dianne. Sometimes we are called to protect our families. May we use our crook in love at those very times. Blessings!
Beautifully written, Joanne…and no, you’re not alone in sometimes needing protection from yourself. I can be my own worst enema.
#1 at FMF this week.
http://blessed-are-the-pure-of-heart.blogspot.com/2016/06/your-dying-spouse-175-protecting-who.html
AAAARRRGGGHHHH!
E-N-E-M-Y, not enema. Sheesh. I’m sorry.
The imagery of the Shepherd protecting his sheep is powerful for me also. It helps me grasp the depth of love God has for me and the extreme lengths He will go to to protect. Appreciated this encouragement!