God is your Protector
By: Lee Mitchell, N.E.O. Wesley Student Center Director
“I look to the mountains; where will my help come from?
My help will come from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.
He will not let you fall; your protector is always awake.
The protector of Israel never dozes or sleeps.
The LORD will guard you; he is by your side to protect you.
The sun will not hurt you during the day, nor the moon during the night.
The LORD will protect you from all danger; he will keep you safe.
He will protect you as you come and go now and for ever.”
Psalm 121: The Good News Translation
The Hebrew word for protector shows up in this translation six times. Strong’s Dictionary of Biblical Hebrew describes the word as meaning to “care for, tend, keep, attend to, take care of…” The Enhanced Brown-Driver-Briggs Lexicon translates it as watchman or overseer. When you think about synonyms for the word protector in English you might say that the Lord your God is your protector, guardian, champion, supporter, sympathizer, defender, shield, savior…
In a time of uncertainty, anxiety and worry we as Christians need to be turning to God’s word. The Bible is a mighty sword meant to bring comfort and reassurance of God’s nature. Psalm 121 clearly describes God as your protector.
Suffering, grief, worry, and fear are a part of the world we live in. Every time I turn on the news, I am reminded of the current surge in domestic violence, child abuse and addictions. People are grieving in all matters of life and need to be reminded that God is your protector.
In a matter of eight versus you are told six times that God is your protector. If you count the header on this translation “The Lord Our Protector” seven times. In the advertising world seven is considered the magic number of times you need to hear something for it to really sink in.
God knew that you would need to hear that he is your protector again and again and again. Pray for God’s protection and have faith with all your heart that He will protect you. As you breath in and out slowly repeat to yourself – (breath in) God is my (breath out) Protector. Breath in and out that “God is my protector” until you are so filled with that revelation that the peace of Christ pours out over you.
We are living in a broken, beat up world and God’s protection – His grace – will not always be obvious. But in those moments when all you can do is breath, remember with each breath that God is your Protector.
Let the peace of Christ be with you always!