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Scriptures About the Lord is a Shield

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Scriptures About the Lord is a Shield

Throughout the Bible, scripture names many metaphors for God. Many of these relate to and tell us about his character. A large part of God’s character, as is true of any good parent, is a protector. Thus, one of the things that the Bible says is that the Lord is a shield.

A shield by definition is a defensive armor used to protect or defend a person. It can also act as a cover or barrier to hide a person or to cut them off from observation. In our lives, God can use this kind of protection to safeguard us from danger and attacks (spiritual or physical) or even discomfort, much like a shield could act as a barrier to offensive weapons. As a shield God can also provide us shelter or concealment from things that might otherwise have a negative effect on us, much like a shield can provide protection from the sun or heat or to hide one from predators.

Matthew Henry says of Psalm 3:3 that the Lord as a shield provides safety: “”Thou art a shield for me, a shield about me” (so some), “to secure me on all sides, since my enemies surrounded me.” Not only my shield (Gen. 15:1), which denotes an interest in the divine protection, but a shield for me, which denotes the present benefit and advantage of that protection.”[1]

Think about some of the areas where we might come under attack or require protection and be in need of a shield:

Our life/health (physical threats)

Our mind (emotional or mental threats)

Marriage

Our children

Other family

Relationships

Jobs

Property or personal belongings

Spiritual attacks

…to name a few

It’s comforting to know we have a shield around us protecting us on all sides

It should be comforting to us to know that the Lord is called our shield to protect us in areas and during times when we are vulnerable. He protects us because we are his own. It’s his nature. We can rest in knowing that we have someone that we can depend upon to protect, defend, and shelter us. We don’t have to do it alone. God will surround us as a shield to secure us on all sides, enclosing and encompassing us to keep us safe from diverse kinds of harm and destruction.

“And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night.” Exodus 13:21 (ESV)

“Then the angel of God who was going before the host of Israel moved and went behind them, and the pillar of cloud moved from before them and stood behind them” Exodus 14:19 (ESV)

“Then your salvation will come like the dawn, and your wounds will quickly heal. Your godliness will lead you forward, and the glory of the LORD will protect you from behind.” Isaiah 58:8 (NLT)

“You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head.” Psalm 139:5 (NLT)

“For the angel of the LORD is a guard; he surrounds and defends all who fear him.” Psalm 34:7 (NLT)

“Just as the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds his people, both now and forever.” Psalm 125:2 (NLT)

“The LORD keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever.” Psalm 121:8 (NLT)

God will surround us as a shield to secure us on all sides, enclosing and encompassing us to keep us safe from diverse kinds of harm and destruction.

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Let these verses be a reminder and a help to us that God is our shield and we have protection available!

Scriptures About the Lord is a Shield

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A Prayer for Strength

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A Prayer for Strength

Last week I shared some scriptures about the Lord is my strength. This week I’d like to share a prayer for strength. When we need strength or need strength renewed, we need to look to the Lord. Prayer is extremely powerful and produces results (James 5:16)! This prayer based on scriptures (listed below) will help us to rely on the Lord’s support and remind us that God will supply and renew our strength in times of need.

Here is a prayer for strength that you can pray:

A Prayer for Strength

Lord, I am in need of strength right now. I know that you are my strength and will help me in times of trouble and need and will teach me how to fight. You are the one who gives us strength. Strengthen me and supply me with the energy I need to face anything set before me. Please let your presence strengthen, encourage, restore, and support me. Hold me up and place me on a firm foundation. When I am tested, please give me the strength to endure it.

Empower me with inner strength and give me mental strength and ability. Give me the power and strength needed when I am weak and powerless. Renew my strength when I grow weary, tired, and exhausted. Help me not to rely on my own strength and attempt to do everything myself. Instead, help me to look to you for support. Help me to remember that when I am weak, you are strong and that I have access to your strength and power that will work through me.

Remind me that your power will give me the endurance, patience, and joy I need. I can be strong and courageous when I hope in you and give my cares, anxieties, and burdens to you. You will go before me and you will not fail me nor abandon me. You will guard me from evil. Help me to remember that you are faithful and that in quietness and confidence is my strength. Because of you, Lord, I will go from strength to strength, increasing in victorious power.

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Scriptures this prayer was based upon:

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Scriptures About the Lord is My Strength

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Scriptures About the Lord is My Strength

“He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:29-31 (NLT)

There are times in every Christian’s life when we feel weak, lacking strength, overwhelmed, tired, and/or depleted. We tend to exhaust everything we know to do in our own power. Therein lies the problem…“our own power”. We often try to do life on our own and don’t rely on God enough. There comes a point when our own efforts are not sufficient, and our own strength becomes exhausted. God wants us to know that and be confident to proclaim that “GOD IS MY STRENGTH”.

Some battles and things we face in life were never meant to be faced on our own. We NEVER win a spiritual battle with natural strength.

“…be strong IN THE LORD and IN HIS mighty power…” Ephesians 6:10 (NIV) emphasis mine

There are scriptures that will remind us that we don’t need to rely on our own strength and attempt to do everything ourselves. Instead, we need to look to God for support. (See also this prayer for strength.)

When we need strength, or need strength renewed, we need to look to the Lord. These scriptures will remind us that God will supply and renew our strength in times of need. In fact, he IS our strength!

We never win a spiritual battle with natural strength. #TheLordisMyStrength

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Scriptures About the Lord is My Strength:

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Praise is a Weapon

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Praise is a Weapon... This is how I fight my battles!

Praise is a Weapon

I heard somebody say once that praise is a weapon. After some study and ongoing confirmation and conviction, I truly believe that now even though I never would have thought of it that way before. To me, it’s always felt very counterintuitive and contradictory to offer up praise if I’m in the middle of a fight or battle.

However, I’ve learned that praise will silence the enemy, give us strength and lighten our load, and save us from our enemies. Therefore it’s an effective weapon. We can fight the enemy and even our own negative feelings with praise. Praise creates an atmosphere for the Holy Spirit to work and move and for God to answer prayers.

“Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.” Psalm 8:2 (NIV)

“To console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.” Isaiah 61:3 (NKJV)

“I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies.” Psalm 18:3 (ESV)

Praise is a weapon that is different from other kinds of weapons

It’s both a spiritual offensive and a defensive weapon. God has given us different kinds of spiritual weapons to use. They are stronger and more powerful than any weapon of this world with which we might do battle. Praise as a weapon might seem unnatural but it IS supernatural.

“The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.” 2 Corinthians 10:4 (NIV)

Praise as a weapon might seem unnatural but it IS supernatural.

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We praise in and by faith

Praising in the middle of a battle DOES seem counterintuitive and contradictory. We praise when it doesn’t make sense to do so because we have faith in the power of God. Praise is a weapon of faith—it’s a fight of faith. We praise in spite of the circumstances surrounding us.

“Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.” Hebrews 11:1 (NLT)

“Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” 1 Timothy 6:12 (NIV)

“Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the LORD! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!” Habakkuk 3:17-18 (NLT)

Praise is often a sacrifice and act of surrender

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How to Use Our Spiritual Authority Against the Enemy

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How to Use Our Spiritual Authority Against the Enemy

Recently I wrote on authority. We discussed the importance of knowing we have God-given authority which is backed by God’s power, and we also hit on the importance of using that authority instead of sitting idly by waiting for God to move. I think so many Christians don’t realize the power that we have available to us and through us because of Jesus. In that previous post we talked about the history, foundation, and basis of our authority. This week I’d like to go a little further into what it looks like to build our confidence and practically use that spiritual authority, especially in situations of spiritual warfare or attacks from the enemy.

As a quick recap…

God owns the earth (Psalm 24:1). When God created humans, he gave us spiritual authority to act as his stewards (Genesis 1:26-28, Hebrews 2:5-8). Then Adam sinned and passed that authority over to Satan (Luke 4:6, 2 Corinthians 4:4, 1 John 5:19, Ephesians 2:2). Later, Jesus came and restored that authority (Matthew 28:18, Romans 5:17-21, Colossians 1:20). Then, Jesus transferred this authority back to his followers (Matthew 16:19, Matthew 28:18-20, Luke 10:19, John 20:21-22, Acts 1:8, Luke 24:47).

As the body of Christ, we have authority to do the works of Jesus in the world today. It is our responsibility to resist and stand against the enemy.

“Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you.” Luke 10:19 (NLT)

“These miraculous signs will accompany those who believe: They will cast out demons in my name, and they will speak in new languages. They will be able to handle snakes with safety, and if they drink anything poisonous, it won’t hurt them. They will be able to place their hands on the sick, and they will be healed.” Mark 16:17-18 (NLT)

“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7 (NIV)

“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” 1 Peter 5:8-9 (NIV)

“Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.” Ephesians 6:11 (NLT)

Remind them of who they are

When praying about this post I believe I heard God say, “Remind them of who they are.” In order to start confidently using our God-given spiritual authority against the enemy, we need to know that we are God’s children, and that we have the one true and only God on our side to back us up and empower us. Additionally, we need to know that God has already promised us victory.

We are children and heirs of God himself!

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We Have Authority

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We Have Authority—It’s time to start using it!

I mentioned in a recent post about God’s power in us that I’ve been working on writing some posts about spiritual warfare and encountering Satan and evil spiritual and supernatural forces. Some of the most important things we need to know when engaging in spiritual warfare is that we have power and authority from God. Therefore, this post is primarily going to be focusing on instruction on the authority that God gives us and encouragement to start using that authority.

It’s so important that we discuss authority because if we don’t know we have it, we won’t use it. This is like a $100 bill in your pocket that you don’t know is there! If you don’t use it, it won’t do you any good. It reminds me of the time when I had sold my college textbooks back to the bookstore at the end of the semester and pocketed my refund. I packed that pair of pants away and forgot that the money was in my pocket. Several months went by when that money would have come in really handy. I had the money the whole time. I just wasn’t aware of it and didn’t use it. That is, until one day when I wore those pants again and stuck my hand in my pocket. That was a great day!

What IS authority and why is it important?

Authority is delegated power. It’s a power granted to one person by someone else who is IN authority. Authority is being in charge, in control, or in command. The person in authority is the one legally giving the orders, and the ones to whom those orders are given MUST comply.

As a Christian, we have authority over the enemy, given to us by God (more about this throughout the post).

This is important because if God gave us authority over the enemy, that then means WE are the ones in charge and the enemy must comply. Or as a child might put it, the devil is “not the boss of us” or our situations and circumstances. Therefore, we need to stop acting like he is and stop acting like we’re powerless.

There needs to be authority for things to be in place. Satan always wants to stop it. However, the devil and his forces HAVE to recognize our influence as believers.

“Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.” 1 John 4:4 (KJV)

“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7 (NIV)

Where does authority come from?

If authority is delegated power, then where does it come from? All authority comes from God.

“Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God.” Romans 13:1 (NLT)

The value of authority rests in the power behind it. God is the power behind our influence. When we use our God-given authority, HIS power backs us up.

Even Jesus was under God’s authority. He was not out doing his own works in his own name. Jesus does what God does or God’s will.

“So Jesus explained, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does.” John 5:19 (NLT)

“I can do nothing on my own. I judge as God tells me. Therefore, my judgment is just, because I carry out the will of the one who sent me, not my own will.” John 5:30 (NLT)

We are also under God’s authority. James 4:7 says that we should submit ourselves to God, then resist the devil and he will flee. To “submit” here indicates that to get our power and influence we have to obey and follow the one who gives it to us. Subordinates not obeying or submitting their upper authority will get their own power revoked. This means that we have to FIRST be submitted to God under HIS authority (to his teaching and his Word), just as Jesus was. We must follow and obey God and his Word. This submission to a higher authority then gives us our authority within which we operate and have power, God’s power working with and through us.

How authority works on the earth…Is God REALLY in control?

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Scriptures About God’s Power in Us

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Scriptures About God’s Power in Us

Recently I have been working on writing some posts about spiritual warfare and encountering Satan and evil spiritual and supernatural forces. I’ve been writing on this for a while now and realized that it’s going to have to be split into a few different posts. Some of the most important things we need to know when engaging in spiritual warfare is that we have power and authority from God.

It’s important to build our faith in the knowledge about God’s power in us. When we are confident in the power that is available to us and in us, we can then start to boldly walk in our authority to fight spiritual battles. Today, I’d like to build our faith about God’s power in us. The best way to build faith is to read and hear scripture from the Word of God.

“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17 (NKJV)

Scriptures about God’s power in us…

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