Thursday, September 1, 2022 - SHIELD ME FROM ALARM

"I thank you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen." (Luther's Morning Prayer)

Day 244 - (Today’s Bible readings: 2 Kings 25:22-30; Psalm 61; Matthew 27:32-56 )

SHIELD ME FROM ALARM

“Let me take refuge under the shelter of your wings.”   (Psalm 61:4 ESV) 

King David is giving us an excellent example of the safest place a believer can go in times of challenge, fear, disappointment and fear. That “place” is Jesus!

I remember someone I met once who desperately needed the assurance that God loves him and wants to lead and guide and bless him. The look on his face revealed a man struggling with his own inadequacies and failures. I encouraged him to keep looking to Jesus. What comfort is ours when we remember that:

“The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms.” (Deuteronomy 33:27)

Sheltered under the protecting arms of Jesus we find that we overcome all and anything that could ever get us down.

“For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.”  (1 John 5:4)

The hymn writer must have had David’s words in mind when he wrote our closing prayer this morning:

Lord Jesus, who dost love me, 

Oh, spread Thy wings above me 

And shield me from alarm!  

Though evil would assail me, 

Thy mercy will not fail me: 

I rest in Thy protecting arm. Amen.

(The Lutheran Hymnal, CPH 1941, #554, stanza 5)

Pastor David Paape

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105 ), undergirds this three-year journey through the entire Old Testament once (the Psalms - twice yearly), and the New Testament twice. There will be daily readings from the O.T., Psalms and the N.T. Special days on the church calendar will be highlighted with appropriate readings. This calendar has been compiled by representatives of the Lutheran Church of Canada, the North American Lutheran Church and the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. Please click this link for the daily reading calendar:

https://files.lcms.org/file/preview/JyxxRfAT2Eg7JfDCXaPP99G4y4rJrZQO?

Then scroll down to 2022 Bible Reading Calendar and download it if you so wish. The “assigned” daily readings will appear on a daily basis in this blog. May the Lord bless your meditation upon His precious life-giving Word!