Whilst reading the Daily Devotional from Lectio 365 I was drawn to the phrase 'God is a sun and shield' from Psalm 84:11.
Scripture Reading - Psalm 84:11 (NIV)
External link to Bible Gateway
For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
the Lord bestows favor and honor;
no good thing does he withhold
from those whose walk is blameless.
This verse really stood out to me, specifically the idea of God as a sun - a source of light and life.
We've had some seriously hot weather here in the UK recently and with the sunnier days has brought a sunnier outlook on the current situation. With the rising cost of living, the continuing of the war, and women's rights at the forefront of popular narrative, as well as a surge of covid cases, this ray of light has been a welcome respite from the state of doom and gloom.
Scripture Reflection
I think that's why this verse stood out so much to me, it's the perfect reminder to place my trust in God not just as a source of protection but also as a source of joy because 'no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.'
The entire chapter of Psalm 84 is joy filled nourishment for a parched soul looking for rest in the 'courts of the Lord'.
Journaling Prompts
As we reflect on God as our sun and shield within the context of Psalm 84:11, let's take a moment to journal or meditate on these prompts...
- In what ways has the sun blessed me and how has God been at work through these blessings?
- Thinking about my past week, what form did God's sun shine in my life?
- Thinking about this coming week, how can I give thanks to God's grace and glory as my sun?
Closing Prayer
God, my sun and my shield, I give thanks for the joy of your grace shining in the darkness, breathing life into the shadows. Amen.
For this week's scripture verse I chose to study from the NIV translations of Psalm 84
Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®
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