Shielded

"Surely, Lord, You bless the righteous; You surround them with Your favor as with a shield"- Psalm 5:12 (NIV).

I heard a noise in the kitchen in the middle of the night. Frightened, I ran to my parent's bedroom. Dad wasn't home, but my mother quickly rose and gathered my dad's pistol. We moved down the hallway, mother leading the way. My jack-hammering heartbeat slowed down as we approached the kitchen. There was nothing to fear. It's hard to describe how much safer I felt once my mother was there protecting me, shielding me. By the way, my mother was 100-pounds, if she were fully clothed and soaking wet. God's favor, His love for His children, surrounds us like a shield. The Greek phalanx, with interlocking shields, pales in comparison. Our resolve should be one of complete confidence in His protection or do we need our eyes opened like Elisha's servant. Surrounded by the enemy, Elisha was calm, but his servant was terrified. So, "Elisha prayed, "Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see." Then the Lord opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha" (2 Kings 6:17). Brothers and and sisters, God doesn't show favoritism. His love surrounds and shields even when we can't see; there is nothing to fear.