Psalms 84:¹¹ For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.

Sun overcomes darkness with light and warmth; melts what is frozen

Shield protects  and defends

Genesis 15:¹After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.

Why do you suppose God told Abram (before he was renamed Abraham) not to fear?

Do you see a requirement for God to be your shield?

Psalms 115:¹¹ Ye that fear the LORD, trust in the LORD: he is their help and their shield.

Proverbs 30:⁵ Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.

Why do you suppose Samuel and David said the same thing?

2 Samuel 22:³⁶Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy gentleness hath made me great.

Psalms 18:³⁵Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy gentleness hath made me great.

2 Samuel 22:³¹As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is tried: he is a shield to all them that trust in him.

Psalms 18:³⁰ As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a shield to all those that trust in him.

More verses regarding the Lord God as our shield

Deuteronomy 33:²⁹Happy art thou, O Israel: who is like unto thee, O people saved by the LORD, the shield of thy help, and who is the sword of thy excellency! and thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee; and thou shalt tread upon their high places.

2 Samuel 22:³The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence.

Psalms 5:¹²For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.

Psalms 28:⁷ The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.

Psalms 33:²⁰ Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield.

Psalms 59:¹¹ Slay them not, lest my people forget: scatter them by thy power; and bring them down, O Lord our shield.

Psalms84:⁹ Behold, O God our shield, and look upon the face of thine anointed. ¹⁰For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.

Psalms 119:¹¹⁴ Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word.

Psalms 144:¹ (A Psalm of David.) Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight: ²My goodness, and my fortress; my high tower, and my deliverer; my shield, and he in whom I trust; who subdueth my people under me.

What other truths do you see in these verses?

What about your circumstances today causes you to desire His shield?

Our focus-Hebrews 12:¹ Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, ² Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God

Our challenge – Dearly Beloved,

Run with your eyes on Jesus alone!

Run in faith that Jesus loves you with an everlasting, unconditional love; has uniquely designed  and created only one you; has a good plan for your life; runs with you; and will       accomplish His purposes for you and through you!

Run in His strength alone!

Run with your eyes on the prize!

Run with your focus on His mission: to conform you to the image of Jesus Christ!

Run with the desire to finish strong!

Run with the desire to finish with your lamp burning!

Run with the expectation of being in His physical presence when you cross your finish line!

Run to His glory alone!

Run and keep on running!

Coach Patti