The Favor that Protects

"Surely, O Lord, You bless the righteous; You surround them with Your favor as with a shield." 

Psalm 5:12

When we trust God, He is not just willing to shower us with His favor of met needs such as monetary provision, health, healing, food, and water, but His favor is like a shield that provides us with protection. 

That protection can be so strong and powerful that we can become a dread to the evil one about us. Just like the Israelite people were protected during the plagues of Egypt and even rescued, they were also a dread to Egypt. "Egypt was glad when they left, because the dread of Israel had fallen on them." (Psalm 105:37b). That dread was God's "favor as with a shield."

God spread a cloud as a covering over His people as they escaped the fires of Egypt. Imagine how the heat of the day could have scorched their backs as they traveled, yet God like a shield surrounded them with the cool of His presence. In the night, God lighted their path so that the darkness would not over take them. The fear of unknown beasts that lurked to attack were kept at bay because of God's fire. You see, God's protection was a dread upon even nature, not just the evil people that wanted to hurt, cripple and destroy His chosen. 

God's favor of protection is present today; it comes in different forms. I don't see a cloud or a fire but I do see and feel the shield of His presence. Just yesterday I felt the evil one plague me with total despair and I was not sure I could overcome. I prayed and I asked God to rescue me. I decided to retreat and simply rest in His Spirit. I later found out that unbeknownst to me, another believer was praying for me at that time, too. This person sensed I needed beseeching for. I awoke and felt amazingly refreshed and God's energy of renewed purpose and peace began to envelope me. God's favor became a shield of protection, not penetrable by the evil one. The evil one no longer had his hold, he scattered as an animal afraid of the fire by night. 

"The Lord gives strength to His people; the Lord blesses His people with peace." Psalm 29:11