In Genesis 15, Abram, a childless old man, heard the Lord say, “Do not be afraid, Abram.  I am your shield, your very great reward.”

Abram had just defeated an army led by five kings, and could expect a retaliatory strike.

But God was protecting him.

A shield protects from enemy fire. It is used as an offensive weapon, it is used to deflect a strike and cast off the enemy coming at us. And it can save the life of the person carrying it.

When God said those words, He was telling Abram he was going to do something miraculous in his life.

He was going to give Abram (later renamed Abraham) the miracle of a son by his barren wife, Sarai (later renamed Sarah).

But you, o Lord, are a shield about me, my glory and the one who lifts my head. (Psalm 3:3)

God is not only the shield in front of us that we use to defend ourselves and that we use as an offensive weapon, He is the shield about us—surrounding us, kind of like an invisible barrier.

Envision a clear dome of protection all around you. That’s who God is: an all-encompassing, all-powerful God.

Thank you, Lord for being my shield, my deliverer, my protector, my defense.

–by Pam Rehbein