Live Under God’s Protection – Capt. Dale Black

Life seems filled with the “perilous times” Jesus spoke of regarding the last days. New and unexpected events occur often, leaving us scratching our heads and feeling grateful “It didn’t happen to us.” Life is messy and unpredictable making it more important than ever to live under God’s protection.

Protection is a gift and blessing that God has made available to His children. Yet, I seldom see Christians take the time to pray for protection and take possession of that blessing in their life daily. At least not until they’re in the middle of a crisis, and then it is often a fearful reaction instead of a faithful response to God’s promise.

You should know something vitally important. God’s protection is not automatic. There are things we must do in order for God to be our Refuge. If you want to live under God’s protection, there are choices you must make. No one can make those choices for you. Blessings and deliverance from the evil in this world, are not for everyone—only for the obedient. They are available to all, yes. But each must choose to put themself into the position to receive them!

“Therefore know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments” Deuteronomy 7:9.

When we accepted Jesus and gave our life to Him, His instructions were (and still are) “to pick up our cross daily and follow Him.” It is those who trust in God, who will receive the promise of protection. Protection is for the persistent and resolute. God’s protection is for those who are steadfast to walk with God and put their confidence in Him. God’s promise of protection is real. His protection works. Still, you must choose and then take action in faith.

These are serious days. It’s no time to be sitting on the fence or being double-minded. We each decide where we are going to dwell—where we are going to put your trust and dependence—who we serve. James 1:8 says, “a double-minded man is unstable in ALL his ways.”

The Bible is filled with events of supernatural protection for God’s faithful. God can bring you out of a fiery furnace. He can rain manna from Heaven. He can shut the mouth of a lion. He can part the sea and send warning and/or instructions through an Angel. He has proven time and again that He’s more than able to move Heaven and Earth to bring His people through difficult circumstances.

“The Lord shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul. The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in, from this time forth, and even forevermore” Psalm 121:7-8.

One of my favorite passages, which I often read and claim over myself and my family in faith, is Psalm 91. It is for the people of God who trust Him and take possession of His promise in faith:

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
²I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress;
My God, in Him I will trust.”

³Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler
And from the perilous pestilence.
⁴He shall cover you with His feathers,
And under His wings you shall take refuge;
His truth shall be your shield and buckler.
⁵You shall not be afraid of the terror by night,
Nor of the arrow that flies by day,
⁶Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness,
Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.

⁷A thousand may fall at your side,
And ten thousand at your right hand;
But it shall not come near you.
⁸Only with your eyes shall you look,
And see the reward of the wicked.

⁹Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge,
Even the Most High, your dwelling place,
¹⁰No evil shall befall you,
Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;
¹¹For He shall give His angels charge over you,
To keep you in all your ways.
¹²In their hands they shall bear you up,
Lest you dash your foot against a stone.
¹³You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra,
The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.

¹⁴“Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him;
I will set him on high, because he has known My name.
¹⁵He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will deliver him and honor him.
¹⁶With long life I will satisfy him,
And show him My salvation.”