Devotion Booklets for Seasons of the Church Year Advent-Christmas Devotional - 2017 - single page | Page 16

Have No Fear! God Protects You Tuesday, December 12th Psalm 27:1 If you’ve ever been to Europe, you’ve probably seen a castle. You typically can’t miss them. They’re huge fortresses, usually built on the high ground of a hill or cliff. They’re made of sturdy material. They’re impressive and they look completely impregnable. A fortress like this is one of the safest places to hide. But you know what’s even safer than holing up in a fortress? Holing up in a fortress in broad daylight. In daylight, a fortress on the hill has an excellent view of everything happening around it. It’s impossible for an enemy to sneak up and scale the wall without being seen. A fortress on a hill in broad daylight is one of the safest places you can possibly be. In Psalm 27, the Lord is identified as both a light and a stronghold. Thus, there is no safer place to be than in the protection of our mighty Lord. No matter what the devil or the world throw at us, we can stand firm in the Lord’s protection. At those times when your sins cause you to feel like you’re in a dark place or when persecution leaves you feeling unprotected and beat down, just remember where you already are. The Lord isn’t hiding from you. He is already wrapped around you, protecting you like a stronghold and bringing the light of salvation to your aching heart. God is not just a fortress that stands still and waits for us to come to him. He is our salvation that comes to us, to lead the way with his light and protect us with his strong walls. God proved he is our light when he gave us Jesus to be the light of the world (John 8:12). God proved he is our stronghold by protecting us from the consequences of our own sin through the forgiveness Jesus won for us on the cross. God is your light and your salvation. He is the stronghold of your life. Enjoy living in that bright fortress on the hill. God is your protection; have no fear! Prayer: Almighty Lord, you protect us from the devil, the world, and our own sinful flesh. Thank you for being our light and our stronghold. Help us put our trust in you. Amen. Activity: Do an image search online of a “castle on a hill.” As you look at the amazing pictures, remind yourself that God is surrounding you with his protection just like that castle protects the people inside it. 16