“For you bless the godly, O Lord; you surround them with your shield of love.” [Psalm 5:12]

“And the Spirit himself joins with our spirits to say we are God’s children. If we are God’s children, we will receive blessings from God together with Christ. But we must suffer as Christ suffered so that we will have glory as Christ has glory.” [Romans 8:16-17]

God’s love is our shield. God’s love is the reason we are no longer slaves to sin. God’s love is the reason for Calvary. God’s love is the reason Jesus suffered. God is full of love and compassion. Jesus suffered just as we suffered. Jesus died on the cross so that we could have a direct connection with Heaven. Jesus knows pain. He knows heartbreak. He knows physical abuse. He knows verbal abuse. He knows all kinds of suffering. When we suffer, God suffers with us. It wasn’t His desire for us to suffer. That’s why He gave us Jesus. Through salvation, through the cross, we find a refuge. 

We find that shield. God is in favor of us. He’s rooting for us. He wants us to receive the blessings He has for us. We must constantly seek God. Everyone is free to receive His blessings. However, it’s those who keep seeking God, those who keep running after God’s heart, that will find even greater favor. He wants me to live like Jesus. To be as compassionate as Jesus. He wants us to live like His children. That means being loving and compassionate towards our brothers and sisters. Our hearts must break at the things that God’s heart breaks for. It means caring for the rest of God’s children. It’s not going to be easy. We may suffer, but redemptive suffering isn’t really suffering… is it?

A life that looks like Jesus’ is definitely going to look different. We shouldn’t be ashamed of it. Caring for God’s children also means caring for ourselves. It breaks God’s heart when we suffer. I know He doesn’t like seeing me hurt. He wants to take all this pain away. He wants to dry my tears. He wants to heal my heart. He wants to clear my mind of negative thoughts. He wants me to give it all to Him. He wants to take that bad kind of suffering away. That’s why we have that shield. That protection. That refuge. We have the cross. Letting go and leaving our burdens at the cross is what God desires for us. He wants to deliver us.

Lord, I can’t afford to give a negative scouting report. I can’t afford to procrastinate any longer. I can’t afford to deny You and all You are doing in my life either. I can’t afford to lose the battle to my flesh. I have to go now. I need to follow You now. I need to be like You now. I need to be more like You. Jesus knew who He was. When others tried to tear Him down, He remained strong. He knew who You are. He knew You are the only strength He needs. I need You to be my strength. I am too weak to do this on my own. You know that. I’m not abandoned, and I need to stop acting like I am. My words and my actions need to match up. What kind of testimony am I giving to those around me? I don’t know whose life I’m touching. You want to use me. I want to obey You. Lead me to the cross. I throw all I have at Your feet. You carry my burdens. My faith is in You. You are far greater than any obstacle I face. You have provided time and time again. You will keep providing. I cannot afford to walk away from Your path. Hold my hand. Go before me. Light my dim path. Calm the storm in my head. Calm the storm in my heart. May my head and heart be at one with one another. Help me understand and care for myself like You understand and care for me. Show me who You are. I want to know who I am. You can finish this war. This is urgent.