We put our hope in the Lord. He is our Help and our Shield.
Psalm 33:20

I absolutely love that God is my Help, Shield, Provider, Comforter, Banner…and the list goes on.  I love when situations seem impossible and God shows Himself mighty! I love God’s attention to detail and seeing, mostly in hindsight, how the pieces were all laid out to accomplish whatever feat God had planned.

One other thing I love, but dislike at the same time, is free will.  Odd?  Since I can remember I’ve had a fascination with how people think, and why people behave and make the decisions they do.  You know that childhood phase when “why?” is the default question to everything?  I never grew out if it.

We put our hope in the Lord. He is our Help and our Shield.

God IS our Help and Shield, but we also have a personal responsibility in our relationship with God.  My pastor says preparation is our part and victory is God’s part.  I have talked to many a women who pray and read God’s word, but who don’t take action.

What I mean is this: I can pray until I’m blue in the face for roses to grow in my front yard, but until I plant a rosebush…it’s not likely to happen.  I have to do something. We can work against God.  Might not be intentional, but we can.  Doing nothing (or if you prefer terms such as laziness, procrastination, lack of self control, simple ignorance) are all counter-productive to God’s work in our lives.

Nehemiah understood that God had a part and he had a part.  During the rebuilding of the wall, Nehemiah and the builders angered some important people!  They angered them so much that those people began plotting against them (Nehemiah 4:8). And what did they do?

…But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat.
Verse 9

If you read on, the enemy learns that God frustrated their plans. And from then on half the men worked and the other half were armed, standing guard.  A man part and a God part.

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Lord, thank You for being my Help and my Shield. Thank You for providing me with Your Word which is wisdom for my living. You teach me daily how am I to live my life and with the right attitude. And You guide me. Continue to lead me, Lord, and show me areas where You may be waiting for action on my part. In Jesus’ name. Amen.