God Is the Shield About Me and the Lifter of My Head

"But you, O Lord, are a shield about me,
my glory, and the lifter of my head."
Psalm 3:3

Have you ever seen a shield? Well, if not in real life, have you at least seen a picture of one? There have been round shields, long oblong shields, wooden shields, metal shields, and SWAT team shields. Shields were flat until someone figured out to make them curved. Even the best shield available doesn't do what the shield mentioned here does.

You see we fight against an enemy who will attack us from every area. He stabs us in the back through relationships. He attacks our thought life. He pokes at the soft spots in our hearts. He has no problem going for the Achilles heal or the jugular. A typical shield just can't protect us from all of the ways he can attack. Instead the Lord is this shield that goes about us. He is able to wrap all the way around us, covering us from any possible attack.

What an amazing, comforting assurance! Too bad there are times that we don't stay within the shield. I understand stepping out of the protective surround and opening myself up to satan's attacks. I have just spent some time, much too much time, letting him smack me around, letting him attack my mind and my heart. I didn't even realize that was what I was allowing. All I knew was that I was sinking into a endless pit of crazed thoughts and flailing emotions.

The other day, I came to realize that the problems I was facing were not just a "me" issue. I realized it as I was getting ready for the day and I couldn't even lift my head to look at myself in the mirror. The other part of this verse came to my mind, "and the lifter of my head", and I knew that something was very wrong. So, I did the only smart thing possible I went running to God and asked Him to protect me. He showed me the spiritual attacks that I was being assaulted with and I took authority over them in His Name.

Two things quickly became true: I felt my very being surrounded by the protection of the Lord and I was able to lift my head. I went back to the mirror in my bathroom and looked myself full in the face. I was able to smile and know that God's shield was wrapped all around me.

This verse comes from Psalms and specifically one that David wrote when running for his life from his own son. David's life shows us that satan will attack and that he is trying to kill and destroy us. He tries to destroy a man after God's own heart, and he will try to destroy each of us. The other key word from the this verse is the first one "But". Satan will chase us down and try to kill us, But God is our shield. Satan will try to shame us to the point that we can't even lift up our head, But God is the lifter of our heads. Remember that no matter what attack satan throws your way, But God and trust in Him to be the protector you need and the lifter of your head.