Psalm 3:3 “But You, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the One who lifts my head.”

SHIELD

When you read this verse, how do you picture the Lord as your shield?  Do you picture Him as Captain America holding a shield in front of you to ward off any attacks?  Or do you see Him as someone with a sword in one hand and the shield in the other?

I see Him ALL AROUND ME.  The verse says “a shield about me.”  I can envision Him above, below, beside, in front and behind.  NOTHING can touch me unless He allows it.  That is so comforting. That allows me to relax and just follow Him, even if following Him means I walk headlong into a battle.

TEACHING MOMENT

When we teach our children the all-encompassing love and protection of the Lord, this is a great verse to use.  You can even physically show this to them by wrapping them in bubble wrap. Just kidding.  But wouldn’t that be cool?  I bet they wouldn’t forget that.  Lol

Our children do need to understand that, as believers, God is our Protector.  He is our Deliverer.  He is the One who lifts our head, as the verse says.  He picks us up when we have fallen.  He is ALWAYS there, even when we don’t think He is.

How are you doing with this truth, Mom and Dad?  Are you trusting Him as your shield?  Do you believe He is there defending you?  If so, then live like it.  Allow the Lord to surround you with His protection.  Stay inside that protective “bubble.”  Don’t step out, unless He tells you to.

We struggle with wanting to defend ourselves.  But we are no match for our spiritual enemies unless we allow Jesus to defend us.  The puniest demon can whip us any day.  But with Christ as our defender, we can take on the gates of hell with a water pistol and extinguish those fiery darts sent by Satan himself.

Our Shield!  Our Defender!  Our Comforter!

Judges 11:29a “Now the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jephthah…”

SON OF A HARLOT

Jephthah was a judge of Israel.  What is so interesting about this judge, though, is he was born of a harlot out of wedlock.  He wasn’t the image of the one to be chosen to be a judge of Israel.  But God used him to deliver the children of Israel from the Ammonites who threatened to take back part of the land which the Lord had given to them.

But notice what happens BEFORE he goes to battle.  This verse says, “the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jephthah.”  The Spirit of the Lord does not come upon someone unless He has blessed them and given them His power to carry out a divine task.  My point is this:  God even use the illegitimate son of a harlot.  God can use anyone He desires to accomplish His Will.  We just have to be willing.

TEACHING MOMENT

I think the object lesson for today is pretty clear.  We need to teach our children that God can use anything or anyone He wants.  God can choose them to accomplish great things for Him, if they will just surrender to His Will.  He can empower them through His Holy Spirit to do what they never thought was possible.

And they will have one advantage over Jephthah.  In the Old Testament the Holy Spirit did not live in the hearts of the people He indwelt.  He would come and go, only empowering them at certain times.  As Christians, your children ALWAYS have the Holy Spirit living in them, thus they always have His power.

Do you believe that?  Do you understand that, as a believer in Christ, you have access to the Holy Spirit at all times?  He lives in you.  He empowers you.  He comforts you.  He emboldens you.  So why aren’t you living in His power?  Why aren’t you walking confidently before your enemies?

We all have bad days.  We all face challenges.  But, as believers, we have NO EXCUSE for not walking right into the battles before us knowing that God is with us.  He indwells us.  And He will fight our enemies for us.  Just like Jephthah, who was chosen by God for a specific purpose, we have been chosen by Him before the foundation of the world.  We have a purpose.

What is your purpose?  Why has God chosen you?  Why is His Holy Spirit living in you?  Ask Him today.  He will show you.

Ephesians 5:13 “But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light.”

IN PLAIN VIEW

Have you ever walked into a room and flipped on the light only to see roaches scurrying to hide?  Not only is that gross, it is also unhealthy.  Those little critters carry germs that can spread.  You have to spray and spray to get rid of them, right?  Isn’t it interesting that you seldom see them during the day or when the light is on?  Hmmm.

You know, sin is kind of like that.  Most sins we commit are done in private, in the dark.  We don’t want others to see us sinning.  We don’t want to admit that we are sinners.  We try to hide from the exposure of our sins, especially from God.  But those sins, left “unsprayed” will spread “germs” just like those roaches.  Only a through cleansing will rid us of the spread of more and more sin in our lives.

TEACHING MOMENT     

I bet your children have seen a roach before.  If not, they will.  You just can’t keep them out of your house.  After little Susie stops screaming (lol), talk to her about how these little roaches are like our sins.  I bet she will never look at a roach again in the same way.

Our children need to know that they should keep their life clear of sin.  Just like we need to have regular cleaning and spraying to prevent roaches, we need to have regular confession to God to keep our spiritual life free of hidden sins.  Help them learn how to ask for that from the Father.

Where are the “roaches” in your life?  Are they still scurrying about, hidden from the light?  You need to confess those sins.  You need to shine the light of God’s forgiveness on them.  Ignoring them won’t make them go away.  That only allows more to come.

Father, forgive me of those hidden things in my life.  Shine the light of Your Truth on my life so all those “scurrying” things will be exposed and dealt with.

Judges 7:7 “The Lord said to Gideon, ‘I will deliver you with the 300 men who lapped and will give the Midianites into your hands; so let all the other people go, each man to his home.’”

CRUDE COMPARISON

Don’t you just love this story of Gideon and how the Lord chose the men who would fight with him?  He starts out with 22,000 men and ends up with 300.  300!  Now that’s a huge RIF (Reduction in Force).  There would be no mistaking the fact that it would be God who delivered Israel and not their huge army.

But God uses how they drank to pick them.  Those who knelt at the water (9,700) were sent home. Only those who lapped the water with their tongue, like a dog, (300) were chosen.  So, being looked at like a dog was a good thing here.  I just find that strange.

TEACHING MOMENT

Of course, the lesson for our children in this verse is obvious.  Drink like a dog.  No, just kidding.  The lesson is to allow the Lord to decide how you fight your battles.  God has a bigger plan than yours.  He can see the end result – we can’t.  He can see the outcome. In fact, He can see the outcome, however we chose to obey.  But He wants to direct us in His way.

This is a fun verse to act out with your kids.  They will probably think you are silly and maybe a little crazy as you show them how these 300 lapped their water.  But they will remember the verse.  Just make sure you make the application that goes with it.

So, are you lapping or kneeling?  Are you allowing the Lord to direct you and chose you?  Are you alert for the enemies around you or are you looking down and unaware?  These are great questions to get you thinking about your circumstance.

Do you think Gideon was concerned about the Lord’s tactics?  Perhaps, but the Lord gave him specific instructions for the battle.  He basically said to Gideon, “Do it my way and you will be victorious.”  He is still saying that today.

Will you follow the Lord, no matter how illogical it sounds?  Will you trust Him in the battle?

Judges 5:31c “And the land was undisturbed for forty years.”

NO WAR

This probably seems like a strange verse to use today.  It is the last part of the last verse in Judges 5 which is the “Song of Deborah” after they had defeated the army of Jabin, king of Hazor in Canaan.  You really should read Judges 4-5 to get the full picture.  But the story ends with this short phrase, “And the land was undisturbed for forty years.”

I was thinking about my country, America.  We have been at war with terrorism since 2001 – 16 years.  How sweet would it be if we could have forty years of peace?  Doesn’t that sound great?  No young men or women would be sent into harm’s way.  No deaths due to battle.  Billions of dollars could be used for other purposes.

Don’t hear me wrong.  I am not against the war on terror.  We have to defend ourselves, and we have to fight against evil.  I guess I am just a little jealous of the forty years of peace Israel experienced here.

TEACHING MOMENT

This might be a little challenging to teach to your kids.  But hey, how about this?  The next time your children get into one of those knock down-drag out fights that only siblings can get into, pull this verse out.  Tell them, “I wish I could have forty minutes of peace in this house!”  lol

Seriously, our children do need to learn to experience peace.  That only comes from obedience to God and resting in Him.  The Israelites’ peace came after obeying God and listening to Deborah, the judge at the time.  That is definitely a lesson worth learning.

Are you at peace today?  Or are you reaping the turmoil of disobedience like the Israelites were under Jabin?  Aren’t you tired of fighting?  Won’t you allow the Lord to direct your steps toward peace?

He wants to give you rest.  He desires that for you.  He wants to lead you beside still waters.  Take His hand.  He will lead!

Ephesians 2:8-9 “8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.” 

YOU CAN’T CLAIM THIS

Did you really read the verses today?  Read them again.  Salvation is a gift.  There is NOTHING you can do to earn it.  No amount of works or good deeds will get you there.  You can’t say, “Look what I did.”  Every other religion in the world demands that you “do” for your god.  Not Christ.  He DID it all for you!

So, the question is, “Why don’t people want this gift?”  I mean, think about it.  How many people turn down a gift.  It is expressly given to them.  This gift is always the right size, color and usefulness.  But people reject it every day.

TEACHING MOMENT

When is your child(ren)’s birthday?  How do you celebrate it?  I bet that day involves gifts, right?  Of course, it does.  You want to bless your child for being born into your family.  On that special day, why not share this passage with them?  As you give them their birthday gift, remind them of the gift of salvation that the Lord Jesus died to give them.

I have never met a child yet who doesn’t want a free gift.  They love to open gifts.  This gift of salvation requires some explanation, but make sure they understand that they can never earn it.  It has to be received freely.

Have you received this gift?  “Sure I have Carl.  I’m reading this devotion, aren’t I?”  Reading the Bible or a devotional doesn’t save you. You have to deliberately say to the Father, “I am a sinner and I need your gift of salvation.”  Then and only then can the Father give you this gift.  Don’t you want it?

Father, thank you for the gift of salvation.  Thank you that your storehouse of salvation never gets low.  You have enough “gifts” for everyone on this planet.  Help me be more deliberate about sharing these gifts with others.

Will you share the gift with someone today?

Judges 1:19 “Now the Lord was with Judah, and they took possession of the hill country; but they could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley because they had iron chariots.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

I want to you to take a look at this verse today and then look at the following verses also (21, 27, 29, 30, 31, 33, 35).  What do they have in common?  The sons of Israel failed to drive out the inhabitants of Canaan, which is EXACTLY what the Lord told them to do.  The task got a little hard, and they quit.

God had clearly told them to clear the land of the current inhabitants.  He knew what would happen if they didn’t.  As you read Judges, you see how they were influenced by these pagans to compromise and incorporate their gods into their lives.  Hmmmm, sounds familiar.

TEACHING MOMENT     

If there is one warning we need to give our children, it is this – DON’T COMPROMISE YOUR FAITH.  The church has been doing that too long.  Our children are pressured to accept all kinds of “faith” as valid.  It’s not.  Only Jesus can save them.  Only Jesus can give them life.  Only Jesus can lead them to the Father.

When your little Gertrude or Elrod comes home from school stating how they learned that all religions are equal, correct that quickly.  When they tell you that their teacher or friend says there is more than just one way to heaven, correct that on the spot.  Don’t let these “false teachings” gain a foothold in your child’s life.

What have you allowed to water down your faith?  What have you compromised on in your spiritual walk with Christ?  “Well Carl, it’s just too hard to being so dogmatic.”  Well yes!  Of course it is!  What did you expect when you surrendered to Him?  He demands obedience. He expects us to follow ONLY Him.

I want to challenge you today to take a look at what you believe and why.  Do all your beliefs and convictions hold up to Scripture.  There is only one absolute truth – His Word!

Joshua 23:3 “And you have seen all that the Lord your God has done to all these nations because of you, for the Lord your God is He who has been fighting for you.”

IT’S HIM, NOT US

I don’t know why, but I have this picture in my head of a heavyweight boxer when I read this verse.  I know, dumb, right?  I can just see our Father punching out the devil and all his minions who attack us.  This verse reminds me that God is the one fighting my battles, not me.

Sure, I try to fight back.  I get all mad and puffed up and think I have the moral superiority to fight.  But, of myself, I won’t last one round with the puniest demon.  Thanks be to God that I don’t have to go fifteen rounds with my attackers.  I just have to tag out and let my loving Father take over.  He is always there to defend me.  He is always there to fight for me, just like He did for the children of Israel.

TEACHING MOMENT

Has your little Johnny or Susie gotten into a fight with someone yet?  Chances are they will.  Sometimes those fights are more than just a misunderstanding. Sometimes those are true life lessons.  How your child responds to adversity is so important.  Read this verse, better yet the entire 23^rd chapter of Joshua, to them.  Let them see and understand that the God who led the children of Israel is the same God who will lead them.

Now, I am not saying that your children should stand there and “take it” when someone physically attacks them.  We should always teach our children to defend themselves and the defenseless.  But I am saying that many “battles” we take on are better left to the Father.  He knows how to respond.  He can calm our spirit.  He can direct us how to respond to others, even those who are against us.

Who are you having trouble with today?  Who is “pushing your buttons” right now?  Lay it down.  Talk to the Lord.  You may have to examine yourself.  In fact, you should examine yourself first to make sure you are not the problem.  When you are confessed up and are sure that you are not the problem, how about this?  Pray for your enemy.  Yep, I said that.  Give them over to God.  He can handle them.

Today, put down your fleshly attitude and allow the Lord to take over.  He can handle anything you give to Him.

2 Corinthians 12:9 “And He has said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.’ Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.” 

CONFUSING

This statement by Paul is really confusing.  He says here that the Lord told him that His “power is perfected in weakness.”  That really makes no sense to us.  How can something that is weak have power?  How can the Lord exhibit His power through weakness?

Only He can!  He takes our emptied vessel, our surrendered will, and fills it with His Spirit which empowers us to do amazing things in His name.  Our strength gets in the way.  Our abilities can get in the way.  He needs to show others that it has NOTHING to do with us.  It has everything to do with Him.

TEACHING MOMENT

Has your little Susie ever said, “I just can’t do it!”?  What a perfect time to share this verse.  Perhaps they are trying to do something for the first time and are struggling.  You step in and help them.  Explain to them how the Lord does the same for us when we turn to Him for the help that only He can give.  He wants to work through us, but we have to let Him.

In the same way you can’t help your Elrod unless he allows you to, God will not intervene in our lives unless we allow Him.  He wants to help, and He is watching us struggle, but He won’t step in unless we yield to His authority.  Our children need to learn that at an early age.  They can’t blame God for their failures.  He is always there to assist and guide, if they will let Him.

How about you, Mom or Dad?  What are you struggling right now to achieve in your lives on your own?  What are you refusing to turn over to the Lord?  Stop it!  Give it up to Him!  He wants to come alongside you through His Spirit.  He gets joy out of being with us.  He gets joy in seeing us surrender to His Will.

I don’t know about you, but I’m tired of trying all this stuff on my own.  I have learned that it is much easier to relinquish control of things to Him to begin with.  That way He can make it what He wants to make it.  I can just step back and watch Him work.  He will expect me to do my part (what He tells me to do), but He is the one who decides how and when.  What a relief!

Let Him use your weakness today!  Let Him burst through your strength and give you real power.

Joshua 19:49 “When they finished apportioning the land for inheritance by its borders, the sons of Israel gave an inheritance in their midst to Joshua the son of Nun.”

IT PAYS TO BE FAITHFUL

Over forty years has passed since Joshua walked the land of Canaan with the other spies.  He is finally getting his reward.  Notice what the verse says – “the sons of Israel gave an inheritance in their midst to Joshua the son of Nun.” They recognized Joshua as their leader and wanted to bless him.

Don’t you think Joshua thought this day would never come?  He had been waiting and waiting.  He was probably tired of waiting.  The day has come.  He has been faithful to the Lord as Moses’ servant and now as the leader of the children of Israel.  God said, “Rest.”

TEACHING MOMENT

One thing our children today don’t seem to understand is sometimes you have to wait to get what you truly want or deserve.  Our society today seems to expect instant gratification.  They want it now.  They want it immediately.  We have to teach our children to wait.  You’ve heard the expression “Good things come to those who wait.”  Well, it’s true. And we have the most to wait for – eternal life.

The next time your child(ren) can’t wait for something, use this story about Joshua to teach them about patience.  This is not an easy task, but it is one that is so needed.  What you teach them now about patience will help them later.

Now – how about you?  Are you patient?  Are you willing to wait?  Do you believe God has a blessing for you, if you are faithful?  He wants to bless you, but sometimes that blessing is delayed.  You may not see that blessing this side of eternity, but it’s coming.

Remember, Joshua waited over forty years for what God had promised him.  All during that time he was faithful.  We never see him complain.  He just did what God asked him.  Will you?