Feeling vulnerable, exposed, or weighed down by the words of others is a universal experience. This Christian devotional explores how God provides a shield of protection around us, guarding our hearts and lifting our heads when we feel isolated or criticized. Rooted in Psalm 3:3, this devotion reminds believers that God is our ultimate protector, ever-present and actively surrounding us with favor and strength.

Highlights


God is our shield, lifting our heads high when we feel down


His protective favor surrounds us in ways we often cannot see


The Psalms describe God as a shield repeatedly, showing His faithful care


We don’t need to shrink, retaliate, or be consumed by shame


Leaning on God enables us to prevail, persevere, and press forward


Confidence and strength come from God, not our circumstances

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Full Transcript Below:

Your Shield of Protection

By Cindi McMenamin

Bible Reading:

But You, Lord, are a shield around me,
My glory, and the One who lifts my head. (Psalm 3:3 NASB)

Have you ever received a comment, observation, or insinuation that left you feeling vulnerable or exposed? 

Don’t you wish at times you had a protective shield you could hide behind, or at least have in front of you to catch those piercing arrows or darts, even the unintentional ones, that leave you feeling sad or defeated? 

My daughter is an only child who has always been quite independent and never needy of a man in her life, and never feels alone until someone (who means well, of course) asks her if she’s “in a relationship yet.” And after they express their confidence that she’ll one day “find a husband and be happy,” she can tend to feel singled out as inadequate or incomplete, even though she’s very content with where God has her, and is not striving for a relationship. 

A friend of mine who is recently divorced and knows a closeness with God she hadn’t experienced while married, will suddenly feel awkward and unprotected when someone mentions her “struggle” and expresses their sympathy—or judgment—for her predicament. 

And a young mom I know feels isolated and alone when she faces a decision concerning her toddler that other moms might criticize or at least not agree with. When there doesn’t seem to be any right or wrong answer or anyone to walk her through the right answer for her situation, she feels inadequate and lacks confidence in either choice. 

Oh, how you and I need a protective shield. Something to guard our hearts from even unintentional comments that feel like arrows piercing our hearts. And oh, how our God has already provided. 

David sang in Psalm 3:3 (NIV): “You, LORD, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high.”

Our God is ashield of protection around us and the One who lifts our heads high when we would otherwise hang them low—feeling outnumbered, outclassed, outvoted, or just left out. Because He is a shield of protection around us, He enables us to hold our heads high in God-confidence. 

David also sang in Psalm 5:12: “You bless the righteous person, Lord, You surround him with favor as with a shield.” That means God’s protective shield around us is also a shield of favor. Do you realize, as His child, you remain in a circle of God’s favor that protects you in ways you can’t imagine? In Psalm 139:5, David must’ve been describing God’s shielding circle around him when he sang, “You have encircled me behind and in front, and placed Your hand upon me.” God, as a protective enclosing shield, goes before us, moves alongside us, and guards our backs. 

David continued his description of God as a shield in Psalm 7:10 when he sang: “My shield is God Most High, who saves the upright in heart.” God, Himself, is our shield.

And in Psalm 18, David described God as ashield of refuge when he said the God who is his rock, fortress, and deliverer, is also his “shield and the horn of [his] salvation, [his] stronghold” (verses 1-2). After describing God’s mighty rescue of him, David proclaims in verse 30: “As for God, His way is blameless; the word of the Lord is refined; He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.” And in verse 35, David declares his personal praise to God as his shield of support when he sings, “You protect me with your saving shield. You support me with your right hand. You have stooped to make me great.” (NCV) 

Intersecting Faith & Life:

When someone says something to make us feel awkward, isolated, or alone, you and I don’t have to stoop down to their level for a cutting comeback or wilt inside with a sense of awkwardness, embarrassment, or shame. God has already stooped for us and toward us to be our shield and protector. In the New English Translation, the end of verse 35 reads: “You give me your protective shield; your right hand supports me. Your willingness to help enables me to prevail.”

The God of this Universe is willing to help you. And just by knowing that, you and I are enabled to prevail, press forward, and persevere on the path He has placed us on. 

Go to the book of Psalms in your Bible and highlight every time God is described as a “shield.” I found more than a dozen descriptions of Him as a shield, and it encouraged my heart and made me feel strong and protected. 

Remember your shield of protection wherever you go, whatever you do, whatever you may hear. 

Further Reading:

Psalm 84:11

Psalm 91:4

For more on connecting more closely with God, your shield, see my books, The New Loneliness and The New Loneliness Devotional. 

This episode is sponsored by Trinity Debt Management. If you are struggling with debt call Trinity today.  Trinity's counselors have the knowledge and resources to make a difference. Our intention is to help people become debt-free, and most importantly, remain debt-free for keeps!" If your debt has you down, we should talk. Call us at 1-800-793-8548 | https://trinitycredit.org

TrinityCredit – Call us at 1-800-793-8548. Whether we're helping people pay off their unsecured debt or offering assistance to those behind in their mortgage payments. https://trinitycredit.org

Feeling vulnerable, exposed, or weighed down by the words of others is a universal experience. This Christian devotional explores how God provides a shield of protection around us, guarding our hearts and lifting our heads when we feel isolated or criticized. Rooted in Psalm 3:3, this devotion reminds believers that God is our ultimate protector, ever-present and actively surrounding us with favor and strength.
Highlights
<ul data-start="943" data-end="1424">
<li data-start="943" data-end="1006">
God is our shield, lifting our heads high when we feel down
</li>
<li data-start="1007" data-end="1072">
His protective favor surrounds us in ways we often cannot see
</li>
<li data-start="1073" data-end="1150">
The Psalms describe God as a shield repeatedly, showing His faithful care
</li>
<li data-start="1151" data-end="1214">
We don&rsquo;t need to shrink, retaliate, or be consumed by shame
</li>
<li data-start="1215" data-end="1285">
Leaning on God enables us to prevail, persevere, and press forward
</li>
<li data-start="1286" data-end="1350">
Confidence and strength come from God, not our circumstances
</li>
</ul>
Do you want to listen ad-free?
When you join&nbsp;Crosswalk Plus, you gain access to exclusive, in-depth Bible study guides, devotionals, sound biblical advice, and daily encouragement from trusted pastors and authors&mdash;resources designed to strengthen your faith and equip you to live it out boldly. PLUS ad free podcasts!&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.crosswalk.com/subscribe/?utm_source=subscribe_page&amp;utm_medium=YDBV&amp;utm_campaign=YDBV_PLUS">Sign Up Today!</a>
<hr>
Full Transcript Below:
Your Shield of Protection
By Cindi McMenamin
Bible Reading:
But You,&nbsp;Lord, are&nbsp;a shield around me, My glory, and the One who lifts my head. (Psalm 3:3 NASB)
Have you ever received a comment, observation, or insinuation that left you feeling vulnerable or exposed?&nbsp;
Don&rsquo;t you wish at times you had a protective shield you could hide behind, or at least have in front of you to catch those piercing arrows or darts, even the unintentional ones, that leave you feeling sad or defeated?&nbsp;
My daughter is an only child who has always been quite independent and never needy of a man in her life, and never feels alone until someone (who means well, of course) asks her if she&rsquo;s &ldquo;in a relationship yet.&rdquo; And after they express their confidence that she&rsquo;ll one day &ldquo;find a husband and be happy,&rdquo; she can tend to feel singled out as inadequate or incomplete, even though she&rsquo;s very content with where God has her, and is not striving for a relationship.&nbsp;
A friend of mine who is recently divorced and knows a closeness with God she hadn&rsquo;t experienced while married, will suddenly feel awkward and unprotected when someone mentions her &ldquo;struggle&rdquo; and expresses their sympathy&mdash;or judgment&mdash;for her predicament.&nbsp;
And a young mom I know feels isolated and alone when she faces a decision concerning her toddler that other moms might criticize or at least not agree with. When there doesn&rsquo;t seem to be any right or wrong answer or anyone to walk her through the right answer for her situation, she feels inadequate and lacks confidence in either choice.&nbsp;
Oh, how you and I need a protective shield. Something to guard our hearts from even unintentional comments that feel like arrows piercing our hearts. And oh, how our God has already provided.&nbsp;
David sang in Psalm 3:3 (NIV): &ldquo;You, LORD, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high.&rdquo;
Our God is a shield of protection around us and the One who lifts our heads high when we would otherwise hang them low&mdash;feeling outnumbered, outclassed, outvoted, or just left out. Because He is a shield of protection around us, He enables us to hold our heads high in God-confidence.&nbsp;
David also sang in Psalm 5:12: &ldquo;You bless the righteous person,&nbsp;Lord, You surround him with favor as with a shield.&rdquo; That means God&rsquo;s protective shield around us is also a shield of favor. Do you realize, as His child, you remain in a circle of God&rsquo;s favor that protects you in ways you can&rsquo;t imagine? In Psalm 139:5, David must&rsquo;ve been describing God&rsquo;s shielding circle around him when he sang, &ldquo;You have encircled me behind and in front, and placed Your hand upon me.&rdquo; God, as a protective enclosing shield, goes before us, moves alongside us, and guards our backs.&nbsp;
David continued his description of God as a shield in Psalm 7:10 when he sang: &ldquo;My shield is God Most High, who saves the upright in heart.&rdquo; God, Himself, is our shield.
And in Psalm 18, David described God as a shield of refuge when he said the God who is his rock, fortress, and deliverer, is also his &ldquo;shield and the horn of [his] salvation, [his] stronghold&rdquo; (verses 1-2). After describing God&rsquo;s mighty rescue of him, David proclaims in verse 30: &ldquo;As for God, His way is blameless; the word of the Lord is refined; He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.&rdquo; And in verse 35, David declares his personal praise to God as his shield of support when he sings, &ldquo;You protect me with your saving shield. You support me with your right hand. You have stooped to make me great.&rdquo; (NCV)&nbsp;
Intersecting Faith &amp; Life:
When someone says something to make us feel awkward, isolated, or alone, you and I don&rsquo;t have to stoop down to their level for a cutting comeback or wilt inside with a sense of awkwardness, embarrassment, or shame. God has already stooped for us and toward us to be our shield and protector. In the New English Translation, the end of verse 35 reads: &ldquo;You give me your protective shield; your right hand supports me. Your willingness to help enables me to prevail.&rdquo;
The God of this Universe is willing to help you. And just by knowing that, you and I are enabled to prevail, press forward, and persevere on the path He has placed us on.&nbsp;
Go to the book of Psalms in your Bible and highlight every time God is described as a &ldquo;shield.&rdquo; I found more than a dozen descriptions of Him as a shield, and it encouraged my heart and made me feel strong and protected.&nbsp;
Remember your shield of protection wherever you go, whatever you do, whatever you may hear.&nbsp;
Further Reading:
Psalm 84:11
Psalm 91:4
For more on connecting more closely with God, your shield, see my books, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/0736989641/?bestFormat=true&amp;k=the%20new%20loneliness&amp;ref_=nb_sb_ss_w_scx-ent-pd-bk-d_k0_1_18_de&amp;crid=78LFQ00QV3CW&amp;sprefix=The%20New%20loneliness">The New Loneliness</a> and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/New-Loneliness-Devotional-Closer-Connection/dp/0736989250/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2S9YRHB4MSKZR&amp;dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.TmMnSOVvCMTwhHlx85y3XjGXf3_3YngV6Aac9qHg--TC22sSLZWj6K5tsD_Nn8bGKOq6RQ9vX9-WoB69FeJrtS4-v-oYNbRh8WrQ2Fy1ZoQcfajvANjvlhX">The New Loneliness Devotional</a>.&nbsp;
This episode is sponsored by Trinity Debt Management. If you are struggling with debt call Trinity today. &nbsp;Trinity's counselors have the knowledge and resources to make a difference. Our intention is to help people become debt-free, and most importantly, remain debt-free for keeps!" If your debt has you down, we should talk. Call us at 1-800-793-8548 | <a href="https://trinitycredit.org/">https://trinitycredit.org</a>
TrinityCredit &ndash; Call us at 1-800-793-8548. Whether we're helping people pay off their unsecured debt or offering assistance to those behind in their mortgage payments. <a href="https://trinitycredit.org/">https://trinitycredit.org</a>

Are you a Christian looking for a daily devotional podcast to encourage, inspire, and convict you in your walk with Christ? 7 days a week, The Crosswalk.com Daily Devotional Podcast offers wisdom and insight for applying Biblical truths to the ups and downs of everyday life. Let's study the Bible together and through the experiences of other believers, learn how to apply the Word of God to our lives.

Here’s just some of what we cover in The Crosswalk Daily Devotional Podcast:

☕️ Why the Tongue Can't Be Tamed (And What to Do about It)
☕️ The Quickest Way to an Attitude Adjustment
☕️ Your Birthday: The Most and Least Important Day of Your Life
☕️ Noticing God's Blessings in the Hardest Moments of Life
☕️ One of the Sneakiest Lies Satan Is Telling the Church
☕️ How to Push Through the Weariness of Prayer
☕️ 3 Steps to Take When Facing Temptation
☕️ What to Remember during a Stressful Election Year

If you love what you're listening to on the podcast, be sure to check out our companion devotional at https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/crosswalk-devo/.

Are you a Christian looking for a daily devotional podcast to encourage, inspire, and convict you in your walk with Christ? 7 days a week, The Crosswalk.com Daily Devotional Podcast offers wisdom and insight for applying Biblical truths to the ups and downs of everyday life. Let's study the Bible together and through the experiences of other believers, learn how to apply the Word of God to our lives.
Here’s just some of what we cover in The Crosswalk Daily Devotional Podcast:
☕️ Why the Tongue Can't Be Tamed (And What to Do about It) ☕️ The Quickest Way to an Attitude Adjustment ☕️ Your Birthday: The Most and Least Important Day of Your Life ☕️ Noticing God's Blessings in the Hardest Moments of Life ☕️ One of the Sneakiest Lies Satan Is Telling the Church ☕️ How to Push Through the Weariness of Prayer ☕️ 3 Steps to Take When Facing Temptation ☕️ What to Remember during a Stressful Election Year
If you love what you're listening to on the podcast, be sure to check out our companion devotional at <a href="https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/crosswalk-devo/">https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/crosswalk-devo/.</a>

7 days a week, The Crosswalk.com Devotional Podcast offers wisdom and insight for applying Biblical truths to the ups and downs of everyday life.

The Crosswalk Devotional: A Daily Devotional Christian Podcast

The Crosswalk Devotional

Your Shield of Protection

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/7351c326-7b04-4755-a59f-b3d20126f3d0/transcript