Shielded in Faithfulness

What uppppp good people and others?! It's been a little minute since I've written a blog but here we are ready to share some love with one another. How have you been? How are you maintaining in these interesting times in the world? Hopefully you're standing strong despite the hardships currently taking place.

I'm not sure about you, but I read the word in relationship. Sounds strange I know. However, in my gaining of understanding, I see the Bible as a love story. 💕 A history of God's love and desires for his people. His love and forgiveness concerning his bride. A father's love and hope that his children would come back home. A God with an open heart for those who are not of his tribe but welcomes them to pasture as well. That's relationship.

In Psalms 91:4, there is a piece of scripture in the ESV Bible that says “His faithfulness is like a shield or a city wall.”

In the context of relationship…..how often has infidelity made space for the ruin of your union? Infidelity (Adultery) is also the one thing God permits as a reason for divorce in marriage, in covenant (Mat 5:32). Yet, his faithfulness is a shield 🛡️, a protection, for the relationship we have with Christ.

God had me speak on the book of Nehemiah a little while ago. In my studies of Nehemiah being charged to build the wall 🧱 I discovered that a “broken wall” is a reproach to a city (Nehemiah 1:3). Is it not the same for our physical relationships?! 👀 When infidelity enters the chat (😆) or enters the relationship there is an instant “reproach” in that union. The relationship wall has been breached or broken & now it is up to the individuals to decide whether they are going to part ways or spend time repairing or rebuilding the wall that faithfulness once provided them.

Isn't that something?! 🤯

In God's call for us to “Build the wall” he is calling for us to reestablish faithfulness to him. 😆 Yet, in one of the most powerful Psalms we are reminded just how powerful faithfulness is! The full verse for Psalms 91:4 states “He will spread his wings over you and keep you secure. His faithfulness is like a shield or a city wall.”

How often are people in search of security?! Whether it is in regards to their finances, relationship, career, or community groups?! Everyone wants security. Yet, some of us struggle with the key that will provide it ; faithfulness. How many times can you look back (reflect) on your life and see that God has secured you in some form or fashion even in the midst of your unfaithfulness?!

Yet, God's covering “his wings” has faithfully secured us in the midst of our mess. In the midst of our infidelity. Love conquers so many things! Yet, love without faithfulness leaves holes in our shields. Leaves holes in the walls that faithfulness has established around our city.

We can look throughout the Earth and see what hate has done. Hate brings destruction, jealousy and envy. All which bring about murder. Yet, love with faithfulness, brings about a strong fortress. A strong wall.

When unfaithfulness ruins a thing, it takes time to rebuild the wall. Doesn't always mean it's not worth rebuilding just means that it's going to take time, patience and a solid defense to rebuild it. There are people in this world who don't always desire to see a good thing reestablished. But when the love is strong enough it's worth fighting for to rebuild. Just like the example in the book of Nehemiah.

God's love for us is faithful and despite our infidelity with him, he has shown us countless times that we are worth fighting for. How much more can we show him the same thing?! God desires for us to come home. Will you come?! Will you help rebuild the wall? Will you fight to reestablish a “good thing”?

Y'all be easy. Love ya. Later.

Stay vigilant. Stay prayed up.

-Shya

Stability in Truth

Heeeeyyyy Good People and Others! How are y'all doing? I hope well of course. I mean fall is almost officially here and I'm kinda excited about it. Not the cold part 😩 just the fall part 🍁🍂. (I'm just being honest.)

I was reading thru the word and ran across something I wanted to share my little two cents on. Don't worry I'ma share some Bible so you can look into it yourself if you'd like. Matter of fact some of you might not even need your word ; pretty sure most people know this scripture. Which scripture came to mind immediately for you 👀? Drop it down below in the comments.

If you guessed Psalms 91 you would be correct.

In Psalms 91:4 it states “He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust : his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.”

When I read this verse I paused and began to ask myself how God's truth is our shield? I also wondered on what a buckler was 😅. I definitely did not know. So I pulled out my handy dandy Strongs Concordance and began to dig. I was pleasantly surprised at what I discovered.

The word “truth” in Strongs is Emeth which actually means “stability, certainty, truth, trustworthiness”. God's truth provides us stability. Gives us certainty and trustworthiness when we apply it to our lives. The word “shield” is tsinnah which is “a hook or large prickly shield”. Which means not only does God's truth give us “stability” it also “shields us” with a sharp defense system (the prickliness of the hook). The word “buckler” is cochereth which is also “a shield or something that surrounds a person”. Meaning God's truth gives us stability that sharply shields us and surrounds us completely. 🤯

I love the details. God is so intentional with his design for us.

When we think about “truth” in the world today and how so many people have seen or are seeing their lives being torn upside down because of the lies they have lived. It makes you appreciate living boldly in your truth. Whatever that may be for you. Truth gives us freedom; living in God's truth gives us stability & protection. When we are outside of God's truth we have the appearance of stability we can't fully trust and a faulty protection system.

Ruth 2:12 tells us “The Lord recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust.” When we take refuge under God's wings we are greatly rewarded for the work we do. There are benefits to staying close to God. Many have become accustomed to getting microwaved benefits. Having no patience. Some things God gives us requires us to have patience to receive them much like some of the “fathers or mothers” that came before us. Like Abraham, Sara, Noah, Moses, and etc.

Takeaway : Let God's truth provide you with the stability we all so desperately desire in these times and throughout life.

Love ya. Later.

Shya