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March 14

God’s Protection

The Christian life is lived not simply by worship and obedience, but also by God’s sustaining goodness and protection. And, therefore, think of Christ as a shield before and behind you.

The life of spirituality begins in faith birthed by grace. Grace is the life-giving action of God’s goodness in our lives. The impact of this

goodness is the movement toward relationship, renewal, and healing.

Living the Christian life also has to do with participation in the Christian community and in practicing the spiritual disciplines. This

empowers us for the journey of growth and for the challenges of witness and service.

But there is also more to the Christian life. An underlying theme is not what we are and do, but what God does in holding us safe.

St. Augustine understood this. He writes, “But see, O Lord, we are thy little flock. Possess us, stretch thy wings above us, and let us take refuge under them. Be thou our glory; let us be loved for thy sake.”73

This is a prayer. It is a prayer we are invited to pray all of our lives. And it is a prayer we pray not only for ourselves but for the church both local and universal. It is a prayer that recognizes our vulnerability and our need of God’s protection and care.

Prayer

Lord, you are the giver of life. Grant us the power of your Spirit to sustain us in the journey of faith. May you hold us, even when we have no sense that we are being held. Amen.