Devotionals for the Heart: When you allow God to cover you with His love

His Covering of Love
A devotional by Maureen Miller

“Let him lead me to the banquet hall, and let his banner over me be love.”

—Song of Solomon 2:4 (NIV)

“She’s…” Our son choked on his words. “She’s here.” Ian paused, then added, “But she’s in the NICU. Please pray she’ll be okay.”

After hanging up from that 3:00 a.m. phone call, my husband Bill and I lay there in the dark. There was nothing we could do but pray. And pray we did.

The next day, we were permitted to visit our third granddaughter. Our son and daughter-in-law named her Maci Lynn. She was born six weeks prematurely. The precious one we knew rested in the loving hands of our Heavenly Father (God).

Entering Maci’s cubicle, we witnessed the tubes and contraptions that kept her lungs pumping and her heart beating. I marveled at the medical miracle. If not for these scientific masterpieces, Maci’s life likely wouldn’t last, at least not this side of heaven. I breathed a prayer, “Thank You, merciful Father.”

Not able to hold her, all Bill and I could do was sit with Ian, offering support with our presence and silent petitions. Our daughter-in-law was hospitalized in a separate unit. She’d lost a lot of blood prior to the emergency C-section. Though stable, she’d not yet been released.

Only a few feet away, Maci lay under a strong, protective plexiglass covering, a sterile shield from germs. It was in the quiet of that space, with only the repetitive, rhythmic ticking of a monitor, when I heard God’s whisper: I’ve promised you My protective covering too. Each element is for you and the safety of those who you love. Pray for My full armor of protection for Maci Lynn.

Of course. The full armor of God. I’d recently become familiar with a song by a favorite Christian artist. On her music album, “Be Held: Lullabies for the Beloved”, Christy Nockels sings of this particular truth: the armor that’s ours, covering our loved ones and us from head to toe. I searched for this melody on my cell phone, then—holding my device just over the plastic dome—hit play. Maci’s tiny body rose and fell as the lullaby filled the cubicle, Christy’s lyrics reminding us of God’s promised protection, that which Paul describes in Ephesians, chapter six.

Let’s read about God’s armor in Ephesians 6:10-18 (NIV):

Belt of Truth (Verse 14a)

I asked God to help me remember His Truth as the enemy whispered lies into my mind such as:

“She’s not going to make it. Look how frail. How peaked.”

I shook the snide voice from my mind, replacing it with truth from Psalm 23. Quietly, I personalized that Scripture for my granddaughter: The Lord is her Shepherd. The Lord is her Shepherd.

Satan is a liar, but this piece of God’s protective covering wields truth—the opposite of what our enemy offers. In Maci’s situation, we could be overcome with fear, held captive by Satan’s insidious lies, leading to discouragement and despair, threatening our intercession. In a broader sense, Satan’s lies are everywhere. One can’t turn on the television without being bombarded with both subtle as well as overt deceptions that tell us we’re not enough. 

We need our belts of truth to discern what is biblically right and wrong that we might stand protected against Satan’s lies.

Breastplate of Righteousness (Verse 14b)

Proverbs 4:23 (NIV) tells us, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” A breastplate protects one’s heart.

Regarding Maci, Bill and I were susceptible—as were Maci’s parents—to discouragement. In some manner of speaking, her situation broke our hearts. Seeing her struggle, wondering if she’d pull through, was wearisome. But God called us to intercede on her behalf, and nothing hinders one’s prayer life more than feeling overwhelmed and afraid.

How about you? Have you been called to petition but feel stuck, bound by fear and anxiety? Put on your breastplate to guard your heart from discouragement, then press on. Find passages of scripture that become your anchor in this difficult season, replacing wrong thinking with right thinking. Yes, righteous thinking.

As the Apostle Paul exhorts in his letter to the Philippians 4:8 (NIV), “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”

Shoes of the Gospel of Peace (Verse 15)

Our footwear not only protects our feet; it carries us to those with whom God intends our paths to cross.

As Bill and I spent time with our granddaughter over those six weeks, we had opportunities to be light to others. Jesus Christ’s peace shines through His children, and I believe our presence made a difference. Though there were times we felt afraid and lacked peace, our dependence on the Lord was our source of strength. Perhaps other frightened parents with little ones in the NICU heard Christy Nockels’ song as I played it time and time again. Maybe they saw us praying over Maci Lynn. I hope it made a difference, bringing encouragement.

And in our peace-depleted world, how can we continue to carry God’s peace to others? In our workplaces? In our children’s schools? In our communities? Yes, even in our churches and in our homes?

Put on your footwear and walk, praying about all the places God might be calling you to offer His peace.

Shield of Faith (Verse 16)

How we needed to hold on to our faith in God as we waited and wondered regarding Maci. Some days, it seemed like we white-knuckle-gripped our shields. However, on other days, we were able to hold more loosely.

In ancient times, a shield wasn’t merely a small piece of protective metal; it was a full-length covering from head to toe. When gathered, soldiers would create entire domes of protection from the enemy’s flying darts, crouching together in military formation.

We know faith isn’t holding to that which is seen but what is unseen (Hebrews 11:1). Like the soldiers behind their collective shields who couldn’t see the racing arrows aimed their way but trusted their armor to do its job, we need to hold on by faith in life’s battles too.

Bill and I couldn’t see what was ahead regarding our precious Maci, but we trusted her caregivers, believing they knew what they were doing. And we knew her Heavenly Father loved her immeasurably more than us, and He had a plan. God has a plan for each of us. So, hold tight to your faith, His protective shield surrounding you in all seasons, even in the dark when you can’t see ahead.

Helmet of Salvation (Verse 17a)

During this difficult time with Maci, it was easy to allow our thoughts to turn toward fear rather than stand in faith, trusting God with our sweet granddaughter. But He reminded me I needed to take thoughts captive, making them obedient to Jesus (2 Corinthians 10:5). Furthermore, I needed to apply the words from a favorite children's song about being careful what we allow our eyes to see. If I simply looked at teeny-tiny Maci, my mind was flooded with what ifs, but when I chose instead to put on my helmet by singing songs of praise or claiming scripture promises, I was saved from what often felt like a pit of despair.

The same is true for you, friends. Your helmet of salvation is your protective head covering—helping guard your thoughts, despite what you see. It’s amazing what happens when we take our worrisome, troubled thoughts captive, replacing them with truth from God’s Word—whether spoken or in song, even long-ago Sunday School tunes that we sing in church.

Sword of the Spirit (Verse 17b)

Bill and I were promised protection from the enemy who came to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10). Not only did Satan want to steal our precious newborn granddaughter; he desired to kill our faith and destroy our peace. But God called us to be light where Satan wanted darkness in the NICU of the hospital where so many were hurting, anxious, and afraid. Only by walking in truth—truth from God’s Word—could we allow our suffering to be used for good.

When we hold out our swords, wielding them in every battle by applying biblical truth to our circumstances, we will be victorious. This is a strategy unlike that which the world appropriates, but it won’t go unnoticed. When others see and hear a Christian’s method of warfare, they can’t help but wonder from where such courage comes. Then we get to testify to the goodness—the faithfulness—of our loving, ever-present Father (God).

God’s Covering of Love

More than two years have passed since our regular visits to the NICU. Maci Lynn is two years old now and thriving in every way. Looking back, that season is surreal, but I’m so thankful for it. It taught me more about trusting God, especially when things are out of my control.

I’ll continue praying for the full armor of God to cover Bill, myself, our children and grandchildren. After all, we need it more than ever in this dark age where Satan lurks, knowing his time is coming to an end.

Recently, I was reminded. In Song of Solomon, the bride professes her love, adding that the king has brought her to his banquet table—a place of abundant joy. More beautiful than this, however, is the king’s covering, the protective banner he places over his bride. Indeed, his covering of love!

How beautiful! To think Yahweh-Nissi (“The Lord is my banner” defined in Exodus 17:15) was there in that NICU cubicle as Maci Lynn lay under her protective, plastic cover, hooked to tubes and monitors. It was Him who spoke to my heart that day, asking me to play “Head to Toe” over our sweet grand-girl, covering her with His full armor through scripture song.

And Yahweh-Nissi is with us too, promising never to leave us. God’s Word is our weapon, and His protective banner is ours until the day when we’re with Him, face to face. Yes, His covering of love.

Let’s Pray:

Dear God,

Thank You, merciful Father. Thank You for Your constant presence and Your promise to never leave. Thank You for Your Word which is our light in all darkness, a sword in every battle. And thank You for Your full armor—each element for our protection and our good. May we be courageous in all life’s battles, bringing You glory until You call us home. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Song of Reflection #1: “Head to Toe (The Armor of God Song)” by Christy Nockels. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “The Warrior is a Child” by Twila Paris. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #3: “His Banner Over Me” by Cheri Keaggy. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #4: “Battles” by The Afters. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

Maureen Miller is an award-winning author with stories in more than twenty collaboratives.

 

She contributes to "All God’s Creatures" published by Guideposts, her local newspaper, and several online devotion sites, including the award-winning Arise Daily and Inspire A Fire.

Married for 36 years to her childhood sweetheart Bill, she enjoys life with their three born-in-their-hearts children and three grand-girls, not to mention a variety of furry beasts. They live on Selah Farm, a hobby homestead nestled in the mountains of western North Carolina.

Maureen is a speaker, as well as the chaplain of her local Word Weaver critique group. She writes posts online via the “Windows and Wallflowers” blog where she tells of God’s extraordinary character discovered in the ordinary things of life.

Her favorite thing is to encourage others in their journey with Jesus Christ.

Maureen’s debut novel, Gideon’s Book, is now available.

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Connect with Maureen:
Email: Maureen.miller913@gmail.com
Website: https://maureenmillerauthor.com