Under Cover

It was cold the other evening so I put an extra quilt on our bed.  While snuggling under the warmth of the covers, the Lord gave me a reminder of His presence covering me.  It was definitely cozy sleeping overnight and in the morning I was still thinking about what the Lord was showing me as I fell asleep.  As I started looking for scriptures, I found a couple of interesting Psalms.  The last part of Psalm 32:10 says, “the Lord’s unfailing love surrounds the one who trusts in him.” I also liked the last part of Psalm 5:11, “Spread your (the Lord’s) protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you.”  I can cuddle under the concepts of both of these verses!  Blankets keep my body warm and these scriptures keep my heart warm.

Psalm 91 is one of my favorite Psalms and it comes to my mind as I think about staying warm physically and keeping safe spiritually under the covers.  The first part of verse one says, “Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.”  I need physical rest through sleep at night, and even more importantly, I need to daily rest spiritually under the covering of the Lord.  Such things as worry and fear need not be a part of my life if I trust the Lord.  In verse 5, the Psalmist promises, “He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge;”  Being covered with God’s feathers gives me the mental picture of snuggling under a down comforter that may be filled with feathers.  Not only am I covered by the Lord’s feathers, but I am protected from the enemy and spiritual harm.  When I read this verse the image of a baby bird under the nurturing wing of its mother comes to my mind.  The mother covers its young that is unable cover itself.  The mother’s wing not only keeps the little birdie warm but also protects it from any predator that might want to hurt it.  There are times when I feel like a very helpless child of God who is too weak to take care of myself and I need to rely upon the tender care of the Lord.  Both my physical life and spiritual life are covered by God’s divine grace and power.  Just like Linus in the Peanuts cartoon, I need a security blanket.  The Lord covers me with the warmth of His love and the security of His faithfulness.

Now I let my thoughts wander back to my keeping warm in bed.  During the night I most likely turn over a few times, and this means that I may take a little more than my share of the covers with me when I turn. I tell my husband that it is his responsibility to pull back the extra covers I take so he will not be cold.  I do not take extra covers intentionally.  Proverbs 4:27 says, “Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.”  My husband probably would like to tell me to lie still and not turn to the right or the left. However, I do not kick him with my foot!  My response to him might be another scripture found in Isaiah 30:21, “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.’”  That sounds to me like it is alright to turn from my right side to my left side and vice versa.  Spiritually though, God is warning me to stay on the straight path with Him and only turn to the right or left when His wisdom guides me to do so.  A change in direction could cause me to slip into sinful ways.  My turning the wrong way could also be a negative witness to another person.  Just like my turning over and taking the covers can result in my husband being cold, my turning from God’s way can cause another person to leave God’s path and become spiritually cold.

My Reader, how are you keeping warm on these cold winter nights?  An extra blanket can be helpful physically.  However, you and I can get rather chilly and challenged spiritually if we do not stay secure under the covering of the Lord no matter what the thermometer tells us the outside temperature is.

Joyfully,
Cheryl

Thought for the week:  God’s comfort is our best comforter!
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort.” –   II Corinthians 1:3