God Speaking

“I have put my words in your mouth and covered you with the shadow of my hands”
(Isaiah 51: 16)

Just recently I had the most incredible example of what the Lord was saying to Isaiah when he said his people would be covered with the shadow of his hands. I was scheduled for an eye operation and as I had had a terrible result from the first operation on the other eye that left it damaged, I was very nervous about the outcome of this one. I asked my Bible study and friends to pray for me on the day of my operation and an amazing thing happened, as I lay on the operating table the nurse wrapped me in a warm blanket and suddenly I felt a wonderful sense of calm and felt the Holy Spirit was standing right beside me. I felt covered in prayer

The Lord often spoke about covering his people with protection and in Psalm 91 the Psalmist describes this beautiful promise like a mother hen protesting her chicks by covering them with her feathers;

“He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge.” (Psalm 91: 4)

When we can envisage ourselves as little chicks completely hidden by those feathers, we know we are safe from any danger.

The most important part of being protected is firstly asking the Lord for that Heavenly and then accepting it. Too often we take things into our own hands, thinking we can handle any thing that comes along. When we do this and not pray and not ask for prayer from other believers, we are ignoring and dismissing that wonderful offer of being covered with the mighty hand of God as we face life’s challenges. Coming from a hot country, Australia, we knew if we were not covered in sun cream or protective clothing, we would certainly get sunburnt, how foolish we are not to accept the beautiful covering of God’s protection in any situation we are in.

Covering others in prayer is a wonderful way of ensuring that loved ones, friends, those in need or others going through difficult times are protected by the powerful hand of our Heavenly Father. James in his letter to the young church urges them to pray for each other.

“pray for each other so you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” (James 5: 16)

We also need not be hesitant about asking for prayer for anything that is overshadowing our lives. Sometimes we are embarrassed about sharing with others what we are going through. Paul is a wonderful example of being bold about asking for prayer and often in his letters he asks for prayer.

“And pray for us too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.” (Colossians 4: 3)

Our prayer requests may not be as noble as Paul’s but be assured the Lord is willing to share in anything we are struggling with, personally and always willing to offer his loving protection.