Under His Wings

by Peggy Brown

I decided to accept Sue’s challenge to choose a verse for the year! My verse is:

Psalm 91:4 “He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.”

Since I love birds, the analogy of being covered with feathers and being under the wings of a bird creates quite a mental picture for me. When a mother bird is sitting on a nest it’s usually after she has fed the wriggling, cheeping, naked babies. They are well hidden and ready to settle down. When they become still, you would never even know that there were baby birds in the nest! There is not a beak, a feather or a toe sticking out! They are safe and secure.

I think of myself as the baby bird…sometimes wriggling and making lots of noise, waiting for my needs to be met (sometimes oblivious to any danger that may be lurking nearby), sometimes figuratively naked…vulnerable in some way. But under God’s feathers I am nourished, cared for and protected. Under His wings I can settle down and take shelter!

The part about His faithfulness being my shield and rampart is so cool! The definition of rampart is “A broad elevation or mound of earth raised as a fortification around a place and usually capped with a stone or earth parapet”. I picture an old fashioned castle with a high mound of earth surrounding it giving the people on the inside a safe view of what’s happening on the outside, also giving them protection should they be attacked. God’s faithfulness is what protects me and shelters me when I am facing trouble or danger.

There will be times during this year when my heart is vulnerable, and my soul is hungry. There will be times this year when I am in danger of walking into sin. There will be times this year when I will need the comfort that no earthly friend can provide. My goal for this year is to let this verse saturate my mind so thoroughly, to have it so firmly in my heart (Ps. 119:105), that when those time comes, my first thought will be to take shelter in the comfort and protection of His feathers and His shield!

I have to share another old hymn with you! The title is “Under His Wings”.

"Under His wings I am safely abiding, Though the night deepens and tempests are wild,
Still I can trust Him; I know He will keep me, He has redeemed me, and I am His child.

Under His wings, what a refuge in sorrow! How the heart yearningly turns to His rest!
Often when earth has no balm for my healing, There I find comfort, and there I am blessed.

Under His wings, oh, what precious enjoyment! There will I hide till life’s trials are o’er;

Sheltered, protected, no evil can harm me, Resting in Jesus, I’m safe evermore.

Under His wings, under His wings, who from His love can sever?
Under His wings my soul shall abide, Safely abide forever."

Lord, You are my protection and my shelter. I tend to forget that when life gets difficult. I purpose to hide Your word in my heart this year so that it isn’t so easy to forget Your promises. Help me to be faithful! Amen