Praying for protection and preservation for our loved ones and ourselves is one of the most frequently prayer requests that most of us have. We usually pray for physical protection as well as spiritual protection and preservation.
According to Webster’s dictionary, the word “preserve” means:
to keep (something) in its original state or in good condition; to keep (something) safe from harm or loss; to prevent (food) from decaying
All of the above definitions apply to our prayers. We want to be preserved for eternity and not get defiled by the world. We desire to be protected from any harm or losses, and we also hope not to backslide or have a decaying faith because of difficulties and/or persecution.
Jesus called us the” salt of the earth” hence we are to be the preservers of our society. We are the ones who are called to cover our communities with salt of truth, love, and prayer in order to preserve a culture that is very opposite to Biblical truth. The question is, how is the salt preserved? How can we as preserver of the culture be preserved?
Fearing God
And the Lord commanded us to observe all these statutes, to fear the Lord our God, for our good always, that He might preserve us alive, as it is this day. Deuteronomy 6:24
God is pleased with us revering Him. When we honor our Lord, we take seriously what He says in His word, and we obey His rules because they are for our benefit. Our desire is not to go against what God says because we know He is not playing! His statutes are not just nice suggestions but they are life and wisdom!
God has given us much to enjoy in our lives. In order to fully enjoy everything, we are to use it the way it is prescribed in the instruction manual (in this case the Bible).
For example, if we were to send an IPhone to a remote place in the world where they have no access to electricity, technology, or even phones, what would they do with it? Since they know nothing about phones, they might use it as a hammer, a weight, or a whole host of others things that have nothing to do with the true function of an IPhone.
The same holds true for us. We don’t truly know our purpose apart from our Creator and Savior. When we were unbelievers, we abused our bodies and soul because we just did what felt good at the moment. Now that we know Him, we should desire to read His instruction manual and listen to His voice because He has much to say to us. When we pay attention to God’s design and purpose for our lives, we are preserved! We can experience joy in living the full life He’s given us without the headache and heartache of abusing His craftsmanship!
Are we being preserved by paying attention to what the Lord says in His word? Do we get enough rest or are we overcommitted? Do we eat right and exercise or do we struggle with gluttony, alcohol, or soft drugs? Are we quick to forgive? Do we press through loving people even when we don’t feel like it?
I will continue with this subject in the next devotional.