Under His Wings

Psalm 91:4-5  “He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.  You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day,”

Have you ever watched chickens…really watched them?  The mature chickens strut about, pecking and scratching for food, but the baby chicks will curiously wander and then scurry back to their mother to hide under her wings.  Each chick knows to which hen it belongs.  Each hen knows her brood and if they’re threatened, she becomes more like a Momma Bear than a silly hen.  She will pull herself up to her full height, flap her wings and protect her babies.  All the while, gathering them underneath her to ensure their safety.  Those chicks know, without a doubt, the safest place is under their Mama's wings.

But sometimes there is an ‘independent’ chick in the flock, one who wanders off, oblivious to the dangers. That chick may not realize that wandering too far could make life dangerous...and short-lived, putting them at-risk of attack by the Enemy.  There is protection and security when the chicks stay near those wings of refuge.

So when Scripture gives us that picture of taking refuge under the wings of the Almighty God, we understand what the Psalmist is trying to tell us, in fact, we can picture it well.  “He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge.”  We can run to our Savior and know that He is watching over us and He is ready to protect us from anything that might threaten us.  He gathers us in and covers us so that the Enemy can’t see us or reach us.  Jesus shelters us so that we’re safe and He gives us warmth and protection in His presence.

As believers, we are not immune to fear or attack.  It lurks around us and taunts us. It can bring on a sudden and desperate need for comfort.  When we feel the attack we want to run and hide; we look for shelter and warmth that will reassure and protect us.  We quickly search for what will offer a place of refuge and safety.  If we are children of God, we don’t have to look far. God is that refuge and safe place for us and He is ever-present and always available.  

We need to run to Him. We can trust that His wings are broad enough and strong enough to cover us and His feathers are soft and warm enough to provide the comfort we desperately crave.  He will shield us from those flaming arrows of the Enemy so that we do not have to fear.

Let’s pray that our sons and daughters walk closely with their Father and turn to the Lord when they are afraid, finding precious refuge under His wings.

“Lord, I pray that (name) would walk closely with You.  Help them to rely upon You each day and turn and run to You whenever they fear danger or attack.   You, Lord, are their refuge and protection.  Help them to feel welcome and comforted under Your wings.  I ask that (name) would understand Your sweet protection and would seek it out.  Keep (name) from wandering away from Your protection and care.  Lord, let your faithfulness be their shield and rampart.  In Jesus’ name, amen.”