Seeking God’s protection is an important part of the Christian life. The Bible encourages believers to trust in God’s strength and mighty power to defend and guard us from all harm and danger. Here are some key ways the Bible instructs Christians to receive divine protection:
1. Put your faith in God
The first and most fundamental way to receive God’s protection is to put your complete faith and confidence in Him. As Proverbs 29:25 says, “Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.” When we trust in God rather than relying on our own strength or looking to other people for security, we can be confident that God will watch over us. Hebrews 11 highlights the heroes of faith who trusted in God’s faithfulness to protect and deliver them. As Psalm 91:2 declares, God is our refuge and fortress who delivers us when we trust in Him.
2. Abide in Christ
Abiding in Christ is key to experiencing divine protection. In John 15:4-5 Jesus said, “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” Staying closely connected to Christ through prayer, worship, Scripture reading, and obedience allows His life to flow through us and guard us. God promises to protect those who dwell in the shelter of the Most High and abide under His shadow (Psalm 91:1).
3. Walk in righteousness
Living a righteous life is another key to divine protection. Proverbs 13:6 says, “Righteousness guards him whose way is blameless, but sin overthrows the wicked.” As we obey God’s Word and say no to sinful temptations, we remain inside God’s hedge of protection. Psalm 5:12 declares, “For you bless the righteous, O Lord; you cover him with favor as with a shield.” Keeping our lives pure and blameless enables us to receive God’s spiritual armor against attacks.
4. Dwell in the secret place
The phrase “secret place” in Psalm 91:1 refers to being in close fellowship with God. As we daily spend time in the “secret place” of God’s presence through Bible meditation, prayer, worship, and communion with God, He promises to deliver us from deadly pestilence and shelter us under His wings (Psalm 91:3-4). Drawing near to the heart of God and dwelling in His presence grants us spiritual protection.
5. Claim God’s promises
There are many promises in Scripture about God’s protection that believers can claim by faith. For example, when we call on the Lord, He promises to be with us in trouble and deliver us (Psalm 91:15). We can pray these promises back to God, knowing that what He has promised He will perform. Hebrews 6:18 says, “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.” Praying and proclaiming God’s word builds a hedge of spiritual protection.
6. Stay alert
While fully trusting in God’s protection, the Bible also instructs believers to stay alert, watchful, and vigilant against the Enemy (1 Peter 5:8). Putting on the armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18), resisting the Devil, guarding our hearts and minds, and avoiding compromising situations are important steps. Cry out to God at the first sign of temptation or attack. He promises to be your shield and refuge if you stay aware.
7. Walk in obedience
Obedience to God’s commands leads to blessing and protection, while disobedience leads to cursing and harm. Deuteronomy 28:1-2 says, “Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the Lord your God will set you high above all nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you.” Staying closely aligned to God through obedience protects us.
8. Avoid pride and arrogance
Pride and self-sufficiency can remove us from under God’s protective care. Proverbs 16:18 warns, “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” Depending on our own wisdom and strength rather than God’s leaves us vulnerable. To receive God’s protection, we must humble ourselves and confess our inadequacy apart from Him (James 4:6-10).
9. Ask others to pray for you
Asking others to pray for our protection and deliverance activates spiritual protection. The earnest prayer of the righteous makes tremendous power available (James 5:16). When believers join their shields of faith together in prayer, it provides expanded protective coverage. Joining prayer with fasting multiplies its effectiveness. Surround yourself with intercessors.
10. Maintain an attitude of prayer
Jesus told His disciples to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Maintaining an attitude of continual prayer – praying at all times and seeking God’s face daily (Psalm 105:4) – opens the channels for God’s protective presence in our lives. Through prayer we call on the mighty weapons of the spiritual realm to shield us.
11. Speak/sing holy scriptures
Speaking, singing, and meditating on Holy Scripture ushers God’s presence and power into our lives. “Your word have I hidden in my heart that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:11). Scriptures contain God’s promises, serenity, wisdom, defenses, and divine angelic provision. The Word fills us with faith, quenches demonic fire darts, and ignites angelic protection.
12. Clothe yourself in spiritual armor
Paul instructs believers in Ephesians 6:10-18 to daily put on the full spiritual armor of God. This includes the helmet of salvation, breastplate of righteousness, belt of truth, shoes of the Gospel, shield of faith, and sword of the Spirit which is the word of God. Clothing ourselves in God’s full armor activates heavenly protection.
13. Use holy objects/symbols
Holy objects and symbols like the cross, Scriptures, praise/worship music, and banners/verses on walls disseminate a sacred protective presence. Sacraments, holy water/oil, laying on of hands, and anointed cloths also release God’s divine shield and beneficent powers.
14. Visualize God’s shield
Our imagination and visualization governs spiritual realities. Purposefully envisioning God’s promises of defense forms a heavenly buffer around your life. Picture guardian angels, saints of old, fiery creatures, the banner of the Lord, and heavenly hosts encircling you. See God’s shield covering you.
15. Focus your mind on God
Setting our minds on Christ through worship, meditation, and Kingdom priorities centers our lives in Him. “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you” (Isaiah 26:3). As we focus on God and His promises, divine light drives away shadows of fear and doubt that deteriorate faith in His protection.
16. Let Christ rule your heart
Allowing Jesus to truly sit enthroned as Lord in our hearts positions us under His sovereign protection. “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth” (Colossians 3:2). Crown Him King and Ruler in your heart and the fruits of His Kingdom will richly enhance you – including His shield of defense.
17. Forgive others
Harboring unforgiveness toward others can block God’s protective hand in our own life. Jesus warned if we do not forgive others, God will not forgive our trespasses (Matthew 6:15). Walking in forgiveness and love toward others activates God’s forgiveness and blessings in our life.
18. Bless/do good to enemies
Jesus taught we are to love our enemies, bless those who curse us, and pray for those who mistreat us (Luke 6:27-28). This activates spiritual laws of sowing and reaping positive divine protection. As we radiate blessing, it returns to shield us from harm.
19. Have faith in God
The shield that surrounds us grows in direct proportion to our faith. Jesus said if we have faith the size of a tiny mustard seed, nothing will be impossible (Luke 17:6). Faith is the victory that overcomes the world (1 John 5:4). Believing God’s word and His goodness fans our faith for protection.
20. Give God first place
God promises to guard the lives of those who honor Him first. “Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine” (Proverbs 3:9-10). Putting Him first releases material and spiritual increase, including defense.
In summary, abiding closely with God, trusting wholly in Him, obeying His commands, and appropriating His promises by faith are the Biblical keys to living under God’s mighty hand of protection. As we yield our lives to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, His shield surrounds us. We safely dwell in the impenetrable fortress of God’s presence.
