Read Psalm 86. Today, we are looking at how God is the guard of your life. In the CSB version, Psalm 86:2 says, “Protect my life.” The Psalmist makes this request to the only One who can guard life. God is not only the giver of life, but He is our great protector.
The Bible says that all of our days are written in His book (Psalm 139:16). He knows all that is coming our way. But even more than that, our life is in His hands. Not simply because God is in control; it’s more than that. God actually has you in the palm of His hands and nothing, I repeat, NOTHING, can snatch you from His hand (John 10:28). The ESV translates today’s request as “Preserve my soul.”
When the Psalmist asks for protection, and when we ask for protection, we know that it is found in Him. You and I do not know what tomorrow will bring. We do not know what may happen a few minutes from now. Yet we can rest in knowing that He is the guard of our lives. God will cover you with His feathers and his faithfulness will be a protective shield (Psalm 91:4).
This isn’t something that should make you attempt some wild death-likely maneuver so God has the opportunity to display that He is the true guard of your life. Rather, it is a promise that brings peace. There is comfort knowing that no matter what happens today, that God will keep you safe— that no matter what happens tomorrow, nothing will take you out of God’s hands.
There is even more to this promise. When we read this verse, we are reminded that God surely does protect our soul. Psalm 37:28 says that God will not forsake the faithful ones — His saints — for they are “preserved forever.” Remember, that God sent His one and only Son to pay the ultimate price, death on the Cross, so that those who believe in Jesus would not perish, but instead have eternal life (John 3:16).
Let us pray today for His protection. As the Psalmist wrote: “LORD, don’t hold back Your tender mercies from me. Let Your unfailing love and faithfulness always protect me” (Psalm 40:11 NLT). Another way to say this: “Keep me in Your truth and let Your compassion overflow to me no matter what I face” (Psalm 40:11 TPT). Amen!
Tania Gutekunst 