Jesus Protects

By Niti Krishnakumar

Jesus Protects offers reflections on David's victory over Goliath and applying it into your life. It spans 20 weeks and focuses on a bold theme for each week and is further divided into five sections for each of the days of the week:

Monday: THE PREMISE — an inspirational summary of what transpired.

Tuesday: THE CHALLENGE — background information and cultural setup of the day which posed challenges to their faith and wellbeing.

Wednesday: WHAT THIS MEANS TO ME?  — apply the situation to your life and reflect on questions from scripture as well as in general pertaining to the bold theme.

Thursday: GOD SPEAKS — God's perspective and Bible promises that are relevant to the theme.

Friday: CLAIMING PROTECTION — reflection and prayer for receiving God's protection and boldness in the light of the theme.

By focusing on each theme for five consecutive days, I hope to offer a unique devotional program, one that encourages reading, reflection, study, and prayer focused on the events in David's life in the Bible.

 

Reading this devotional will give you strength and courage for the days ahead and bolster you into all the promises that God has for you. I pray this in Jesus' Name! Amen.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Niti Krishnakumar
• Release date: Mar 26, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201323660

Niti Krishnakumar

The author is keenly interested in helping children develop deep insight and knowledge about the various dimensions of life. She is a believer and has been a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ since 2004. She enjoys sharing this wisdom with the budding generation. She has experience writing learning materials in the eLearning industry where she worked for 12+ years.

Book preview

Jesus

Protects

20 Weeks to a Bold Spirit

Based on David’s Life

NITI KRISHNAKUMAR

I would love to hear from you. Please send your comments and suggestions to [e-mail]. Thank you.

––––––––

Jesus Protects

eBook Reader format

Copyright © 2022 by Niti Krishnakumar

––––––––

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Also the Holy Bible, Today’s New International VersionTM. TNIV®. Copyright © 2001, 2005 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means — electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other — except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher.

Introduction

W E E K  O N E

Is There a Goliath in Your Life?

W E E K  T W O

Is Your Goliath Invincible?

W E E K  T H R E E

Is Goliath Intimidating You With His Words?

W E E K  F O U R

Are the Consequences of Losing Threatening You?

W E E K  F I V E

Is the Enemy Trying to Shame You?

W E E K  S I X

My Help Comes from the Lord of Hosts.

W E E K  S E V E N

The Lord Knows Those Who are His

W E E K  E I G H T

Dealing With the Fiery Arrows of the Evil One

W E E K  N I N E

Make Up Your Mind and Stay Put

W E E K  T E N

Using Wisdom to Make Convincing Statements

W E E K  E L E V E N

Stand Up for What You Believe

W E E K  T W E L V E

The Fool Says There is No God

W E E K  T H I R T E E N

I Shall Declare the Name of My God Almighty

W E E K  F O U R T E E N

The Arm of the Lord is Sure

W E E K  F I F T E E N

Come! Let us Sing the Victory Song

––––––––

W E E K  S I X T E E N

I am Your Shield, Your Exceedingly Great Reward

W E E K  S E V E N T E E N

The Lord Knits Hearts Together

W E E K  E I G H T E E N

The Lord Blesses So Richly that It Makes Your Enemies Jealous

W E E K  N I N E T E E N

The Lord Thwarts the Evil Plans of the Enemy

W E E K  T W E N T Y

The Lord Gives Great Success

––––––––

While writing Jesus Protects, the war between Ukraine and Russia is ongoing. Threats of a third world war are looming large. As the atmosphere is very tense, I hope this book will offer much needed comfort and encouragement in the wonderful protection of Jesus. This book is a devotional you can read for your personal comfort and edification.

Even as I wrote, I realized that my spirit was enriched. I was built up in my faith and I give all credit to focusing on scriptures that impart strength. It actually helped me stand more boldly than I would have in similar circumstances and this is the reason I trust the promise (in the subtitle) of a ‘bold spirit’ stands. Amen.

It is not easy to be bold when the stakes are high. I consider that most of us find that being less bold is the easy way out. In this book, I have thus picked up the section in the Bible where I believe we see fear in all its forms and yet the empowered one (David) rises up to surprise many. It is unthinkable that a young lad of seventeen would face-off a heavily armored nine-foot giant named Goliath who was fully loaded with weapons and still win! Prior to obtaining his victory, he had to convince many that he was indeed battle worthy and able to do what looked like an arduous and near impossible task.

Faith can do wonders and always has. We see what we believe as we walk by faith and not by sight. Jesus was victorious in the battle against Satan and we know he is a defeated foe. He has no right to bully and harass us like he did the heroes of yesteryears. Today we just decree the power of the Name; we bind and loose and the power of God alights into the situation ushering us into our breakthrough.

We see breakthroughs each day because we serve a God of victory. He gives us innumerable victories and ultimately the greatest victory of all – that is to become His bride and take our seats at the Lamb’s Supper. Wow!

I want you to read this book from a heavenly perspective, recognizing that God does wonders in the lives of all who trust Him. He is not a partial God but a God who rejoices in blessing everyone. However He requires for us to be in faith to bless us. This is how David was different. He had inordinate faith in God. He was willing to forget himself in the pursuit of the honor and glory of his God and King. Reading the words and thoughts of David will surely empower you as it did me. You will be better equipped to face any battle on the strength of scripture and a clear understanding of it. May God help you derive the most out of this book. I bless you in Jesus’ Name, to come out victorious in every battle against your enemy. Amen.

STRUCTURE OF THE BOOK

Jesus Protects looks at the scripture passages starting from 1 Samuel 17:1 till 1 Samuel 18:16. This is the section where David takes up the task of killing Goliath and succeeds at it. The book comprises 20 weeks of studying the life of David from scripture. I analyze all the events leading up until David becomes very successful as the captain of Saul’s army and leads thousands of soldiers to war.

These portions illustrate the early life of David as he kept sheep for his father Jesse and rescued his sheep from the mouth of wild animals such as a lion or a bear. God was training him to become a champion someday. We do know David was close to God and spent many hours composing and singing songs to God while playing his harp. He was very fond of God and had a living relationship with Jehovah.

He derives his strength in worshipping the Lord of the universe and seeking His face for all that he needs. Even in the midst of opposition from his own, he fights bravely and gives God all the glory for the victory.

In David, we see a multi-faceted personality, who will thrive no matter what he faces. He trusts in the Lord to deliver Him and looks to Him in every need. He addresses Him as His shield and refuge. His stories reveal so much about God’s grace, his relentless love, and his creative ability to bring good out of the most desperate of circumstances.

In this devotional, I help readers reflect on one bold theme for each week. Each theme’s devotion combines five main elements: inspiration, background information, personal application, God’s perspective, and reflection & prayer. Here’s how a week unfolds:

Monday: THE PREMISE — an inspirational summary of what transpired.

Tuesday: THE CHALLENGE — background information and cultural setup of the day which posed challenges to their faith and wellbeing.

Wednesday: WHAT THIS MEANS TO ME?  — apply the situation to your life and reflect on questions from scripture as well as in general pertaining to the bold theme.

Thursday: GOD SPEAKS — God’s perspective and Bible promises that are relevant to the theme.

Friday: CLAIMING PROTECTION — reflection and prayer for receiving God’s protection and boldness in the light of the theme.

By focusing on each theme for five consecutive days, I hope to offer a unique devotional program, one that encourages reading, reflection, study, and prayer focused on the events in David’s life in the Bible.

––––––––

T H E M E  F O R  W E E K  O N E

Is There a Goliath in Your Life?

SCRIPTURE FoCUS:  Now the Philistines gathered their forces for war and assembled at Socoh in Judah. They pitched camp at Ephes Dammim, between Socoh and Azekah. Saul and the Israelites assembled and camped in the Valley of Elah and drew up their battle line to meet the Philistines. The Philistines occupied one hill and the Israelites another, with the valley between them. A champion named Goliath, who was from Gath, came out of the Philistine camp. He was six cubits and a span in height (That is, about 3 meters) tall. [1Sa. 17:1-4]

Bible Context:     The Philistines were constant enemies of Israel. After the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, an evil spirit from the LORD tormented him (1 Sam 16:14) Probably the Philistines had heard of the melancholy that had gripped Saul and decided to retaliate at this time (Israel had plundered the Philistines in an earlier battle). So they must have taken the opportunity of avenging themselves on Israel, and for that purpose gathered together their dispersed troops.

The army of Israel stood on an opposite mountain with a valley separating them. And a champion went out from the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath: He was a large man (with a span anywhere from 8’5 to 9’2), and he had armor and weapons to match his size.

Key Scriptures:   Joshua 11:22; 2 Sam 21:19

Monday

THE PREMISE

It is not long after the Philistines were soundly beaten, that they raise their head again. They descend upon the Israelites' country, and set foot in Judah. The Philistine-armies had at least two reasons to attempt to attack Israel:

Samuel was