The Bodyguard

I have always thought it would be cool to be important enough to have a personal bodyguard. Someone whose job it was to constantly protect me from danger and stay alert when I’m out in public. A person who notices threats before I do, watches my blind spots, and stays close no matter what. Most of us will probably not experience that level of physical protection, but as believers, we do spiritually.

God is our bodyguard.

The Bible says at the end of the famous Psalm 23, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever” (Psalm 23:6). I have heard this passage of Scripture for years, but never truly considered the powerful truth of having God’s goodness and mercy follow me.

When I look back on my life, there are so many moments where I can see God protecting me from things I never even noticed. Closed doors that were disappointing at the time later became opportunities that were far better than what I originally wanted. Or even painful seasons of waiting that felt like walking through the valley of the shadow of death, yet when I look back, I can now see how God was growing me, shaping me, and preparing me for the journey ahead.

God is outside of space and time. He sees the end from the beginning, and He knows the best path forward long before we do. He knows what to protect us from, what to lead us toward, and what we need to become who He created us to be. Even when we cannot see His hand, His goodness and mercy are still following closely behind us like heavenly bodyguards watching over our lives.

But there is another side to this as well. While God protects us externally, we are also called to guard ourselves internally. Proverbs 4:23 says, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”

A bodyguard can protect us from outside threats, but he cannot choose what we allow into our hearts. We still have a responsibility for what we entertain, what voices we listen to, what bitterness we hold on to, and what influences we allow access to our spirit. The condition of our hearts eventually flows into every area of our lives.

So today, pay close attention to the small things you let in. Remember that sometimes the greatest danger is not what attacks us from the outside, but what we repeatedly allow inside. So take captive every thought (2 Corinthians 10:5) and choose to fill your mind with things above. (Colossians 3:2) Choose to forgive that person and don’t give the devil a foothold. (Ephesians 4:27) Life is too short, and the mission to share your light with the world is too important.

The Bigger Picture: Guard your heart, trust the Good Shepherd, and remember that God’s goodness and mercy are following you every step of the way.