“Let him lead me to the banquet hall, and let his banner over me be love” (Song of Solomon 2:4 NIV).

“She’s…” Our son choked on his words. “Here.” Ian paused, then added, “But she’s in the NIC unit. Please pray she’ll be okay.”

After hanging up from that 3 AM phone call, my husband Bill and I lay there in the dark. There was nothing we could do but pray.

And pray we did.

The next day, we were permitted to visit our third granddaughter—the little one our son and daughter-in-law named Maci Lynn. Our precious wee one, born six-weeks premature, rested in the loving hands of our heavenly Father.

Entering Maci’s cubicle, we witnessed the tubes and contraptions that kept her lungs pumping, her heart beating. I marveled at the medical miracle. If not for these scientific masterpieces, Maci likely wouldn’t live long this side of heaven. I breathed a prayer, “Thank You, merciful Father.”

Not able to hold her, all Bill and I could do was sit with Ian, offering support with our presence and silent petitions. Our daughter-in-law was hospitalized in a separate unit. She’d lost a lot of blood prior to the emergency C-section. Though stable, she’d not yet been released.

It was in the quiet of that space, with only the repetitive, rhythmic ticking of a monitor, I heard God’s whisper. Only a few feet away, Maci lay under a strong, protective plexiglass covering, a sterile shield from germs.

I’ve promised you My protective covering too. Each element is for your safety and those you love. Pray My full armor for Maci Lynn.

Of course. The full armor of God. I’d recently become familiar with a song by a favorite Christian artist. On her album, Lullabies for the Beloved, Christy Nockels sings of this particular truth—the armor that covers our loved ones and us head to toe.

With my phone, I searched for this melody, then—holding my device just over the plastic dome—hit play. Maci’s tiny body rose and fell with each breath as the lullaby filled the cubicle, Christy Nockels lyrics reminding us of God’s promised protection, that which Paul describes in Ephesians, chapter six.

Belt of Truth (Verse 14a)

“She’s not gonna make it. Look how frail. How peaked.”

I shook the snide voice from my mind, replacing it with truth from the Twenty-Third Psalm, The Lord is her Shepherd…

Satan is a liar, but this piece of God’s protective covering wields truth—the opposite of what our enemy offers.

In situations like Maci’s, we can easily be overcome with fear, held captive by Satan’s insidious lies, leading to discouragement and despair, threatening our intercession.

Satan’s lies are everywhere. One can’t turn on the television without being bombarded with both subtle as well as overt deceptions—that which tells us we’re not enough. Life isn’t precious. Sexuality isn’t sacred. One’s identity isn’t determined by a loving Creator.

We need our belts of truth to discern what is biblically right and wrong that we might stand protected against Satan’s lies.

Breastplate of Righteousness (Verse 14b)

Proverbs 4:23 tells us–

“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”

A breastplate protects one’s heart. With regard to Maci, Bill and I were susceptible, as were Maci’s parents, to discouragement. Her situation broke our hearts. Seeing her struggle, wondering if she’d pull through, was wearisome. But God called us to intercede on her behalf, and nothing hinders one’s prayer life more than feeling overwhelmed and afraid.

How about you? 

Have you been called to petition but feel stuck, bound by fear and anxiety? Put on your breastplate to guard your heart from discouragement, then press on. Find passages of scripture that can act as an anchor in this difficult season, replacing wrong thinking with right thinking. Yes, righteous thinking.

As Paul exhorts in his letter to the Philippians,

“…whatever is true and noble, what’s right and pure, whatever is lovely and admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things” (4:8–paraphrase).

Shoes of the Gospel of Peace (Verse 15)

Our footwear not only protects our feet, it carries us to those with whom God intends our paths to cross.

As Bill and I spent time with our granddaughter those six weeks, we had opportunities to be light to others. Jesus’s peace shines through His children, and I believe our presence made a difference.

Though there were times we felt afraid and lacked peace, our dependence on the Lord was our source of strength. Perhaps other frightened parents with little ones in the NICU heard Christy Nockels’ song as I played it time and time again. Maybe they saw us praying over Maci Lynn. I hope it made a difference, bringing encouragement.

And in our peace-depleted world, how can we continue to carry God’s peace to others? In our workplaces? Our children’s schools? In our communities? Yes, even in our churches and in our homes?

Put on your footwear and walk, praying about all the places God might be calling you to offer His peace.

Shield of Faith (Verse 16)

How we needed to hold on to faith as we waited and wondered regarding Maci. Some days, it seemed we white-knuckle gripped our shields while, on other days, we were able to hold more loosely.

In ancient times, a shield wasn’t merely a small piece of protective metal; rather, it was a full-length covering—yes, from head to toe. When gathered, soldiers would create entire domes of protection from the enemy’s flying darts, crouching together in military formation.

We know faith isn’t holding to that which is seen but what is unseen (2 Corinthians 2:5; Hebrews 11:1). Like the soldiers behind their collective shields who couldn’t see the racing arrows aimed their way but trusted their armor to do its job, we need to hold on by faith in life’s battles too.

Bill and I couldn’t see what was ahead with regard to our precious Maci, but we trusted her caregivers, believing they knew what they were doing. And we knew her heavenly Father loved her immeasurably more than us, and He had a plan.

God has a plan for each of us. So, hold tight to your faith, His protective shield surrounding you in all seasons, even in the dark when you can’t see ahead.

Helmet of Salvation (Verse 17a)

During this difficult time, it was easy to allow our thoughts to turn toward fear rather than stand in faith, trusting God with our sweet granddaughter. But He reminded me I needed to take thoughts captive, making them obedient to Jesus (2 Corinthians 10:5). Furthermore, I needed to apply the words from a favorite children’s song—“O, be careful, little eyes, what you see….”

If I simply looked at teeny-tiny Maci, my mind was flooded with what ifs, but when I chose instead to put on my helmet by singing songs of praise or claiming scripture promises, I was saved from what often felt like a pit of despair.

The same is true for you, friends. Your helmet of salvation is your protective head covering—helping guard your thoughts, despite what you see. It’s amazing what happens when we take our worrisome, troubled thoughts captive, replacing them with truth from God’s Word—whether spoken or in song, even long-ago Sunday school tunes.

Sword of the Spirit (Verse 17b)

Bill and I were promised protection from the enemy who came to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10). Not only did Satan want to steal our granddaughter, he desired to kill our faith and destroy our peace. But God called us to be light where Satan wanted darkness—yes, in the NIC unit of the hospital where so many were hurting, anxious, and afraid. Only by walking in truth—truth from God’s Word—could we allow our suffering to be used for good.

When we hold out our swords, wielding them in every battle by applying biblical truth to our circumstances, we will be victorious. This is a Kingdom strategy unlike that which the world appropriates, but it won’t go unnoticed. When others see and hear a Christian’s method of warfare, they can’t help but wonder from where such courage comes. Then we get to testify to the goodness—the faithfulness—of our loving, ever-present Father.

God’s Covering of Love

More than two years have passed since our regular visits to the NICU. Maci Lynn is two and thriving in every way. Looking back, that season is surreal, but I’m so thankful for it. It taught me more about trusting God, especially when things are out of my control.

I’ll continue praying the full armor for Bill and myself as well as for our children and grandchildren. After all, we need it more than ever in this dark age where Satan lurks, knowing his time is coming to an end.

And for the many whose stories don’t have the same happy ending–for the parent and grandparent whose little one passes away rather than thrives–please know: I believe God is present in each situation. His heart breaks at the many imperfections of this life, that which was never part of His plan, and He promises to bend low to comfort, as Psalm 34:18says.

Recently, I was reminded of a beautiful truth, no matter one’s particular circumstance. In Song of Soloman, the bride professes her love, adding that the king has brought her to his banquet table—a place of abundant joy. More beautiful than this, however, is the king’s covering, the protective banner he places over his bride.

Indeed, his covering of love!

An ancient military custom was for troops to gather under their specific banner, the covering representing safety within the commander’s guidance and careful watch. Banners were also used in gatherings like weddings, and they signified the groom’s love and protection for his bride.

How beautiful! To think Yahweh-Nissi (The Lord is my banner—Exodus 17:15) was there in that NIC unit cubicle as Maci Lynn lay under her protective, plastic cover, hooked to tubes and monitors. It was Him who spoke to my heart that day, asking me to play “Head to Toe” over our sweet grand-girl, covering her with His full armor through scripture song.

And Yahweh-Nissi is with us too, promising never to leave us, no matter how painful or dark our days. God’s Word is our weapon, and His protective banner is ours until the day we’re with Him, face to face.

Yes, His covering of love.

Thank You, merciful Father, for Your constant presence and Your promise to never leave. Your Word is our light in all darkness, a sword in every battle. We are grateful for Your full armor—each element for our protection and our good. May we be courageous in all life’s battles, bringing You glory until You call us home. Amen.

*(This appeared first on Alexis Goring’s “Devotionals for the Heart.”)*