Nov 15, 2025 – Guard
Our dressers sit in a short hallway between our bedroom and bathroom; and, so does Ranger when I’m in the bathtub or shower. I suppose other folks have dogs that guard them, but none of the five dogs I’ve had so far in my life have ever done that; so, this was new to me. I am apparently his flock. I call him a perimeter dog. He patrols the boundaries of the house and the yard looking out for potential threats to me, even if that threat is Don just walking in the front door. It sort of gives me a picture of what the Holy Spirit does in my life. He tries to warn and protect me, but I think many times I silence Him like I try to do to Ranger.
Prevail #319 – Larson’s devotion today speaks to this in a way. She points out, “What you look for, you will find; where your thoughts go, your life goes….even if they’re not true, your brain will begin to look for evidence to back up your mindset….” The Holy Spirit tries to lead us away from destructive thoughts and behaviors. He’s a guard, but we also have to guard our own hearts and renew our minds by “reading and memorizing Scripture” so the Holy Spirit can bring those Scriptures to mind and help us “guard against bitterness, unforgiveness, and offense…” because when “you believe the best about others and refuse to read between the lines, your whole life will be transformed. Your heart and mind are treasured gifts. Guard them with diligence. Life flows from those places.”
JC – “Approach problems with a light touch. When your mind moves toward a problem area, you tend to focus on that situation so intensely that you lose sight of Me.” We tend to forget sometimes that we have a guard watching out for us, wanting to help us and guide us. “When a problem starts to overshadow your thoughts, bring this matter to Me. Talk with Me about it and look at it in the Light of My Presence. This puts some much-needed space between you and your concern, enabling you to see from My perspective.”
Streams – Today’s devotions are not only speaking to me about how God guards us but also how He wants to guide us through difficult situations and hardships which is particularly timely as something has come to a head today that has been very troubling in the life of one of my loved ones. Cowman starts today’s devotion with two scriptures: “We were under great pressure. (2Corinthians 1:8)…so that Christ’s power may rest on me. (2 Corinthians 12:9)”
Cowman writes, “God allowed the crisis in Jacob’s life…until he ultimately came to the point of making an earnest and humble appeal to God Himself…. The Lord had to force David, through the discipline of many long and painful years, to learn of the almighty power and faithfulness of his God…. Nothing but the most dangerous circumstances in which Paul was constantly placed could ever have taught him, and thus the church through him, the full meaning of the great promise of God he learned to claim: ‘My grace is sufficient for you’ (2 Cor. 12:9). And nothing but the great trials and dangers we have experienced would ever have led some of us to know Him as we do, to trust Him as we have, and to draw from Him the great measure of His grace so indispensable during our times of greatest need.”
Power – Philippians 4:8 – “Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” Joyce quotes Robert Schuller, “The good news is that the bad news can be turned into good news when you change your attitude.” She writes, “And if you can’t muster up a good attitude concerning something you’re unhappy about, you can at least try to downplay the negative…. Talk as much as possible about your blessings and hopeful expectations, and it will increase your joy.”
