January 14

‘May the LORD bless you and keep you; — Num 6:24 BSB

How we need the Lord to keep us! We stand on slippery ground. Snares and traps are set for us everywhere. Every job, every profession, from the highest to the lowest, has its own special temptations. No matter how simple or highly educated someone may be, there is always a snare ready to bring about their downfall—unless God keeps them.

When Elisha was on the mountain and his servant was terrified that Elisha would be taken by force, the prophet prayed for the Lord to open his servant’s eyes. The servant then saw chariots and horses of fire surrounding the mountain to guard the prophet. If the Lord were to open our eyes in the same way, we might see demons where Elisha’s servant saw angels, and see ourselves surrounded by the legions of Beelzebub just as he saw the flaming hosts of heaven.

So, it should be the constant prayer of our souls: “The Lord keep me.” Keep me by His providence; keep me by His grace. Keep me by planting His fear deep in my soul and maintaining that fear alive and active in my heart. Keep me when I’m awake; keep me when I’m asleep. Keep me by day and by night, at home and abroad, with my family and with my friends, in the world and in the church. “The Lord keep me”—this should be our daily prayer. Keep me as the apple of Your eye, Lord! Those who know their own heart and understand the devices of Satan, who are aware of the snares laid for their feet, know deeply how much they need this blessing: “The Lord keep you.” And He will keep us, for the righteous are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation, and the Lord promises that He will keep the feet of His saints.