Preserved for God’s Purpose

“Keep me safe, my God, for in you I take refuge” (Psalm 16:1, NIV).

The Lord is with us wherever we are: at home, at work, at church, while we’re shopping. He’s with us in our cars, on planes, on subways. David says that God is preserving us from evil, keeping us safe from attacks and disease — in short, God has promised to thwart every possible weapon formed against his children.

 “Rescue me, Lord, from evildoers … Keep me safe, Lord, from the hands of the wicked; protect me from the violent, who devise ways to trip my feet … I know that the Lord secures justice for the poor and upholds the cause of the needy. Surely the righteous will praise your name, and the upright will live in your presence” (Psalm 140:1, 4, 12-13, NIV).

At the beginning of this psalm, David calls on God to preserve him from violent men. The word David uses for preserve here means to protect from what is concealed, hidden, secret. God is telling us, “I have every area of your life covered, even things you can’t see. You can surely rest in me.”

If you have trouble accepting God’s desire to preserve you, read Psalm 37: “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the Lord upholds him with His hand” (37:23-24).

God is preserving you because he has a purpose for you. He has laid out a divine work ahead of you that only a tried, tested, proven believer can accomplish. The attacks on the World Trade Center back on September 11, 2001, engulfed our society in fear and resulted in lukewarm Christians crying out to God as never before. Today we face new issues that are causing people to pray, “Lord, put a hedge around me. Walk with me, guard me, keep your eye on all my steps.” And God, in his faithfulness, is doing just that!