Don’t Forget Your SonScreen
I finally did it! I went to Florida and did not come home with some part of my body blistered or hurting. How did I do that? I actually followed the directions about applying my sunscreen. I did it before I was out in the sun. I made sure I covered everywhere. And I reapplied as needed.
Sometimes in the past, I fully deserved to be burned. I just couldn’t be bothered with sunscreen. At least once, I had a spot down by my ankle that somehow I missed when applying the sunscreen and wound up blistered and hurting. Still other times, there were other factors like wind and sand burn that made the situation even worse.
You may be wondering why you are reading about sunscreen on a faith-building blog, but as a former Sonshine Singer, I couldn’t help but change the vowel in Sonscreen in my mind as well and I think there are some very strong applications that can be made in our lives.
If I “just can’t be bothered” to apply Sonscreen by spending time in the word, I shouldn’t be surprised when sin has a negative and hurtful impact on my life. If I am living like the world, I will have the same consequences as the world, both here – in the form of brokenness from sin – and in eternity. John 12:48 says, “The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day.”
Even when I am trying to protect myself against the Devil and his “fiery darts,” there are times that I will miss something. That’s why James admonishes us to be steadfast in our faith so that it can “have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” (James 1:4). I think there is a reason that the full armor of God covers a Christian from helmet to shoes! (Ephesians 6:10 ff.)
And then there are those times in life when I am doing my best to fully rely on God and take shelter in the shadow of His wings (Psalm 17:8), but Satan is throwing all of these other factors at me trying to find an area I have left unprotected! Those still hurt, so what do we do then? We go back to the word for comfort for “your Father knows what you need before you ask him” (Matthew 6:8). He is the God of all comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3) and the One Who heals: Jeremiah 17:14 “Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved, for you are my praise.”
Apply your Sonscreen according to God’s directions:
Be proactive by hiding God’s word in your heart: “I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” Psalm 119:11
Completely cover yourself in God’s word and His love: “He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.” Psalm 91:4
Reapply when trouble starts to seep through: “Return, O my soul, to your rest; for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.” Psalm 116:7
To Receive Every Article from A Legacy of Faith through Email for Free, Click Here
AUTHOR: Amber Tatum
