Porch Swing Prayer

“For you bless the righteous, O Lord; you cover him with favor as with a shield.”

Psalm 5:12

The wind is blowing. I’m watching the American flag in the neighbor’s yard dance proudly in the breeze. Actually, I don’t think breeze is the word I’m looking for. Breeze implies that it’s cooling in the heat of the day- this is not that. It’s not a slumberous, whimsical wind. It’s cold, it’s slightly too rough. Just enough to make you uncomfortable.

I wanted a warm spring day. I wanted sunshine and pollen-coated bumble bees buzzing in the background. But when I sat on the porch swing, I was greeted with this not-so-welcoming wind.

Rather than going inside, I brought a blanket out with me. I still sat on the porch swing covered in a fuzzy cocoon. I still drank my coffee outdoors. I still watched that flag whip in the dim grey sky. I still did exactly as I planned to do, I just did it with a blanket.

Jesus is a blanket.

Life rarely goes as we predicted. When we’re looking for a warm, sun-bathed swing kind of morning in life, but we are greeted with a inhospitable wind instead, we shouldn’t give up and go inside. We should cover ourselves with the assurance of Jesus.

Blanket yourself with the presence of God. We as Christians have work to do. God has plans for us. I would dare to say that those plans don’t look like the ones in our heads.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9

So when the days aren’t going as planned, when the wind isn’t comfortable, and when disappointment and discouragement try to creep up onto your porch swing, don’t give up and go inside leaving God’s most beautifully orchestrated plans out to accomplish themselves.

Put the love of God, the promises of Jesus, and the comforts of the Spirit on like a blanket and go outside.

You’re covered.

“The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety.” Psalm 18:2

He is my place of safety. That means no matter the conditions. No matter the surroundings. No matter the unexpected circumstances that didn’t go our way.

You are Jesus-covered. We have to learn to do things covered, not comfortable. If we are constantly waiting for comfortable circumstances, we will miss a lot of opportunities.

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Don’t miss your opportunity to love, serve, and bless someone even when it’s windy. Just grab onto Jesus as your blanket, your shield, your place of safety, and swing away.

With the proper blanket and perspective the chilly seasons of life can be enjoyable- beautiful even.

Take some time to reflect on how the current areas of your life that feel uncomfortable can be made better by just adding Jesus.

My porch swing prayer is that we grow in the ability to find cover in Jesus in every area and season of life.

Be Blessed!