August 13, 2025 Devo

“Sun and shield. Grace and glory.” Think about those words for a few moments today. One commentator I read said that the “sun” represented restoration. When the sun comes up, it’s a New Day. It’s a New Beginning. It’s a chance to start over. No more walking in the dark. No more living in fear. No more hiding in shame. The brightness of the morning means you can start over. You get a second chance. You leave behind the person you were in the past. You are now a New Creation.
And with that idea, it’s no wonder that we see the corresponding word “grace” in that same context. It is only by God’s Grace that the sun comes up. It is only His Grace that erases the darkness and brings about a New Day. Our sins and our failures, like the darkness, aren’t just covered up. They are DISPELLED. They are removed, cleansed, forgotten. The darkness may be black and bleak, but the sun of God’s Grace is greater. No matter how long we’ve been in the dark, it’s morning. No matter what we did in the dark, it is forgiven and forgotten. If you woke up today thinking that maybe God’s given up on you, you’re wrong. The sun reminds us that God’s restoration work never stops in our lives, and His mercy is new EVERY MORNING.
But with our New Beginning, there is also another gift from God. It is His Presence. He is our “shield.” Though we are starting over, afresh and anew, we are not walking alone. Our God goes before us. He sees what’s coming and can guide us accordingly. He is our Protector and watches over us each step of the way. He repels the arrows of the Enemy who seeks to distract us, discourage us, and destroy us. Our Adversary is strong and cunning, but “greater is the One who is in us than the one who is in the world!”
That gets us to that last word that connects to the word “shield.” “Glory.” Glory refers to the radiance of God. It is the reminder that the sun not only shines down upon us, but it also reflects from us. We who have received grace should reflect grace. We who have been so wondrously forgiven should wondrously forgive. We who have been so undeservingly blessed should bless those who are also undeserving. Just as a shield bore the emblem of the king, our lives should shine with the glory of The King.
“Sun and shield. Grace and glory.” Which of these words speaks loudest to YOU today? Which do you need? Which will you BE? That’s God’s Word for you today.