Watcher, Keeper, Protector, Guardian

Who can be ALL of these things: Watcher, Keeper, Protector, Guardian?

 The Lord of course! Reading Psalms 121 today in 4 different versions of the bible, gave me just a hint of a different perspective of our Lord today!

 He is called our Lord and that He is where our strength comes from in all four versions. However, just when I needed to remember, that we are all different, and we hear/learn differently - I see the "same" verse in four different ways. Of course - this gave me a MEF (minds eye flash) with each of them.

 Verse 3
NLT (new living translation) - He will not let you stumble; the One who watches over you will not slumber.

 MSG (the message) - He won’t let you stumble, your Guardian God won’t fall asleep.
Not on your life! 

GNT (good news translation) - He will not let you fall; you Protector is always awake.

ESV (English standard version) - He will not let your foot be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber.

What I saw when I read each version:
NLT - as a parent watches over a child while they play, I see our amazing Father "watching" over us. The sky is blue like an eye, and ALL we can see is just the one section of His eye. I see the clouds in the sky and picture His "eyes" as the sky and clouds watching/looking over us. He is our Watcher. Then as the clouds move, I picture that as His eyes looking everywhere, all around us. "Watching" those around us too.

MSG - as a guardian/parent I saw more of a hug. I see God as the one hugging and holding us as we move about our day, yet giving us room to breath and freedom to make choices. He isn't suffocating us, but actually allowing us to breath all on our own. Then I see His arms, like a big hug and a big side-arm hold. 

GNT - I saw Him as a body guard walking all around us all at the same time as right beside us. Always on the alert for things around us. Ready, willing and able to protect us at any given second. I see a BIG ginormous gladiator type 'guard' all around, in every direction I look, He is there. Like a big bubble of sorts that I am in the middle of.

ESV - wow, this one was a bit different. I see us being held in His hands like a treasure! Keeping us close to His heart at all times. Holding us near and dear, close to Him - keeping us safe and yet open. 

I like the promise in each of these, that He NEVER sleeps! He never wears out from attending to and watching over us. He is always there to guide and protect us in our day as well. He doesn't 'fall asleep' - ever!! Wowzers!! 

So, I just had to laugh at myself/us! How often does He watch us and roll His eyes? Or shake His head? In humor as well as in concern? For me, it is daily! LOL 

Today, I pray that you see, hear, and feel God watching, keeping, protecting,, and guarding you. The bible doesn't say we will 'not' face hard things, but that in those hard things, He IS right there with us! In it,, through it, and past it. That is pretty darn awesome!! I'm praying you KNOW our Father in heaven is ALL of these things to each and every one of us, you AND me! Be well, be safe, and be blessed!!


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