Pray: Lord, Be My Protector and Nurturer Today

Do you feel all alone in the world? Even if you’re surrounded by people, do you feel like you have to take care of everybody else and nobody takes care of you? If so, then the prayer, “Lord, be my Protector and Nurturer today!” will help you.

It’s a fact that other human beings cannot meet our needs.

They certainly cannot meet all our needs ever. But sometimes, they can’t or don’t even try to meet the needs that they could meet. We live in a fallen world with sin all around us, and none of us are just exactly like Jesus yet. So we all fail one another from time to time–or even frequently.

Sometimes, however, when we feel very worn out, we just wish someone would nurture us, protect us, and take care of us.

That nurturing and protection will look different from person to person. For example:

• Maybe you wish someone would bring you chicken soup or tacos when you’re sick.
• Maybe you wish your spouse would tuck you into bed and say, “I’m going to take care of the children tonight. I’ll get them fed and put to bed. You just rest and go to sleep early. I’ll even walk the dog. You don’t have to worry about a thing; I know you’ve had a hard day, so I want you to get some rest.”
• Maybe you wish someone would know how badly you’re struggling, and they would send you to get a relaxing massage.
• Maybe you wish the Lord would send you some words of affirmation that would encourage your soul.
• Maybe you’re praying for some Kingdom helpers that are assigned to help you and shoulder up beside you for Jesus.
• Maybe you just wish that the people close to you would be kind, loving, and tender toward you, since they know you’re extra-sensitive right now.

The specifics of the exact “nurturing” and “protecting” that you long for are going to be different from the things for which someone else longs. The definition of “nurturing” and “protecting” will be extremely personal and specific from individual to individual.

But we all need nurturing and protecting. And when it comes right down to it, Jesus is the only One who can truly nurture and protect us in the way we all need.

And Jesus is both your Nurturer and Protector right now. You can call on Him as such, and He will manifest Himself to you.

If you are worn out and feel depleted, don’t despair. Don’t get down into self-pity, thinking about how so-and-so should do XYZ but doesn’t. Don’t feel sorry for yourself at all.

Instead, keep your eyes on Jesus and recognize that He can meet this need too.

In Psalm 17:8-9, David prayed this:

“Keep me as the apple of Your eye; hide me under the shadow of Your wings, from the wicked who oppress me, from my deadly enemies who surround me” (Psalm 17:8-9 NKJV).

With this heartfelt verse, inspired by God’s Holy Spirit Himself, David was crying out for help.

He was asking God to protect him and hide him from the worries, cares, and stresses of this world, as well as from his literal enemies. He was also asking the Lord to minister to his heart with His favor and lovingkindness.

David needed to be nurtured and ministered to, and he asked God to do it. The funny thing is that David was surrounded by people–but those people couldn’t meet his inner need. Only God could do that.

Beloved, do you need Jesus to nurture you, protect you, and minister to you today?

There’s no shame in it if so. We all need nurturing, protecting, and ministry.

Don’t forget that our natural habitat is the bosom of the Father, where we are never exposed to danger, sadness, lack, or depletion. But on this sin-filled earth, we are exposed to these things constantly. So we continually need Jesus to heal us and sustain us in these ways (and every other way).

Are you ready to ask the Lord to nurture you, protect you, and encourage your heart today?

If so, pray this simple prayer from your heart:

“Dear Heavenly Father, I come to You in Jesus’ name.

Abba Father, thank You for Your mercy toward me. Thank You for being the One I can depend on, even when I cannot depend on anyone else.

I praise You, for You are great, and greatly to be praised. You are the great King over all the earth. You are always able to help me, for all strength and power in Heaven and earth belong to You.

Dear, precious Jesus and Heavenly Father, I feel completely depleted today.

I need someone to nurture me and take care of me. I need to be re-energized for even the simple work of everyday life. I also need protection from the many cares of this world and stresses of life.

Dear Lord Jesus, please be my Protector and Nurturer today.

Keep me as the apple of Your eye. Hide me under the shadow of Your wings. I ask that You would pull me deeply into Your very own bosom right now, ministering to me and tending to me as only You could:

• Restore me with fresh breath and the fresh wind of Your Spirit.
• Heal and restore my soul.
• Show Your marvelous lovingkindness to me with signs, wonders, and miracles–both to me personally, and to all those I care about.
• Nurture my soul with Your comforting love and watchcare.
• Rise up and judge my enemies, fighting for me and winning every battle while I simply rest in Your bosom.

Abba Father, You are my Healer, Nurturer, Provider, Protector; my Shield, and my exceeding great Reward.

You are everything I need. And so I ask today, in Jesus’ name:

• That You would minister Your nurturing and protection to me in body, soul, and spirit today.
• Minister Your nurturing and protection to me by perfecting all that concerns me.
• Give me rest and healing in every part of my body, soul, and spirit.
• Work miracles, signs, and wonders on my behalf.
• Restore to me the years the locusts have eaten.

Thank You, Abba Father. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. In Jesus’ holy, wonderful, and precious name I pray, amen and amen.”

Friend, do you feel like you need nurturing today?

Then call upon Jesus. He will answer you, nurture you, and care for you–even if no one around you can or will.

Jesus can heal you everywhere it hurts. Jesus can restore and refresh you everywhere that you feel depleted. And Jesus can minister His love to you in just the way you yearn to receive it today.

Pray the prayer above in faith, and REST in His presence!

Did this simple prayer hit home with you today? If so, leave a comment below!