Delighting in God’s Word and Living Under His Faithful Protection
March — for our family, has a way of packing the full spectrum of life into a few short weeks. Birthdays, celebrating God’s gift of breath; death anniversaries, reminding us that the Lord gives and the Lord takes away. Yet in every season, we bless His name.
Anchored is my focus word for 2026, whilst delight or delighting is the chosen word for March! To remain deeply rooted in God’s Word, learning to delight in it day and night.
Like a tree planted by streams of water, may we remain steady, nourished, and fruitful in His perfect time.
“Whose delight is in the law of the Lord… they are like a tree planted by streams of water.” — Psalm 1:2–3
Over the past few weeks, this phrase “apple of His eye” has appeared before me several times. So this week’s devotional thoughts are drawn from that beautiful expression.
Bible reading 📖
Acts 12:11 NIV
[11] Then Peter came to himself and said, “Now I know without a doubt that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from Herod’s clutches and from everything the Jewish people were hoping would happen.”
Reflections 🙌
In the above verse, when Peter realizes that his rescue is real and not merely a vision, his words carry both astonishment and quiet sorrow:
“Now I know without a doubt that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from Herod’s clutches and from everything the Jewish people were hoping would happen.”
That final phrase is striking. Peter himself was Jewish, as were most of the earliest followers of Jesus. Yet in that moment he acknowledges that many among his own people—particularly those aligned with the religious authorities—were hoping for his downfall.
This reflects the very path Jesus walked. Though He came first to His own people, many rejected Him, and those who followed Him often faced opposition from the very community they once belonged to. Peter’s words are not spoken with bitterness, but with the sober realization that allegiance to Christ can sometimes separate us from what once felt familiar and secure.
It brings to mind the call Jesus gave His disciples: to deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow Him. To truly follow Christ sometimes means releasing our grip on comfort, approval, or the hope that those around us will immediately understand our faith. We cannot carry the cross while still clinging tightly to everything that once defined us.
Yet even in this tension, the response is not despair or resentment. Instead, we continue to pray for those around us—family, friends, and communities—trusting that God, in His own wisdom and timing, is able to soften hearts and draw people to Himself.
As I reflect on this passage, I find myself delighting deeply in God’s Word and in the beautiful assurance it gives about how the Lord sees His people. In Deuteronomy and Zechariah, God describes His people as “the apple of His eye.” The Hebrew expression ishon ayin paints a tender image—the pupil of the eye, the most sensitive and carefully protected part.
Even though Peter’s experience here does not mention that phrase directly, the truth behind it still shines through. Though the world may oppose or misunderstand those who follow Christ, they remain precious in the sight of God. They are guarded, cherished, and watched over as the apple of His eye.
And Peter’s deliverance reminds us of something profound: no opposition—whether from rulers, crowds, or circumstances—can ultimately thwart the purposes of God. For those who call upon Him and walk faithfully with Him, the Lord will always make a way.
To live in this truth is to live with quiet confidence. Not arrogance, but assurance. Not fear, but trust. Because when we truly understand that we are the apple of God’s eye, we learn to walk through opposition, hardship, and uncertainty knowing that we are never outside His loving gaze.
Prayer 🙏
Praising God with Psalms 75 🙏
Psalms 75:1-10 NIV
[1] We praise you, God, we praise you, for your Name is near; people tell of your wonderful deeds. [2] You say, “I choose the appointed time; it is I who judge with equity. [3] When the earth and all its people quake, it is I who hold its pillars firm. [4] To the arrogant I say, ‘Boast no more,’ and to the wicked, ‘Do not lift up your horns. [5] Do not lift your horns against heaven; do not speak so defiantly.’ ” [6] No one from the east or the west or from the desert can exalt themselves. [7] It is God who judges: He brings one down, he exalts another. [8] In the hand of the Lord is a cup full of foaming wine mixed with spices; he pours it out, and all the wicked of the earth drink it down to its very dregs. [9] As for me, I will declare this forever; I will sing praise to the God of Jacob, [10] who says, “I will cut off the horns of all the wicked, but the horns of the righteous will be lifted up.”
To God be the glory always, Amen 🙏❤️
Idau Hahine 