“That’s really red.” Cole frowned as he watched the colorful dopplar on our TV.
My eyes were also fixed on the flame-red blob in the middle of the TV screen, which unfortunately was moving directly over our city and the city north. Severe weather warnings flashed across the bottom of the TV while powerful rain-filled wind gusts pelted our windows. My phone chimed every few minutes with new tornado warnings.
The west coast of Florida was getting pummeled.
The steady movement of the storm front spreading relentlessly across Tampa Bay reminded me of my hubby’s side engineering business, hurricane shutters. As June 1st approaches, nervous homeowners – usually those along either coast of Florida – decide this might be the summer a Charley or Ivan could manhandle our state, and they take precautionary measures.
When I see the shutter projects spread out across Trevor’s laptop and desk, strange words and colorful plans jump out. Formulas, wind-born debris regions, design and engineering drawings, product approval installation instructions and the like make my head spin faster than a category 3 storm. I marvel at the detailed work involved and the lengths homeowners go to insure their homes are safe from the threat of a hurricane.
Aluminum slats, polyethylene screen, Polycarbonate, accordion shutters, roll-down shutters, Bahama shutters, storm panels, and impact glazing are some of the products used to keep dangerous elements outside and protect valuables inside. Homeowners are serious about protecting the physical investment of their money – their house.
Taking care of our earthly house – our physical body – is certainly important, too. Common sense in our daily life, being safe in our choice of activities and actions, exercising, and a balanced, fruit and vegetable-heavy diet all come to mind.
What about the valuables inside us – our heart and soul? How do we protect our “inner man” (Eph. 3:16, 2 Cor. 4:16)? God-shaped and designed to be filled only by our Creator, our heart and soul are too easily influenced – and damaged – by the storms of this world. They require protection even more than our physical body.
When we’re saved by faith in Jesus Christ, our heart and soul are home to God’s Holy Spirit. They are the very place God transforms our sinful selves into the image of His perfect Son, through active faith and humble obedience to Him and His word.
Our heart and soul need protective shutters just as Florida homes need hurricane shutters.
Only the strongest, most durable and well-tested material will protect our heart and soul for Jesus. Polycarbonate wouldn’t cut it and roll-down shutters would be ineffective. Instead, God’s word tells us to, “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil” (Ephesians 6:11).
Ephesians 6:13-18 contains just the right material for soul shutters.
“Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for the saints.”
God’s Word always provides perfect instructions and the best materials for faith-building and soul-protecting. Best of all, these heavenly soul shutters are stamped with the Master Engineer’s seal of approval.
Kerry Johnson 
A great post. I have never been afraid of storms, hurricanes, tornadoes, and the like. It’s the everyday things that sometimes get under my skin. It’s probably because when something huge is about to happen in the world, rarely am I in any position to do anything about changing it. Rarely anyone is. But, our daily grind, the way that we approach things, the way we are submitted to His purposes and His will… that’s something we can do. All too often, I know that I don’t take these simple verses to heart. I can survive the big things that come my way. I should be able to survive the smaller things, right? And that’s when I get tripped up, beaten up, and waylaid. Great post, Kerry. I wish it were a “garden” post =) , but even gardens need their share of rain and storms and their share of protectors, divinely inspired.
I’ve currently lost my green thumb. 🙂 I’ll find it again soon, I hope. 😉
And it’s the everyday things that tend to shake me up, too…God gently reminds me to give Him both the big and the small (seemingly insignificant) things in my life, so that I depend on Him for everything.
Thanks for stopping by. 🙂
So true! The armor of God helped protected me over the last 18 months. We had a storm today where rain came out of the trim around the window. I might have been leaking in lots of places during that 18 months, but God’s armor stood firm, like those shutters you talk about, not destroying the window to my soul. Wonderful post Kerry! Also perfect for my BIG Spring Storm Today! LOL
Thank you! Last week was our big storm week.
I endured a big storm a couple years ago that taught me to hide deeper and deeper in Jesus. He is faithful when everything around us is crumbling.
Thank you for stopping by! 🙂