Let's pray seek Lord Jesus Christ first with your attention, your affection, your surrender.

 Before we pray, let's first take a moment to listen to God's word and then we'll pray together. 

Jeremiah 29:13 says, "You will seek me and find me when you search for me with all your heart." This is a personal invitation from God's own heart to yours. He is not hiding from you. He's not distant, silent, or disinterested. 

He is waiting for you. God is saying to you right now, "Come close. Look for me and I promise you will find me." That promise is not given to the perfect or the religious. It's not reserved for people who always get it right. It's for anyone who is willing to search for God with their whole heart, with honesty, hunger, and humility.

 But here's the thing. So often we seek everything else first. We run to what we can see. We pour our energy into chasing things we think will fill us. 

Money, success, comfort, approval, relationships. We chase after the applause of others, the security of wealth, the illusion of control. We crave quick fixes and easy answers. But over time, those things wear us down. They demand more and give less. They promise satisfaction but always leave us thirsty. We get tired not just physically but deep in our souls. Because no matter how much we chase or gather or  accomplish, there's still a quiet emptiness inside. A longing that nothing in this world can touch. And that longing, it was placed there by God. 

It's not a sign that something's wrong with you. It's a sign that your soul was made for something more. 

So today, before you chase anything else, before you search for comfort, clarity, or control, I invite you to seek Jesus, turn your heart toward him. 

Whisper his name. 

Look for him not just with your words but with your attention, your affection, your surrender. 

God is the only one who can truly satisfy the hunger of your soul. 

The only one who will never fail you, never abandon you, never leave your prayers unheard. Call on the name that is above every other name, the name of Jesus Christ. 

Seek your safety under the protection of the lion of the tribe of Judah. Let him guard you like a warrior and hold you like a shepherd. Seek your rest in the arms of the Prince of peace. He is the source of it. Seek the God who was, who is, and who always will be unchanging, undefeated, and forever faithful. He is the one who commands thousands upon thousands of angels. The one who speaks and galaxies   obey. He holds the keys to life and death. And yet he bends down to hear you when you whisper his name. He says, "Call on me." 

So what are you facing right now? A decision? A disappointment? A heavy burden you haven't told anyone about? A fear that keeps creeping back?

Whatever it is, big or small, God wants you to turn to him. 

He is not too busy. He is not too far away. He is not waiting for you to figure it out first. He is waiting for you to seek him, to trust him, to let him be the one you run to first. 

Jeremiah 33:3 says, "Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know." Think about it. 

God doesn't just listen. He responds and not with ordinary answers. 

He promises to reveal great and hidden things, truths you could never discover on your own. 

He doesn't just offer help. He offers wisdom. 

He doesn't just provide relief, he provides revelation. 

The Bible says, "Call upon me in the day of trouble. I will deliver you and you shall glorify me." That's not wishful thinking. That is a covenant. 

He says, "When trouble comes, I will rescue you, and when l do, your heart will overflow with praise." 

These are living promises straight from the heart of our creator. 

They are spoken with power and they are meant for you. So if your heart is heavy today, if you're tired, discouraged, afraid or uncertain. 

Let your hope rise again. 

Let your heart be lifted. 

You are not forgotten. 

You are not overlooked. 

Your prayers are heard. 

Your tears are seen. 

Your future is held in God's hands. 

God has never failed to show up for those who seek him. And he never will. 

He is the God who met Moses in the wilderness. The God who lifted David out of despair. The God who gave strength to Elijah when he felt like giving up. And he is the same God who walks with you now. He knows how to calm your storm. 

He knows how to bring beauty from ashes. 

He knows how to heal what feels too broken. 

He knows how to answer prayers that don't even have words. 

So don't give up. 

Don't stop seeking. 

Don't stop knocking. 

Don't stop hoping. 

Don't stop praying. 

Because when you search for God with all your heart, you will find him. 

And when you find God, you will find everything. 

Now let's take a moment to pray together. 

Dear heavenly Father, you are holy. You are righteous. You are kind beyond words and your mercy has no end. 

There is no one like you. No one as faithful, as near, as good. 

You are God over the heavens and yet you care deeply for the details of my life. 

You are the King of kings, yet you call me your child. You hold galaxies in place yet you lean in when l call your name. 

As I continue in this sacred moment with you. I want to rest in the truth you've already spoken over my heart. 

That you are near. 

You are not far off or unreachable. 

You are not silent or indifferent. 

You are a God who sees me, hears me, and moves toward me with  compassion every single time l call. 

Thank you for the reminder that my battles are not mine to fight alone. 

You've said, "Be still and see the salvation of the Lord." And Lord, I want to believe that fully. 

Sometimes I try so hard to fix  everything, to make things work in my own strength. But your word tells me to stand still. 

To trust that you are fighting for me even when I don't feel it, even when I can't see it. 

You are the God who moves in the unseen, who brings deliverance when the odds are stacked and who never loses a battle. 

Thank you for being near even when l didn't recognize it. 

For standing beside me when I felt forgotten. 

For lifting me when I had no strength. 

For loving me on the days Istruggled to love myself. 

You've been faithful in ways l'll never fully understand. 

You've answered the prayers I couldn't even put into words. 

You've rescued me from places I didn't realize were pulling me down. 

You've been my peace, my strength, my courage, and my comfort. 

Truly, Lord, you are everything I need.

You are a good father. 

You are not stingy with your  goodness. 

You don't withhold love or joy or mercy from your children. 

You long to give freely, generously.

 Whether l come needing healing in my body, peace in my mind, direction for my future, or comfort in my sorrow, I know I will always find it in you. 

When everything else in life feels uncertain, you remain the unshakable  foundation I can stand on. 

So right now, Lord, I ask you, please give me more of you. 

I don't want just a glimpse. I want more than a glimpse.

 I don't want a moment. I want a daily relationship with you. 

I want communion with you. 

I want closeness with you. 

Let your Holy Spirit fill every part of me. Fill my thoughts, fill my desires, fill my emotions, fill my choices.  

Cleanse me from within. 

You go deep into the places I've tried to hide. 

You clean out the clutter I've carried for too long. 

You break down the walls I've built to protect myself. 

And you take away anything that keeps me from hearing your voice clearly. 

You tear out fear. 

You root up shame. 

You cast out anxiety. 

You replace it all with your peace, with your joy, with your strength. 

Fill every dry place with living water. 

Fill every anxious thought with   blessed assurance. 

Fill every hollow ache with your perfect love. 

Help me, Lord, to build a real deep relationship with you, one that breathes through every moment of my life. 

Walk with me in the mundane. 

Lead me in the storms. 

Be my counselor when I don't know who to turn to. 

Be my guide when I don't know where to go. 

Be my closest companion. The one l run to before anyone else. 

Heal the wounds I've carried for years. 

Touch the places where l've been disappointed, betrayed, or forgotten. 

Close the doors that were never meant for me to walk through. 

Break the chains that keep me looking back instead of forward.

 Restore joy where sorrow has settled too long. 

Speak peace over the parts of my heart that still carry pain. 

Make me whole again, Lord Jesus. 

I declare now boldly and in faith that you are greater than anything I'm facing, greater than my fear, greater than my past. 

Greater than my pain, my doubts, my limitations. 

Nothing is too hard for you. No battle too big, no question too complicated, no wound too deep. 

You are the God who lifts my head when I feel bowed down. 

You hold my hand when I feel lost, and you go before me when I'm not sure how to take the next step. 

Your word says I can do all things   through Christ who strengthens me. 

I don't always feel strong, but I know your strength is made perfect in my weakness. 

So today, I choose to walk in that strength. 

I surrender everything to you, Lord. 

My plans, my dreams, my fears, my expectations, my disappointments, my future. 

Take it all. 

I don't want control. 

I want your will. 

I don't want comfort. I want   closeness with you, Lord. 

I don't want safety. I want surrender. 

Make me bold in my faith, but keep me soft in my spirit. 

Let humility walk hand in hand with holy courage. 

Let my life reflect that I belong to you. 

Let my words carry your love. 

Let my actions point others to the one who changes everything. 

Let my heart beat with compassion just like yours. 

And Lord Jesus, give me courage that flows from knowing l am deeply,  unconditionally, eternally loved by you. 

Courage that rises up when I feel like hiding. 

Courage that says yes when you call me into something new. 

Courage to let go when you say release. 

And courage to hold on when you say wait. 

Let me not be crushed by anxiety. 

Let me not be overcome by fear. 

Let me stand firm in faith, knowing that goodness and mercy are following me every single day. 

I declare today that I walk in victory because of everything you've done.

 Because of the cross of Jesus, because of the blood of Jesus that was shed, because of the grave that was emptied, I will rise above every trap the enemy sets. 

I will walk forward not in shame but in grace, not in defeat but in power, not in confusion but in peace. 

Thank you Jesus for hearing every word of this prayer. 

Thank you for never turning me away no matter how many times I've come broken or tired or unsure. 

Thank you for always receiving me with love. In Jesus's precious and everlasting name, I pray. Amen. 

If this prayer has touched your heart, please say amen as a sign of faith. 

I pray that every blessing in this prayer is now upon you in the name of Lord Jesus Christ.

 May the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you always. Amen

Sing, 

Chorus:

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,

Look full in His wonderful face,

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,

In the light of His glory and grace.

1. O soul, are you weary and troubled?

No light in the darkness you see?

There’s light for a look at the Savior,

And life more abundant and free!

Refrain:

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,

Look full in His wonderful face,

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,

In the light of His glory and grace.

2. Thro' death into life everlasting,

He passed, and we follow Him there;

O’er us sin no more hath dominion--

For more than conqu’rors we are!

Refrain:

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,

Look full in His wonderful face,

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,

In the light of His glory and grace.

3. His Word shall not fail you -- He promised;

Believe Him, and all will be well:

Then go to a world that is dying,

His perfect salvation to tell!

Refrain:

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,

Look full in His wonderful face,

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,

In the light of His glory and grace.

THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN ISLAM AND CHRISTIANITY

 SESSION 1 

QUESTION 1: WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN ISLAM AND CHRISTIANITY? 

Part 1: Sharia or the Gospel? Two Different Solutions (read Preface and Chapters 1-4) 

Preface 

In his Preface Nabeel writes, "Both Islam and Christianity are monotheistic, believing there is 'no God but one,'but they differ fundamentally on who that God is: Allah or Jesus." What are the four ways that the words "Allah" and "God" are used by Muslims and Christians that may cause some confusion"? 

PART 1: SHARIA OR THE GOSPEL? TWO DIFFERENT SOLUTIONS 

Chapter 1 "The Way to Life" 

1. What are some surprising similarities between Islam and Christianity? 

2. How would you describe "the way to life" in both Islam and Christianity? What was your initial reaction to these two different ways? 

Chapter 2 "Comparing Sharia and the Gospel" 

3. What is the concept of prophet" in Islam and how is it different from that in Christianity? 

4. What is the Islamic solution for the problem of the human condition and how does it compare to the Christian worldview and solution? 

5. What are the Five Pillars of Islam that are the basic requirements of Sharia? 

6."So importantare the hadith that, after the Quran, they form the second rung of sharia." What are the hadith and how do they inform Islam? 

Chapter 3 "Questioning Grace" 

1. Nabeel is often asked an expected question,"If God just forgives all Christians and none of them go to hell, why would any Christian do good when they can sin all they want?" How would you answer this question? 

2. How would you answer a Muslim who asks,"How can God be just if he is willing to forgive serial killers and genocidal dictators? You're telling me Hitler could have gone to heaven if he had become a Christian?" 

3. How does Nabeel answer the common Muslim question, "How can Jesus die for the sins of mankind?" 

4. What reasons do Christians have to do good? 

Chapter 4 "Diagnosis and Deliverance" 

1. In spring of 2009, Nabeel volunteered with a humanitarian organization called Physicians for Peace helping with educating young mothers in the barrios of Santo Domingo. What was Nabeel's point in telling that story? 

2. According to Nabeel how do Islam and Christianity "diagnose" the spiritual condition of humanity? 

3. Nabeel makes three observations to support his view that"the gospel resonates with reality." What observation was most compelling for you? 

SESSION 2  

PART 2: TAWHID OR THE TRINITY? TWO DIFFERENT GODS 

Chapter 5 "The Islamic Inquisition" 

1."Tawhid teaches that Allah is absolutely one; and the conclusion naturally arose among some thinkers that since Allah is absolutely one, he cannot have attributes. Attributes would curb his absolute unity, being things he has as opposed to things he is." 

2. What theological problem did Tawhid create for early Muslim scholars regarding the Quran? 

3. What was the Mihna? What happened to Muslim thinkers who believed in the eternality of the Quran? 

4. What does bila kayf mean and how does it relate to the eternality of the Quran? 

5. What is the Sufi Muslim view, wahdat al-wujud that creates divisions among Muslims? 

Chapter 6 "Comparing Tawhid and the Trinity" 

1. What is the difference between "the eternal Word of God" in Islam and in Christianity and how does each faith have "a physical expression of God" in the world? 

2. Why is the idea-"person is not the same as being"-crucial to the discussion about Islamic Tawhid and the Christian Trinity? 

3. What are the five elements found repeatedly throughout the Bible that are best interpreted through the lens of the Trinity? 

 

Rejoice in God's Today

  Rejoice Today- Don't Let the Enemy Steal Your Joy 

"This is the day the Lord has made;we will rejoice and be glad in it." - Psalm 118, verse 24 

 Every sunrise is not just another routine-it's a gift. 

Now let's take a moment to pray together. 

Heavenly Father, you are a great and mighty God. You are my redeemer, Lord Jesus, the lamb who was slain and the king who reigns forever more. 

You are our deliverer, the one who broke the chains of sin and led us out of captivity into the freedom of grace. 

You are the one who speaks light into darkness, you speak peace into chaos, and you speak hope into despair. Light, peace and hope. 

And today, Lord, I come before you with a heart of gratitude, lifting up my voice in worship, as your word declares in Psalm 118:4, "I boldly declare, this is the day that the Lord has made, and I will rejoice and be glad in it. 

Father, I thank you for this new day. 

Thank you for the gift of life, for the very air I breathe, for the beating of my heart, for the strength in my body, and for the thoughts in my mind. 

Thank you for giving me the ability to praise you. 

Forgive me, Lord, for the times when I have failed to rejoice in the goodness you continually pour into my life. 

Forgive me for the moments when I have allowed complaints to overshadow gratitude. 

When I've let circumstances steal my joy instead of resting in your presence. 

Forgive me if I have ever treated your grace lightly or forgotten the price Jesus Christ paid for my salvation.

 Lord, I don't ever want to take you for granted. 

Holy Spirit, I ask you to help me when I feel overwhelmed. 

Life can often weigh heavily on my heart, but you are my helper and my comforter. 

When I feel trapped under the weight of my troubles, meet me where I am. When it feels like there's no end in sight, wrap me in your peace. When I feel like giving up, breathe new strength into me. 

Open my eyes, Holy Spirit, so that I can see the countless blessings God has already placed in my life. 

Help me to recognize his fingerprints in the little details and his faithfulness in the big moments. 

Lord, protect me from the negativity of this world. 

Guard my heart so that the bad reports, the chaos, and the darkness around me do not steal the joy you have planted within me. 

Remind me daily that I already have victory in Christ Jesus. 

As your word warns, the enemy comes only to steal, kill, and destroy. 

But I refuse to hand over my joy to him. 

I stand firm on the truth that Christ has already overcome. 

Your word says in Psalm chapter 119 verse 62, I rejoice at your word as one who finds great treasure. 

Father, thank you for your word which is more valuable than gold, more nourishing than bread, more refreshing than water. 

Thank you for the scriptures that provide me with comfort when I am anxious, that provide me with assurance when I am uncertain, and that provide me with hope when I am weary. 

Your word reminds me not to fear because you are with me. 

Your word tells me not to be dismayed because you are my God. 

Your word promises that if I trust in you, you will keep me in perfect peace. 

Your word tells me that you order my steps, that you go before me, and that you surround me with your presence. 

For every one of these promises, I have countless reasons to rejoice. 

So I pray, Holy Spirit, help me not only to read the word, but to live it. 

Plant it so deeply in my heart that it becomes my meditation day and night. 

Help me to recall it when temptation comes, to speak it when fear rises, and to believe it when doubt whispers. 

Make me a person whose lifestyle  reflects constant trust in your word. 

Father, I hold on to the promise of Matthew 21:22. ("If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.")

And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing you will receive.

Thank you, Lord, for such a promise. 

You care about the cries of my heart, the tears on my pillow, the silent prayers no one else hears. 

What a wonder it is that the infinite all powerful God is also my loving Father. 

For this, Lord, I will rejoice. 

I rejoice not only in answered prayers but even in the waiting because I know you are faithful.

I rejoice in your presence because it is better than life. I rejoice in your mercy because it renews every morning. I rejoice in your protection because you command your angels concerning me. I rejoice in your provision because you supply all my needs according to your riches in glory. 

Lord, thank you for health in my body, for peace in my home, for the gift of family and loved ones. 

Thank you for protecting me from dangers I never saw. 

Thank you for shielding me from attacks that never touched me. 

Thank you for you've opened and even for doors you've closed because you see what I cannot see. 

Thank you for every sunrise, for every quiet night, for every blessing big and small. 

Holy Spirit, help me to live each day with a heart that gives God glory and praise. 

Help me to live with joy that is not dependent on circumstances, but rooted in Christ. 

Teach me to cultivate a spirit of thankfulness. 

I declare that this is the day that you have made, Lord, and I will rejoice and be glad in it. 

Be blessed now and forever more, King Jesus.

All glory, honor, and power belong to you. 

In the mighty and precious name of Jesus, I pray. Amen. 

If this prayer has touched your heart, please say amen as a sign of faith. I pray that every blessing in this prayer is now upon you in the name of Jesus. And if you need a special prayer, feel free to let us know in the comments. We would be honored to pray for you. 

May the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you always. Amen. 

Before we pray, let's first take a 

moment to listen to God's word and then 

we'll pray together. 

Some mornings don't feel like a reason 

to rejoice. 

You wake up tired, weighed down, 

thinking about the battles you still 

have to fight. 

Life often tempts us to measure our joy 

by circumstances. 

A good report makes us glad. A setback steals our peace. 

But the Bible teaches a different 

rhythm. 

Psalm chapter 118 verse 24 says, "This 

is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it." The Bible doesn't say,"This is one of the many days or this is a day among others." No, it says this is the day. 

That means the day you are living in 

right now, this very moment, this sunrise, this breath is a divine gift 

straight from the hands of God. 

And because it comes from him, the only 

fitting response is to rejoice and be 

glad. 

Let me ask you a question. 

What else can you truly do but rejoice when you realize the creator of heaven and earth has granted you another day? 

What else can you do but be glad when 

you understand that this day was not promised to you but given freely out of 

his mercy? 

Every morning you wake up, you have been 

handed a fresh opportunity to live for God, to glorify his name, and to walk as 

his ambassador on this earth. 

l encourage you today, choose joy. 

Rejoice not because your circumstances are perfect, but because you belong to 

Jesus. 

As a child of God, you have access to strength beyond your own, peace beyond 

your understanding, and hope that cannot 

be taken away. 

You have the endurance to outlast the 

storm, the faith to withstand trials, 

and the power to silence the devil 

himself. 

All because you have Jesus. 

Now, think of the words of Jesus in John 

10:10. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

The thief does not come except to steal and to kill and to destroy. 

I have come that they may have life and 

that they may have it more abundantly. 

There is a spiritual battle over your 

joy. 

The enemy knows that if he can steal 

your joy, he can weaken your faith. If he can kill your hope, he can paralyze your walk with God. 

If he can destroy your peace, he can 

keep you trapped in fear. 

And sadly, I've seen it happen far too 

often. 

Believers who once walked with 

confidence in God suddenly burdened and 

defeated because the devil whispered 

lies into their hearts. 

But while the thief seeks to steal, 

Jesus came to restore. 

While the enemy tries to kill, Jesus 

came to give abundant life. 

A life marked by peace, joy, purpose, and hope. 

Even in the face of trials, 

I understand 

life can hurt. 

There are moments that wound deeply, 

situations that leave you feeling crushed, and disappointments that make 

you question everything. 

But in those moments, your reaction 

matters. 

You can let bitterness grow or you can 

run into the arms of Christ. 

You can dwell in discouragement 

or you can let the Lord heal you and 

lift you up again. 

The prophet Isaiah gives us a promise in 

Isaiah 40:31. 

But those who hope in the Lord will 

renew their strength. 

They will soar on wings like eagles. 

They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not be faint. 

That is what happens when you place your hope in God. He renews your strength. He lifts you higher than your 

circumstances. 

He carries you when your legs can't walk 

another step. He puts courage back into 

your heart when fear has drained it 

away. 

With him, you are not only able to 

survive life storms. You are able to 

soar above them. 

I may not know the specifics of what you're going through today. I may not 

know the weight on your shoulders, the questions in your heart, or the battles you are silently fighting. 

But what I do know is this. 

God has not forgotten you. His word 

speaks into your situation with clarity 

and hope. 

Listen to what he says in Jeremiah 29:1. 

For I know the plans I have for you, 

declares the Lord. plans to prosper you 

and not to harm you. Plans to give you 

hope and a future. 

That means even when you don't see the 

road ahead, God sees it. 

Even when your life feels uncertain, his 

plans for you are steady. 

Even when you feel like everything is 

falling apart, his purpose for your life 

is still intact. 

He holds the blueprint and he has not 

abandoned his work in you. So dear friend, rejoice. 

Rejoice not because everything is 

perfect, but because you have a perfect 

God. 

Rejoice not because you know all the 

answers, but because you know the One 

who holds them. 

Rejoice and be glad because the Lord has already gone ahead of you, preparing a 

way, shaping your steps, and writing a 

story of redemption in your life. Maybe right now your circumstances are 

heavy. Maybe the pain feels unbearable. Maybe you don't feel like rejoicing at all. But find just one reason today to rejoice. 

Maybe it's the fact that you woke up 

this morning with breath in your lungs. Maybe it's the fact that God has promised never to leave you. 

Maybe it's the fact that his mercies are 

new every morning.

Even in the darkest valley, there is 

always one reason to praise. 

And as you choose to rejoice, even in the small things, you will find 

that joy begins to grow. 

Gratitude will shift your perspective. 

Faith will rise in your heart. 

And you will discover that no matter 

what comes your way, you can face it 

with confidence. 

Because this is the day the Lord has made. 

So walk into this day with gladness. 

Speak life into your heart. 

Pray with thanksgiving. 

Worship even when it hurts. 

Declare God's promises over yourself and 

over your family. Refuse to let the enemy steal your song. Refuse to let your circumstances dictate your joy. 

Instead, anchor yourself in the unchanging truth. 

God is good. God is faithful. And God is 

with you. 

Yes, life will bring both sunshine and 

storm. 

But in both, you have reason to rejoice. 

Sunshine reminds you of God's blessing 

and storms remind you of his power to 

carry you through. 

Either way, you are never abandoned. 

So today, choose joy. This day, rejoice. 

This day, declare with all your heart. This is the day the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it. Now let's take a moment to pray 🙏 

together.

a love letter from the heart of God to his children

 Before we pray, let's first take a   moment to listen to God's word and then we'l pray together. 

Isaiah 41:10 says, "So do not fear, for l am with you. Do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." 

This verse is like a love letter from the heart of God to his children.

It isone of those promises that we can return to again and again when life feels uncertain, heavy, or overwhelming. 

And if you really pause to reflect, each line of this verse carries a depth of meaning that can sustain you in the darkest times. 

The first line says, "Fear not, for l am with you." 

What a declaration. 

God is not asking you to be fearless because circumstances are easy or because your own strength is enough. 

He is telling you not to fear because he himself is with you. 

Think about that. 

The creator of heaven and earth, the one who set the stars in place, who divided the seas from the land. That same God walks beside you. 

When he says, "l am with you," he is reminding you that you are never facing anything alone. 

Fear tries to convince you that you are surrounded by darkness, trapped with no way out. 

But God says, "Do not be afraid because l am there with you in the valley, in the storm, in the midnight hour. l am your light I am your shield." 

We are not talking about human help here. We are not talking about the protection of soldiers or the safety of locked doors. 

We are talking about Yahweh Elohim, the Alpha and the Omega standing at your side. 

When you know who is with you, fear begins to lose its grip. 

The second line says, "Be not dismayed, for | am your God." 

I love this line because it speaks so personally. 

God is not just saying he is a God. He is saying I am your God. 

He belongs to you and you belong to him. 

This means you never have to carry worry, anxiety or confusion by yourself. 

To be dismayed is to sink under the weight of life's troubles. 

To let your heart collapse under pressure. 

But God tells you not to be dismayed because he is more than enough for every need you have. 

Think of it this way. 

If your child is frightened in the night and you walk into their room, they don't stop crying because the dark has disappeared. 

They stop because their father or mother has arrived. 

Presence makes the difference. 

And the presence of God changes everything. 

Why should you be shaken by what hides in the shadows when the light of the world has promised to be your God? 

Then comes the third line. 

I will strengthen you. Be assured. I will help you. 

Oh, how reassuring those words are. 

God doesn't only command us not to fear or worry. He also promises to equip us with his own strength. 

He doesn't stand far off demanding that we hold ourselves together. 

He says, "I will put my strength in you. I will give you what you lack. I will help you when your legs feel weak and your hands grow weary. 

The devil is quick to whisper about your weaknesses. 

The enemy will remind you of every shortcoming, every failure, every place where you fall short. He wants you to live in shame and discouragement. 

But you can answer back with the word of God. 

Yes, I am weak, but l am strong in the Lord. 

Yes, I am limited. But God has promised to strengthen me and help me. 

It is written.

When your own mind tells you, you can't handle this, speak back to yourself with faith. 

I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. 

And then comes the final line of this verse, the part that takes everything to its highest point. 

I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. 

What does it mean to be upheld by the hand of God? 

To uphold someone is to support, sustain, and protect them. 

It is to carry them when they cannot carry themselves. 

God's hand is not like the hand of man. It is a hand of righteousness, which means it is pure, perfect, and filled with justice. 

It is a hand of power, meaning nothing can resist it. It is a hand of victory, meaning no enemy can prevail against it. And it is a hand of salvation, meaning it rescues, redeems, and restores. 

I often like to picture it this way. 

When the attacks of the enemy rise against me like a flood, the hand of God lifts me above the waves. 

When the weight of my own burdens  threatens to crush me, his hand holds me steady. 

When my strength fails, his hand carries me through. To be upheld by God is to be unshakable. 

So what does this mean for you in everyday life? 

It means that you don't have to live crippled by fear. 

It means you don't have to drown in anxiety. 

It means you don't have to crumble under pressure. 

Every time fear whispers to you, remember God is with me. 

Every time worry eats at your peace, remind yourself, he is my God.

Every time weakness pulls you down, declare, "He has promised to strengthen and help me." 

And every time the enemy attacks, lift your eyes to heaven and say with confidence, "The hand of God upholds me." 

So today, let this verse be the anchor for your soul when the winds of life blow against you. 

Walk in peace knowing that the Almighty God has spoken over you and rest because you are upheld by the strong and righteous hand of the Lord. 

Now let's take a moment to pray together. 🙏 

Lord, you are a mighty and all powerful God. 

l enter into your holy presence with a heart full of gratitude, knowing that every breath I take is sustained by your mercy and every step I walk is guided by your hand. 

Thank you, Lord, for your providence that continually watches over my life. 

Thank you for being my strong refuge, the place where I can run and find safety. 

I am thankful for your wonderful care and your tender mercies that are renewed every morning. 

Truly, Lord, if it had not been for your love, if it had not been for your  protection, where would I be today? 

And so, Father, I come before you seeking once more the covering of your powerful hand of protection   over my life, protection over my home, and protection over every member of my family. 

I know, Lord Jesus, that this world is not just flesh and blood. 

Your word tells me clearly in Ephesians 6 that I wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against rulers, against principalities, against powers of darkness, and against spiritual wickedness in high places. 

This truth reminds me that my strength alone is never enough. 

This truth reminds me that I desperately need you. 

It highlights the urgency for your  blood, the blood of Jesus Christ to cover me and shield me from every attack of the enemy. 

Lord, you have given me such a promise in Psalm 34: 7. 

The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear* him and delivers them. What a blessed hope.

(*the angel of the Lord is present with those who fear God, and He delivers them. This use of the word translated "fear" implies deep respect and reverence, not terror. ) 

What a comfort to know that you send your angels to encamp around me. 

Thank you, Lord, that I am not left vulnerable. 

Thank you that I do not face the enemy unprotected. 

I pray now that your angels would encamp around my home, around my family members, around our going out and our coming in. May every doorway, every window, every corner of my dwelling be covered by your divine presence. 

Let the fire of the Holy Spirit be a wall around me, keeping me safe from  harm. 

Father, strengthen me inwardly so that I may be able to withstand the storms of life. 

I know trials will come. I know   challenges will rise daily. Yet you have promised that your grace is sufficient. 

Give me, Lord, the spiritual stamina to resist discouragement, the boldness to reject fear, and the courage to walk forward in faith even when circumstances appear dark. 

When the enemy comes like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour, remind me that the lion of Judah is stronger, and that victory is already mine in Christ. 

Grant me the power to overcome, Lord. 

Give me your peace that surpasses all understanding. 

Do not allow fear or anxiety to take root in my heart. 

Teach me to cast every burden at your feet and to rest in the confidence that you are fighting for me. 

And so with assurance I put all of my trust in you. 

Your word declares in Psalm 3:8. Salvation belongs to the Lord. Your blessing is upon your people. 

Indeed, Lord, your blessing is upon me. It surrounds me like a shield. 

It goes before me and follows after me. 

And for this I rejoice. I rejoice in your salvation, Lord. 

Even in seasons of difficulty, I wil lift up a song of thanksgiving. 

Even when the road is not clear, I will lift up my voice in praise because I know that you hold my future. I will give thanks in all circumstances   because you are good and you are working all things together for my good. Lord, I thank you that my steps are ordered by you. 

I thank you that nothing in my life escapes your knowledge. 

I thank you that I can approach the throne of grace boldly because the blood of Jesus has made a way for me. And I have confidence that when l pray according to your will, you hear me. 

So today, Father, I say thank you. Thank you for being good to me when I did not deserve it. 

Thank you for being patient with me when I failed and stumbled.

Thank you for carrying me when l was too weak to stand. 

Thank you for never giving up on me. Even when I wanted to give up on myself, I pray Lord that I will always abide under the shadow of your wings. May I never wander far from your presence but remain close to you, secure in the shelter of the most high. Let my lips continually confess. 

You are my refuge.

You are my fortress. 

You are my God and in you I trust. 

Lord Jesus, you are faithful. 

You never change and your promises never fail. 

And because of this, I believe with all my heart that you will strengthen me and protect me from the evil one.

I thank you today for peace, the peace that only you can give. 

I thank you for blessing me with a calm spirit when the storm rages. 

I thank you for blessing me with a heart that is not troubled but steady in your word. 

Grant me the grace, Lord, to face my mountains without fear. 

Let me look at every obstacle, every giant, every red sea before me and declare that my God is greater. 

Let my confidence rest not in my  abilities but in your power. 

Let my faith rise in the knowledge that you will deliver me and protect me from all harm. 

And so, Father, I close this prayer with gratitude once again. 

In the mighty name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.