Devotional Fuel to Reboot Your Mind

Hebrews 13:20-21, “Now may the God of peace – who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep, and ratified an eternal covenant with his blood – may he equip you with all you need for doing his will. May he produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to him. All glory to him forever and ever! Amen.”

How do you become equipped to handle the many challenges in your life? Where do you go for answers? God declares in Isaiah 55:3, “Come to me with your ears wide open. Listen, and you will find life. I will make an everlasting covenant with you. I will give you all the unfailing love I promised to David.” God supplies divine provision for our needs, “equipping” us through His Word which teaches us what is wrong in our lives, correcting us, and instructing us to do what is right. As 2 Tim. 3:17 declares, “God uses it to prepare and equip the people to do every good work.”

Prayer is the second tool God uses to equip us. God greatly used the prayers for me by my mother, that helped mature and stimulated me to grow in Christ (1 Thess. 3:10). Is there someone you are praying for? Keep on keeping on as your prayers God hears and will use. Next, fellowship within the local church is also a tool God uses to equip us, as Ephe. 4:11-12 teaches where believers are cared for spiritually. The Holy Spirit has given each Christian spiritual gifts for building up the local body of Christ.

The third tool God uses to equip us is in trials. Our sufferings He uses to perfect us. “In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation.” 1 Peter 5:10. Every trial will have an end. Yes, the pain may be intense, but cling to the promises of God such as this verse declares.

“What a difference it would make in our lives if we would turn Hebrews 13:20-21 into a personal prayer each day. “Lord, make me perfect in every good work to do thy will. Work in me that which is well-pleasing in thy sight. Do it through Jesus Christ and may he receive the glory.” Be Confident. Live By Faith, Not By Sight. Hebrews. Warren W. Wiersbe, page 181.

Remember, each day, God is working to make you into the person He wants you to be, the kind of person that pleases Him, so you can serve Him and be of benefit and help to others you encounter, being fully equipped with the needed tools to go in the right direction, even if you feel you are limping along. Jesus shed His blood (eternal covenant) for you on the cross providing complete forgiveness for your sin and complete victory over the Enemy if you are a genuine Christian. Ask the LORD to quiet your heart. Seek contentment in every situation. Have a humble heart. Hope in the LORD now and always (Ps. 131). No, you are not perfect, no one is. Keep moving in the direction of being more Christ-like as God works within you (2 Thess. 1:11). Now may the God of peace produce in you the changes He desires so you can be fully equipped to better serve Him and others for God’s glory.

Listen to TrueSong, All Things.

Psalm 131: 1-3, “LORD, my heart is not proud; my eyes are not haughty. I don’t concern myself with matters too great or too awesome for me to grasp. Instead, I have calmed and quieted myself, like a weaned child who no longer cries for his mother’s milk. Yes, like a weaned child is my soul within me. O Israel, put your hope in the LORD – now and always.” NLT.

Psalm 131 is extremely short yet powerful. I have recently been encouraged to read it in the morning, throughout the day, before going to bed at night, and before going into various situations with other people in life’s experiences. This Psalm needs to be read out loud.

David had learned true contentment. He reached a point in his life where the pressures to succeed no longer consumed him. “Failure and despair don’t haunt him. Anxiety isn’t spinning him into a free fall. Regrets don’t corrode his inner experience. He’s not stumbling through the minefield of blind longings and fears. He’s quiet.” Seeing With New Eyes, David Powlison, pages 75,76. David experienced a range of emotions, including pressure, joy, courage, and heartache, and faced threats to his life and betrayal from time to time. Yet, his faith and trust in his creator and great Shepherd brought him peace of mind, quietness, and a sense of tranquility. He was quiet before God, quietly waiting for God to speak. He was quietly submissive, whereas in times past he had been driven by pride and selfish ambition. His humble faith he describes as that of a weaned child, yet not old enough to care for themselves. Therefore, he had positive confidence in his “hope in the LORD – now and always.“

Pride often trips us up and steals our peace and joy—pride leads one to overvalue oneself and undervalue others. Romans 12:16 admonishes us to “Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all.” The origin of feeling inferior to others is actually haughty pride, which leads one to say, “I’m right. I want to feel good about myself.” Isn’t that what the world tells us we should do? Did you realize that fear of rejection can lead to not treating others with mercy? Sins of envy, hate, grumbling, and criticism take root when you look down on others and judge them. David had conquered this, which we read in Psalm 131, and so must I.

David quieted himself, as Psalm 62:1 states, “I wait quietly before God, for my victory comes from him.” Think about quieting your mind right now. Let it all go as you give each pressing item to the Lord that has kept you on edge. Let any failures go, committing them to the Lord as well. We all have regrets. Pray about everything. Philippians 4:7, which describes complete composure and a peaceful perspective which says, “Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” You don’t have to know it all.

When we experience a Holy Spirit-filled quietness within, we no longer need to prove ourselves to others because we are living to please Christ. Ask God to fill you with His perspectives. Serve God and others. Seek Jesus. Dying to irritable, fretful ways is a journey. It does not come easy. Being easy going in one’s personality or having low expectations or indifference is not the answer biblically. It requires resting and depending upon God’s promises and having contentment with God’s leading in our lives This self control mastery is learned by the grace of God.

Psalm 131 is radical. I wish I had known better the words of this Psalm when I was younger. It is a very short Psalm to read, yet the longest to learn. Quote it to yourself every day. Make it part of your conversations with God. Make it your model to strive for in battling pride, reject arrogance, and have quiet contentment before our great and mighty God. Grow where God has placed you. Do your best for God’s glory, trust in His justice and compassion, and leave the results with Him as you put your hope in the LORD.

Listen to Abide (Lyrics) ft. Aaron.

1 Peter 5:8-9, “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are.”

Lions are known as masters of stalking their prey by moving slowly and approaching at an angle to use their intensely strong bite force to sever the vertebrae in the neck. The female lions, lacking a mane and having an overall slimmer profile, can camouflage with their surroundings and take positions such as left, right, and center, when they hunt in a group. They give up and don’t waste their energy on unsuccessful pursuits, often giving up after one or two failed attempts. Yet they are inactive for about twenty hours a day, and their activity generally peaks after dusk. They attack victims who are alone or not alert in looking for another animal to devour. Keep this picture in your mind when you mistakenly feel all alone in your trial, are suffering or being persecuted. Seek other Christians for support and put in place James 4:7, “So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

Peter wrote 1 Peter, possibly in Rome. Romans imported lions from Mesopotamia and North Africa, which were used in Roman amphitheaters. Later, lions became extinct in Italy and Western Europe. The point Peter is making is that when we are feeling alone and focused on our troubles, we forget to watch for danger and are vulnerable to Satan’s attacks, who “prowls around like a roaring lion.” Peter would say that he had been there, who had experienced great moments and great defeats. He knew the adversary was real and called him a roaring lion.

There is violence and turmoil all around us, which has been prophesied in the Bible. Jesus tells about His return in Luke 21:25-33. He says that nations will be in chaos. People will suffer anxiety due to uncertainty concerning the difficult situations they find themselves in. Division is all around us and is heightened by being manufactured by our media and governments. But we have God’s provisional promise in 1 Corinthians 10:13, “The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.”

We need to be alert and have Christ’s perspective on every situation. Ask Him to give you His eyes and His wisdom in how to respond. Stand firm in your faith in Christ. Hold onto your integrity and put on Galatians 5:22-23, “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!” Which one do you need more of? I can name several for myself. These character traits are how we can become more like Jesus. We need more of that today. Remember our greatest weapon is Scripture, worshipping and praising our great Lord and Saviour, and prayer. “Since prayer binds Satan, he suddenly realizes his plan is backfiring and he flees.” Jon Courson’s Application Commentary New Testament.

Prayer and worshipping and praising our LORD is what Jesus did. He didn’t run. Instead, He gave Satan a Bible study each time the devil came His way (Matt. 4:4-10). So, fight against discouragement, feeling defeated, and ineffective, by praying, worshipping Jesus, and giving Him praise. This is the greatest weapon we have that will backfire and remove the prowling lion, Satan, from us, because he will flee. Jesus told Peter, the one I find most relatable, to “Follow Me.” We must do the same. Continue to impact people for the kingdom.

Listen to MercyMe – Sing (Like You’ve Already Won)

1 Peter 5:6-7, “So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” NLT.

I recall my early days in the workforce, when I was preoccupied with recognition and status, constantly comparing myself to the more established and experienced sales reps on my team, wanting to be at the top. Others may be concerned about being complimented for their efforts and endeavors in other areas, just as I was concerned about my position and status, which increased by the way, when I started to pray, “make me of benefit.” But Peter advises and points out that God’s recognition of us is more important than human praise. Peter teaches that at the right time, in due time, God will lift us up in honor. But it requires us to be humble in God’s presence. The Amplified Bible states it this way, “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God [set aside self-righteous pride], so that He may exalt you [to a place of honor in His service] at the appropriate time.” Humility is the key that unlocks the sin of a prideful self (1 Peter 5:5) as it declares, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Then we read in James 4:6, “And he gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” When we act pridefully, we are acting self-centeredly and thinking we are superior. That is when we feel we deserve what we want. But God demands that we be obedient and humble before Him, and then He will see that we are honored in one way or another from our obedience, faith, and trust in Him to provide.

Besides the importance of humility, in 1 Peter 5:6-7, Peter also deals with worries and cares – anxiety. We all face daily stresses and struggles. Yet if we lived out our faith in the sovereignty of God and depend on Him to do what we cannot do for ourselves, all the while depending on Him to enable us to do what we need to do, this should be our prayer. God is holy, merciful, eternal, and is over all that exists in authority and power. Yet He gives us free will to make our own choices. Ephesians 1:11b states, “. . . according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will.” And Proverbs 16:4 declares, “The Lord works out everything to its proper end – even the wicked for a day of disaster.” God cares about you-1 Peter 5:7.

It all goes back to the heart, and what we need to “put off” and “put on” when it comes to worry and feeling anxious. Give it all to God. I find it helpful to write down my thoughts in a journal. Humility is needed in laying it at Jesus’s feet and committing it all to Him. Discouragement is Satan’s tool to divert our attention away from our great Shepherd. So, we need to “put off” worry, as Jesus said in Matthew 6:27, “Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?” Then “put on” trust as it says in 1 Peter 5:7, “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares for you.” You might have to do that repeatedly as you pray. There is something bigger going on here as God is developing a deeper relationship within you as you pray due to that burden flooding over you again. Keep on keeping on being humble under the mighty power of God who will at the right time lift you up in honor. Keep casting your burden onto Him. Then it is in God’s hands for the outcome.

Listen to MercyMe – Oh Death (Official Music Video).

Mark 11:25, “But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.”

Colossians 3:13, “Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.”

How do you react when you find yourself in a situation where you believe you are right, and another person is wrong? The person may be displaying domineering and dictating words. Maybe they are a manipulator, intimidator, and you were offended. You heard your own perspective in the offensive situation first, in being annoyed, right? It might have gone deeper and caused you to feel rejected. Fear and despair may have set in. But when you look up the word “offended” in almost any dictionary source, the definition always has to do with anger and resentment, which we know as Christians is wrong and sinful. So, can I get to the point and forfeit the right to be offended? It comes down to being obedient in putting off (Mark 11:25) having an unforgiving spirit and putting on (Col. 3:13) a forgiving spirit when seemingly hurtful and overly critical words are said to us. Jesus taught and warned us in Matthew 6:14, “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.” How would you say this speaks to being offended by someone? What are we entitled to? Can we choose not to be offendable? That seems like such a stretch sometimes.

Sinful and hurtful people hurled spiteful words at Jesus on the cross. Yet He never sinned and declared, “Father forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” Luke 23:34. Jesus had compassion on the people responsible for His suffering and prayed for their forgiveness. Some believed and others remained living as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny was destruction and is a fact for all those who deny Christ. What lesson can we apply from this today?

Will I trust God to handle all my frustrations and quit rehearsing in my mind what that other person did or said to me, as Psalm 46:1 promises, “God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.” Then verse 11 commands, “Be still, and know that I am God.” Let God have the last word, as Brant Hansen, (Page 79) said in his book, “Un-Offendable” – “I’m not responsible for changing people’s lives. I’m responsible for faithfully loving them. As a believer, that means pointing them to a God who dearly wants them, and for whom I happen to know they yearn.” Forgive, as God’s mercy and grace have forgiven you. Pray for the salvation of those who have offended you and that the gospel will be heard, known, and understood by the working of the Holy Spirit.

So “put off” an unforgiving spirt and “put on” a forgiving spirit. Let God worry about the wrong you’ve suffered. God does not require a probationary period when He forgives us – remember that. Be renewed in God transforming (Rom. 12:1-2) your heart and mind into a new person that is being continually sanctified in becoming more like Christ. Let Christ fill the holes in your heart with love, and removing any vengeance and selfish pride. Seek to be a peacemaker, and when you pray remember the warning in Mark 11:25 and Colossians 3:13. May you too say, No more! No more being offended-release that burden. Let go of hurts, abandon grudges, resentments and anger, and forgive others. Replace your thoughts (recognize who they are coming from) with Biblical truths such as, God knows your name (Isaiah 43:1), Mark 11:25, and Colossians 3:13. Then say out loud, “Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are my constant guide.” Ps. 119:98.

Listen to Mercy Me – Always Only Jesus (Official Live Video).

Romans 8:24-25, “For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.”

Romans 15:4, “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”

Romans 15:13, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

What comes to your mind when you think of the word “hope?” What are you hoping will happen this week? How will you respond if this doesn’t come to pass? No one is exempt from struggles and discouragements. This is life. Waiting for essential answers in circumstances such as seeking medical advice, facing financial need, waiting for the outcome of an exam, or dealing with a pressing need at work, in our family, or even with political outcomes, all involves having hope. I think of Jonah, who ran from God because he had no hope in the assignment that God had given him to do in ministering to the wicked and ungodly people in the city of Nineveh, that was the rising power of the day. So, he ended up having a lot of time to think while being swallowed by a great fish. It gave him time to reflect on God’s mercy, repentance, and compassion for all people, rather than wanting to die (Jonah 4:3). Similarly, it is the same for us when we are “in the wait” and patiently enduring the need for encouragement. Yet, if we remember what God has done for us in the past, we can be reassured and have greater confidence in trusting Him to do it again. That is our hope for what we cannot see as we wait patiently.

Paul teaches in Romans 15:4 that one can find hope and encouragement in the Scriptures. Have you found a verse or portion of Scripture that you go to see the “hope” that you need?

“Perfect endurance demands just that – perfection – and since none of us is there yet, we must look outside ourselves for hope. Your hope of enduring is not to be found in your character or strength, but in your Lord’s.” David Paul Tripp. It takes perseverance to rest on the promises of God, as found in His Word. It is by God’s grace of endurance granted to all in calling you what He calls you to be between right now and when you go to be with Him.

We have faced financial challenges, physical hardships, and employment fluctuations. During one of those heartbreaking instances, when I was in despair and felt loneliness, I found hope through God’s grace in my weakness, in Psalm 119:92, “If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction.” So my prayer then became, “Teach me Your Word during this season of my life like I have never known it before and make this verse my testimony when I emerge from this place.” That is the verse that God taught me to have hope in His Word to meet my needs, gave me the strength I needed, and that trials provide an opportunity to draw upon divine power because He is my shield. God met me in the midst of a specific situation and sustained me through it because of that biblical truth.

God’s Word makes us wise. But we have to apply the knowledge to transform our life in God’s way and perspective. Intelligent people are not necessarily wise. True wisdom comes from applying biblical truths found in God’s Word. For example, Ps. 119:98 states, “Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are my constant guide.” You may want to write that verse down (NLT version) for easy reference. The Bible gives instruction, counsel, and guidance for every need we are waiting for answers to give us hope in what we do not know, see, or have. So then, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13.

Listen to Brandan Lake – The Great I Am Can (Lyric Video).

Romans 8:26, “And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Siprit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will.”

Have you had any instances this week where you didn’t know what to do in a situation? You had a concern but were not sure of the proper action to take or what was ahead, so you had some uncertainty. I have had this more frequently, it seems. I confess I don’t always know how to pray or what to pray in each conflictive situation due to my own weakness. But Scripture tells us it is not about the what, but about the who?

What do you think of when you think about the Holy Spirit? The roles of the Holy Spirit are available to us as Christians. We are not left to our own abilities to handle problems. He is our resource available to us 24/7. Don’t know how or what to pray? He is praying for you and with you. Ask Him how or what you should pray for in that concerning situation you are going through, or someone in your family is going through, or a dear friend. The Holy Spirit leads us to repentance, into truth, into love, into holiness, gently, so we realize we are nothing without Jesus. Romans 8:14 declares, “Because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.”

We are given an example of how David prayed in Psalm 86:1, as he said, “Bend down, O LORD, and hear my prayer; answer me, for I need your help.” Then he went on to ask for protection, mercy, and happiness, for God to teach him, cleanse his heart, and show him God’s favor, and to give him strength and comfort. That about covers what I often need. How about you? The book of Psalms is a collection of psalms written by individuals expressing their honest feelings with God. They had feelings of despair, but rose to joy and praise as they grasped the power of God’s everlasting love and forgiveness.

As you go about your day, sing this verse from Psalm 84:11, “For the LORD God is our sun and shield. He gives us grace and glory. The LORD will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right.” Remember, you are not alone. God knows your name (Isaiah 43:1) and goes before you (Deut. 31:8). Don’t know what to do now? Repeat to yourself this verse, “And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will.” Romans 8:26. Ask the Holy Spirit to intercede for you and to give you the right words to pray in harmony with God’s will. You are strong in the LORD. Fight back with the Word of God. Now trust Him.

Listen to Phil Wickham – Song Of The Saints (Acoustic).

1 Corinthians 13:13, “And now these three remain: faith, hope, love. But the greatest of these is love.”

Paul defines real love in 1 Corinthians 13. He teaches that love is patient and kind. In comparison, it is not jealous, boastful, proud, rude, and does not demand its own way. It is not being irritable and does not keep a running list of when being wronged. Never rejoices in injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance (1 Cor. 13:4-7), because God is still on the throne, and is able to deal with any situation (Heb. 4:13). Ultimately, God is who we are accountable to above anyone else.

No matter if one is exceptionally gifted in many areas and has even won various awards for their outstanding accomplishments, this passage teaches that every Christian needs to show a considerable amount of love to others because of their love for God. As Paul stated in 1 Corinthians 8:1b-3, “But while knowledge makes us feel important, it is love that strengthens the church. Anyone who claims to know all the answers doesn’t really know very much. But the person who loves God is the one who God recognizes.” NLT.

“If love for God is not the practical driving force of my life, love of self will be.” Paul David Tripp. It goes back to the greatest commandment, “And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength.” Deut. 6:5. It requires resting in God’s control, not in one’s own control, and having compassion to act with kindness and empathy to others, as Leviticus 19:18 and Mark 12:31, which Jesus reiterated and taught, “Love your neighbor as yourself. No other commandment is greater than these.”

So, the question then becomes, is my love for God the practical driving force of my life, or is it my love for self? Paul taught the most excellent way, as taught in 1 Corinthians 13, which is summed up in the last verse, “These things will last forever – faith, hope, and love – and the greatest of these is love.” Faith reminds me that my sins are forgiven because of what Jesus did for me on the cross, and He sits on the throne with God. Hope looks to the future when Jesus returns to take us home to Heaven, so there’s nothing for me to worry about in the future. Love tells me I am in the presence of Jesus, my great Shepherd (Ps. 23).

For “the man who loves God is known by God.” 1 Cor. 8:3 NIV. God, my prayer is, may your thoughts be my thoughts today, as I show grace unselfishly to others as You have shown and given grace to me. May I model 1 John 4:7-8, which states, “Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.”

“Only the person who has put his past behind him through the power of the Cross, only the person who looks forward to the future through the promise of heaven can truly love in the present.” Jon Courson’s Application Commentary, New Testament. That is the most excellent way.

Listen to Phil Wickham – Song Of The Saints (Official Lyric Video).

Psalm 7:10, “God is my shield, saving those whose hearts are true and right.”

The word “shield” is found 51 times in the King James Version of the Bible and 71 times in other translations. We have various types of human shields for protection, such as Webroot on our computers or other antivirus software. Then we have SPF lotions to protect us from UV rays. Seat belts protect our bodies while driving from injury in the event of a crash. But we have a greater, more powerful shield of protection against spiritual warfare, protection in adversities, of divine protection in our faith in God to be our great Shepherd in overcoming challenges, due to our salvation in Christ and the gospel. As Ephesians 2:8-9 states, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.”

In Genesis 15:1, God told Abraham not to be afraid, as He said, “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield.” As God was a shield to Abraham, He will be a shield to you. God will stay with you through any trial. Here are a few other verses referencing God as our shield and protector:

• “The LORD is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me.” Ps. 18:2.
• “God’s way is perfect. All the LORD’s promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look, to him for protection.” Ps. 18:30.
• “The LORD is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.” Ps. 28:7.
• “We put our hope in the LORD. He is our help and our shield.” Ps. 33:20.
• “For the LORD God is our sun and shield. He gives us grace and glory. The LORD will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right.” Ps. 84:11.

God is saying, “I am your shield. I am your protector. I am your defender. I am your provider. I am your strength.” Be still before Him and seek intimacy with God. You are not alone. Nothing is hidden from God. He knows our thoughts (Ps. 7:9), whether they are sinless or not. Lay it all out before Him, whatever you are anxious about. My list keeps changing and growing every day. How about yours?

“Every word of God proves true. He is a shield to all who come to him for protection.” Proverbs 30:5. Are you needing some protection right now from having temptations of doubts, anger, or despair? “Hold up your shield of faith to stop the fiery darts of the devil” which Ephesians 6:16 instructs. Then pray as David did, in Psalm 7:10, “God is my shield, saving those whose hearts are true and right.”  His feelings then moved from fear to confidence in his faith in his knowledge of God, and he was filled with God’s presence. Yes, you are in God’s presence. Remember that throughout your day, which will help break the habit of fear. Set your eyes on God and not the current problem. Trust Him to help you through any weaknesses and follow Him because He is just and faithful and is your divine shield.

Listen to Ben Fuller – Walk With Me (Lyric Version).