Day 12: The Lord is With You
“Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.” (v. 17)
As Christians, God is always present in our lives.
We experience his presence in two main ways: the Holy Spirit within us and the word of God. The opening lines of John’s gospel reminds us that “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
When I need to be reminded of God’s presence while going about my day, I can either pray or recall Bible verses that I’ve memorized. Sometimes, I do both and blend them together.
Have you memorized Bible verses that speak truth and bring comfort?
As a child, I participated in a church program that focused on verse memorization; but, I’d been out of the habit for decades. In my mid-30s, I dealt with challenging health issues and daily chronic pain. I knew I needed to pick up the habit of memorization once again.
If it’s been awhile for you, too, or if you want to memorize a Bible verse for the first time, these were the ones I prayed hundreds of times during that season. They’re simple and applicable to all sorts of circumstances.
“Be still, and know that I am God.” – Psalm 46:10
“Do not fear, for I 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.” – Isaiah 41:10
“For God did not give us a spirit of fear, but one of power, love, and self-control.”- 2 Timothy 1:7
Praying God’s Word is always in alignment with his will. It’s a good way to refocus our thoughts and dwell on what is true, excellent, and praiseworthy. I hope you’ll give it a try!
Scripture reading: Philippians 4:4-9
Today’s encouragement: Commit a verse to memory today.
Prayer: God, I’m so thankful for your word, the truth it reveals, and the comfort it brings.