Megan Evans, Women’s Ministry Director, LHBC
Isaiah 41:10 (CSB)
Do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be afraid, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you; I will help you;
I will hold on to you with my righteous right hand.
Back to school time is fun and exciting, but also a little weary as we send our kids out the door and into the world. With two children heading off to college this week and a high schooler that’s a new driver, my mama heart has needed reassurance that God is with them.
My head may know things, but sometimes my heart lags behind. In the emotion and worry that come with new seasons of life and new experiences, I find that I need constant reminders that God is near—that He is near to me and near to the people in my prayers.
Isaiah 41:10 tells us why we can rest in the peace of trust. I will hold on to you with my righteous right hand. What a safe place to live out our days! Your Word tells me that:
· You are with me.
· You are my God.
· You strengthen me.
· You are my help.
· You hold on to me.
When my children were young, the safest place for them to be in unfamiliar or unsafe surroundings was holding mom or dad’s hand. This verse is a beautiful reminder that they still have a protective hand leading them even when their mother and father aren’t present. We can pray these truths over the people in our life as well.
If you are like me, I can easily concoct 100 what-ifs and worst-case scenarios when I let my mind wander into the wilderness of worry. Yet God tells us, Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God.This verse is a wonderful reminder that it is God himself who helps us. He really hears. He really responds. He really helps. The letting go is hard for a lot of things in life, and this visible image of God’s mighty and victorious grip is reassuring. It helps us to both trust and entrust.
God is not telling us to ignore reality or to avoid our concerns, but to be wise and direct these thoughts straight to prayer and into His care. Praying scripture is a powerful way to disempower the enemy, both in the world around us and in our own thought-life. The Bible tells us to take our thoughts captive to obey Christ (1 Corinthians 10:5) and when stray thoughts enter our mind we can speak God’s Word over each one in prayer. I often have to ask God to remind me to do this, and that is a powerful place to start when we are having trouble letting go. God is faithful to counsel and remind us through the Holy Spirit. Are you experiencing any fear or anxiety today? What is one area of your life that needs more trust in God? Who does your heart need to entrust in God’s care today?
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Father God, you are my refuge and mighty to save. In obedience, I surrender my fear and worry at the cross today. You tell me not to be afraid and so choosing to sit in my fear and worry is disobedience. Today, I surrender my thoughts about _______. Instead, I put my trust in you Jesus. Thank you for your faithful care, watch, and protective hand. In Jesus Name I pray, Amen.
MEMORY VERSE FOR THE WEEK:
Galatians 3:28: 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave[g] nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.