Do not Fear!

I will strengthen you and help you
I will uphold you
with my righteous right hand.

Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name;
make known among the nations
what he has done.
Sing to him, sing praise to him;
tell of all his wonderful acts.
(1Chronicles 16: 8-9, Psalm 105)

It is good to be reminded that each day we need to put on the full armour of God, so that we can take our stand against the devil’s schemes.

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Therefore put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 

Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, 
with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 
and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 
In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 
Take the helmet of salvation 
and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.

Ephesians 6:11-17

 

Mizpah's prayer from Genesis 31 brings words of comfort to all people who have been parted from someone they love, and are missing them.

The oracle that Habakkuk received from God in answer to his complaint

How long O Lord, must I call for help,
but you do not listen?

Why do you make me look at injustice?
Why do you tolerate wrong?

(Habakkuk 1:2-3)

 

Jesus comforts his disciples and reassures all people that He is the way to the Father:

I am the way, and the truth and the life.
No-one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6)

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame and sat down at the right hand of God. 

Hebrew 12:2

Man will continue to make plans, but God works out everything for his own ends - in his own perfect time.

These words from Proverbs 16 offer the perfect reminder!

Amen

 

I remember my affliction and my wandering,
the bitterness and the gall.
I well remember them,
and my soul is downcast within me.
Yet this I call to mind
and therefore I have hope

(Lamentations 3: 19-21)

Where does my help come from? 

My help comes from the Lord, 
the Maker of heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot slip -
he who watches you will not slumber;
Indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.