Heavenly Father I praise You that I live with the wisdom that there is the world I see and the world around me that I don’t see. I praise You for the lessons You taught me early in life that give me the confidence that You and Your Holy Spirit are right beside me and that according to Your word, there are angels encamped around me and others who serve You. This does not mean I will not face trials and tribulations, but it does mean that as long as my faith stands, I can walk through all that and be victorious. Help me today to take command of my morning and day and shake all the evil from it. Help me to be faithful in prayer as Daniel and Joseph were so that I can face anything that is thrown my way.
Holy Spirit help me to heed the illustration that was set forth by Nehemiah and his followers. It says, “After that day, half of my servants did the work while the other half handled the spears, shields, bows, and body armor. Commanders were appointed to support every house of Judah. Those rebuilding the wall and those hauling the loads were working with one hand doing the task, but with the other hand holding the weapon. For the builders, everyone had his sword bound to his side, even while rebuilding. The trumpet blower worked beside me.” And the example of Elisha: “When a servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, a force surrounded the city both with horses and chariots. And this servant said to him, ‘Alas, my master! What will we do?’ And he said, ‘Do not be afraid, for there are more with us than with them.’ Then Elisha prayed, ‘Lord, open his eyes and let him see.’ So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw that the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire surrounding Elisha.” [Nehemiah 4:16-18; 2 Kings 6:15-17] Help me to always keep my sword [the Bible] close to me and Your word hidden within my heart. Help me to remember that as I stand prepared and ready I am not alone and that You are with me in the presence of my enemies. Help me to draw from my experiences in life like the time a devil worshipper threatened to kill me at college and I quickly claimed the blood of Jesus as my protection and they ran away as fast as they could to never be seen by me again. Each work day I walk into prisons and know that at any time someone may try to attack, maim, or kill me yet I am secure in two ways, I have been well-trained to protect myself and there are others to help protect me and my eternity is secured so that I know I am in the palm of Your hands at all times. I am thankful for Your protection and promptings that have saved me on more than one occasion. I know that I will always live with the reality I must be prepared to do all I can but with the wisdom that You will intervene if and when it is needed. I no longer fear death for it is just a doorway to eternity and it is just part of life. This gives me the confidence to live. I also know that I must be a prayer warrior so that I can protect those who are truly building the kingdom of God daily in our community, state, country, and the world. I will be faithful to my assignment and use the weapon I have honed the most, prayer. I will try to be faithful to fast and pray as much as I can to intercede and to pray for healing, protection, and wisdom for others as well as myself.
“Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift my soul. See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; your walls are continually before me. God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth gives way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at the break of day. Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts His voice, and the earth melts. The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Come and see the works of the Lord, the desolations he has brought on the earth. He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear, he burns the shields with fire. “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I shall rescue you, and you will honor Me.” I will call daily as the watchers on the wall did for King David and claim Your promises and be vigilant watching for trouble or evil that tries to attack Your children. Help me to be faithful in this while I pray. In Jesus’ name, Amen. [Psalms 143:8; Isaiah 49:16; Psalms 46:1-11; Psalms 50:15]