Heavenly Father, I pray as the Psalmist did long ago and say: I lift up my eyes to the hills—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let my foot slip—He who watches over me will not slumber; indeed, He who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord watches over me—the Lord is my shade at my right hand; the sun will not harm me by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep my soul from all harm—He will watch over my life; the Lord will watch over my coming and going both now and forevermore. I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, And in His word I do hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning—yes, more than those who watch for the morning. [Psalm 121; Psalms 130:5&6]
Holy Spirit, You inspired Habakkuk to write: The Lord is my strength; He will make my feet like deer’s feet, and He will make me walk on my high hills. And you inspired Nehemiah to say: Then he said to them, “Go your way, eat
the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is our strength.” [Habakkak 3:19; Nehemiah 8:10] So, not only is God our strength, but He is our joy, which is also our strength. Help me to glean the wisdom here today that I can only face a dark, sinful, despairing world if I have Christ in my heart. With him, I have a joy that can not be destroyed by people, situations, storms, destruction, war or Satan. My hope and my joy are the foundation that keep me strong, sane, and prepared for my life with Christ in eternity. Nothing can take that from me. Help me to live a life worthy of this gift and to live with eyes wide open to all the wonder, miracles and love You dispose upon us every day. Help me to learn to be like a child be amazed by the simple, the honesty of life and to live with a joy that holds me together when I am assaulted from all sides by hate, words, depression, apathy, anger and most of all sin. Teach me to be strong and to sit at the table and eat with You in the midst of my enemies, whether they are flesh and blood or
principalities. Help me to use forgiveness, grace, and mercy as tools for humility so that I may be as open and clean before Christ as possible. Thank You, Jesus, for sending the Holy Spirit to dwell in this body which is a living temple to guide me, give me wisdom, feed my soul, and provide me with living water to sustain me every day I walk this earth. In You, I trust and find my joy, which makes me strong. Amen.