June 1, 2019

  And they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee; for I am with thee, saith the Lord, to deliver thee (Jer. 1:19).
 
    This is not a promise of no trouble, but a promise of God's presence in trouble; not a promise of no battle, but a promise of victory in battle; and, above all, a promise that the Lord will be with us.  Daniel was not kept out of the den of lions, but the angel of the Lord was with him there.  Joseph was righteous, but he went to prison just the same.  Was it worth it?  Yes.  The scriptures say, "The Lord was with Joseph" (Gen. 39:21).  Where?  In the prison.  The three Hebrew heroes were not kept out of the fiery furnace, but with them in the fire was "the form of the fourth...like the Son of God" (Dan. 3:25).
 
    The enemies may roar like lions and be fierce as ravening wolves, but we are not to be "afraid of their faces" (Jer. 1:8).  God has promised to be with us; therefore, with the apostolic writer we may boldly say, "The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me" (Heb. 13:6).
 
                                God has not promised skies always blue,
                                Flower-strewn pathways all our lives through;
                                God hath not promised sun without rain,
                                Joy without sorrow, peace without pain.
                                But God hath promised strength for the day,
                                Rest from the labour, light for the way,
                                Grace for the trials, help from above,
                                Unfailing sympathy, undying love.
                                                                        __Annie Johnson Flint
 
 
MEDITATION PRAYER:  "Draw nigh unto my soul, and redeem it: deliver me because of mine enemies" (Ps. 69:18).