September 30th

Read: Psalm 27:14; Daniel 3:8-18 and Daniel 6:16

Whenever courage is required of us, whether in affliction, persecution, against unequal odds, with adversaries, giants, threat of death, moral wrong, even against religious leaders and trends of our day, we are promised strength for our hearts when we get as close as we can to God.

That word strength in the Hebrew means to be alert (physically on your feet and mentally in courage), to be steadfastly minded, to be established, fortified, to be strengthened in one’s self. Thinking of all these terms, when the Lord strengthens your heart He does all the following:

1. Makes you alert.
2. Stands you on your feet.
3. Establishes you where He wants you.
4. Fortifies you … think of the armor of God.
5. Makes you steadfast in mind.
6. Helps you to find inner strength.

These promises are ours if we meet the conditions … Wait upon the Lord and be of good courage.

Ezra, when facing his adversaries, said, “We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth.” (Ezra 5:11). He knew that his waiting upon God as a servant does, getting close to Him, was an insurance when meeting adversaries in that very service.

David, when Goliath challenged him, said, “I come to thee in the name of the LORD of Hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.” (Sam. 17:45). David knew that there was no giant greater in strength than his God.

ASSURANCE
“Fear not. I will help thee,”
He says to me each day,
“I will not forsake thee
Along the toilsome way.
Ever will I keep thee;
Yea, ever I’ll abide,
Even in the darkness
I will be thy guide.”

When my heart would serve Him,
My best He doth demand,
Yet when my best may fail Him,
He’ll always understand.
I go forth with courage
Because He holds my hand.
My life is for His purpose,
My hours His running sand.

Prayer: Dear Lord, draw me closer to You so that You might strengthen my heart for service to You.