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God’s word is filled with promises of hope and provision for His people. I am not suggesting that the hope and provision was a thing of the past – or that it was only offered or provided to those of Jewish heritage. While God certainly loves the Jews, He also loves the Gentiles who are God-followers. God seems to be way more interested in the hearts and minds of people than He is about their heritage.

If God’s word is filled with stories of God’s generosity and provision towards His followers, and if God’s word also lists promise after promise of God’s blessings for His chosen, why then aren’t we claiming those promises over our own lives and the lives of our loved ones? My guess is, we can’t claim what we don’t know. How can I remind God of His Word when I don’t actually know what His Word says?

I wouldn’t say that I know a lot about prayer. I do know that there are plenty of examples throughout both the Old and New Testaments of the Bible where men and women cry out to God (pray) and God’s heart is moved into action. I love that many of those prayers are documented in the text. Why? Well, if there is any way to deepen my walk with the LORD, and grow my intimacy with Him – I want to know about it. I want to do it. There is no other relationship more worthy of investing my time and energy into.

From what I can tell, God is not offended when we remind Him of what He says. In fact, it seems to have quite the opposite effect. When we remind God of His word, in the midst of circumstances that seem counter to the word, it’s almost as if we are reminding all of creation that it must fall subject to what God says. Things change. My heart and mind fall in line. Anxious thoughts must flee. I am reminding myself and others that I am not relying on myself or mankind to save, but relying completely on the LORD God.

God hasn’t changed. He will not change. He has no reason to change. He is holy and perfect. People change as we learn and grow. We change to make ourselves better. God has nothing to learn. He already knows all things. God doesn’t grow. He doesn’t need to make Himself better. He cannot “improve” Himself because there is literally nothing to improve upon! He is righteous, holy, perfect, and always good.

This is why God’s word will stand. It cannot be “improved upon.” To alter the Word of God is to assume that God’s ways – God’s words – were incomplete or incorrect – which runs counter to God’s very nature.

And so we find ourselves in the midst of yet another crisis. Whether our crisis is personal or global really doesn’t matter. Our way of standing against the crisis is the same. We are to use the “sword of the Spirit” as our weapon to fight. What is the sword of the Spirit? It is the Word of God.

We must know what the word says, and the promises and encouragement that it holds. There is power in it. God’s power.

“Those who trust in the LORD are as secure as Mount Zion; they will not be defeated but will endure forever. Just as the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds His people, both now and forevermore.” (Psalm 125:1-2) This is a promise for those of us who trust in the LORD! Claim it! Speak it aloud. Remind God of His promise to protect and surround you.

I’d like to remind you of another passage of scripture that I love. It was a part of my morning reading today. “I look up to the mountains – does my help come from there? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth! He will not let you stumble; the one who watches over you will not slumber. Indeed, He who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps. The LORD Himself watches over you! The LORD stands beside you as your protective shade. The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon at night. The LORD keeps you from all harm and watches over your life. The LORD keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever.” (Psalm 121) Did you feel the intensity of God’s love and protection for you? Did you catch that God is not napping through your crisis? He sees. He knows. He is your helper. He is your protector. His promise to meet our needs holds true.

Blessings!