SYNOPSIS: What an encouragement for you today: “The Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.” That means God’s trustworthiness is flawless—he will always do what he says he will do, he will always strengthen you to meet every challenge that you will face, and he will even protect you from the overwhelming evil that Satan wants to unleash in your life. If you’re in a jam and no one is around to encourage you today, strengthen yourself in the Lord and by faith, express gratitude for God’s unfailing promise to strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.
Project 52—Memorize:
2 Thessalonians 3:3
But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.
What an encouragement that promise ought to be for you today: God is faithful. That means his trustworthiness is flawless. It also means that he always does what he says he will do, including giving you the strength to meet every challenge that you will ever face in life. And it even means that he will protect you from the overwhelming evil that Satan plans to unleash against you and your loved ones.
Yes, God is faithful, God will strengthen you, God will protect you from the power of the devil.
Do you believe that? It may be that your confidence in God’s faithfulness, his promise of strength, and his perfect track record of protecting you from the Enemy’s harm is waning if you are facing a battle, or in the thick of one as we speak. If that is the case, then let me encourage you to do as David did when it seemed he was on the verge of devastating defeat: He strengthened himself in the Lord. (1 Sam 30:6)
So how can you strengthen yourself in the God who promises to strengthen you for the battle? One of the most powerful ways is to simply meditate on God’s promises. How do you meditate? Practice reverse worrying. When you worry about something, you think about it all the time. So simply choose to constantly think about God’s promises until your confidence in him returns—and it will if you do this.
Allow me to give you fifteen Biblical promises of strength and protection that you can turn into reverse worrying:
- Genesis 15:1 — Don’t be afraid, for I am your shield and your very great reward.
- Deuteronomy 31:6 — Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.
- Psalm 3:3-5 — But you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high. I call out to the Lord, and he answers me from his holy mountain. I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me.
- Psalm 17:8-9 — Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings from the wicked who are out to destroy me, from my mortal enemies who surround me.
- Psalm 23:1-7 — The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
- Psalm 32:7 — You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.
- Psalm 34:7-9 — The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them. Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. Fear the Lord, you his holy people, for those who fear him lack nothing.
- Psalm 121:7-8 — The Lord will keep you from all harm—he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.
- Proverbs 18:10 — The name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.
- Isaiah 41:10-13 — So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. All who rage against you will surely be ashamed and disgraced; those who oppose you will be as nothing and perish. Though you search for your enemies, you will not find them. Those who wage war against you will be as nothing at all. For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, “Do not fear; I will help you.”
- Isaiah 43:2 — When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.
- Isaiah 54:17 — No weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and this is their vindication from me,” declares the Lord.
- Nahum 1:7 — The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him.
- Ephesians 6:10-15 — Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
- 2 Timothy 4:18 — The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
If you are in a jam and no one is around to encourage you today, strengthen yourself in the Lord and by faith, express gratitude for God’s promise to strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.
When a man has no strength, if he leans on God, he becomes powerful. ~D.L. Moody
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