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Today’s meditation is from “The Weekly Faith Project,” a journal to cultivate genuine faith, edited by Zondervan.

Faith is allowing God to define who you are. Not the world. Not family, friend, or enemy. And who does God say you are? You are His own treasured possession (1 PE 2:9), His lavishly loved child (1 JO 3:1). He knows every hair on your head and every tear you cry (LK 12:7, PS 56:8). He writes your name on the palm of His hand (ISA 49:16). God knows you, and He calls you “Mine.”

But now, this is what the Lord says—he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. [Isaiah 43:1]




























The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.  [Psalm 46:7]

Written by the Lead Like Jesus team, an organization founded by Ken Blanchard and Phil Hodges that promotes a transformational leadership model based on following Jesus.

When we trust in the name of God, we are trusting in God’s character, believing Him to be who He says He is and trusting Him to act in line with His word and promises. When we pray in the name of Jesus, we are trusting in Jesus’ character as the Son of God who opened the way into the Father’s presence for His disciples. We are taking Him at His word, believing that through Him we have been given new life and new hope by the Spirit. Who are you prayerfully and actively trusting in today?

And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.  [John 14:13-14]



























The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.  [Psalm 46:7]

Written by A. W. Tozer (1897-1963), an American pastor, author, magazine editor, and spiritual mentor.

Whatever God can do, faith can do; and whatever faith can do, prayer can do when it is offered in faith. An invitation to prayer is, therefore, an invitation to omnipotence, for prayer engages the Omnipotent God and brings Him into our human affairs. Nothing is impossible to the Christian who prays in faith, just as nothing is impossible with God. This generation has yet to prove all that prayer can do for believing men and women. 

Nothing is impossible with God. [Luke 1:37]


























The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.  [Psalm 46:7]

Written by George Mueller (1805-1898), a Christian evangelist and founder of the Plymouth Brethren
Movement.

Faith doesn’t operate in the realm of the possible. There is no glory for God in that which man can do. Faith begins where man’s power ends.

Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. [2 Timothy 2:16]

























The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.  [Psalm 46:7]

Written by Newman Hall (1816-1902), an English reformer.

Your child is falling from a window. By the action of a natural law he will be killed. But he cries out for help, “Father! Father!” Hearing his call, in this his day of trouble, you rush forth and catch him in your arms. Your child is saved. Natural law would have killed him, but you interposed, and, without a miracle, saved him. And cannot the great Father of all do what an earthly parent does?

I will save you from the hands of the wicked and redeem you from the grasp of the cruel. [Jeremiah 15:21]
























The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.  [Psalm 46:7]

Written by Philip Reinders, a contemporary writer.  This is an excerpt from his book “Seeking God’s Face” and is based on the Westminster Larger Confession, Question 67.

Startling God, you explode our narrow vision by the wideness of your love. Not only do we depend on you to open our hearts to your salvation, but also to see and embrace your grand saving purposes. We pray that you would enlighten our minds, renew our wills, and make us willing and able to freely answer your call to share the gospel with those you are drawing to Jesus. Amen.

I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.  [Ephesians 1:18]























The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.  [Psalm 46:7]

Written by J. Ryan Lister, a contemporary professor of theology and author.

To understand God in full we must recognize that his drawing near to creation stems from his being distinct from creation. In other words, there is no deficiency in God that creation satisfies. The Lord doesn’t relate to this world because he lacks something within himself. No, God draws near out of the abundance of who he is. God’s transcendence distinguishes him from the created order and puts things in their right perspective. God does not come to us needy and wanting, but rather he comes to “revive the spirit of the lowly and the heart of the contrite” (Isa 57:15). It is the holy and righteous One above who restores the broken and needy below.

The Lord is God in the heavens above [transcendent] and on the earth beneath [immanent]  [Joshua 2:11]






















The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.  [Psalm 46:7]

Written by Nancy Guthrie, a contemporary author, speaker, and teacher.

Prayers for safety are often on our lips and dominate our prayer lists. And there’s nothing wrong with a desire to be safe. But personal safety can become an idol if it is more important to us than advancing the gospel of Jesus. From the very beginning of the story Acts tells about the spread of the gospel, those boldly speaking of Christ face significant threats. But then the threats become beatings, and then stoning. Acts should prepare us as believers to reckon with the reality that the life of a believer cannot be about self-preservation. Following Jesus wherever he leads may prove to be dangerous.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?  [Romans 8:35]





















The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.  [Psalm 46:7]

Written by Augustine of Hippo (354-430), an early Christian theologian and philosopher. He was the bishop of Hippo Regius (modern day Annaba, Algeria) and is viewed as one of the most important church fathers in Western Christianity.

O Lord, to be turned from You is to fall,

to turn to You is to rise,

and to stand in Your presence is to live forever.

Grant us in all our duties Your help,

in all our perplexities Your guidance,

in all our dangers Your protection,

and in all our sorrows Your peace.


The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.  [Psalm 46:7]

Written by Max Lucado, a contemporary pastor, author, and speaker. This is an excerpt from his work “On the Anvil.”

Today I will make a difference. I will begin by controlling my thoughts. A person is the product of his thoughts. I want to be happy and hopeful. Therefore, I will have thoughts that are happy and hopeful. I refuse to be victimized by my circumstances. Optimism will be my companion, and victory will be my hallmark. Today I will make a difference. I will be grateful for the twenty-four hours that are before me. Time is a precious commodity. I refuse to allow what little time I have to be contaminated by self-pity, anxiety, or boredom. I will face this day with the joy of a child and the courage of a giant. While it is here, I will use it for loving and giving. Today I will make a difference. I will not let past failures haunt me. Even though my life is scarred with mistakes, I refuse to rummage through my trash heap of failures. I will admit them. I will correct them. I will press on. Victoriously. No failure is fatal. It’s okay to stumble. . . . I will get up. It’s okay to fail. . . . I will rise again. Today I will make a difference. I will spend time with those I love. My spouse, my children, my family. Today I will spend at least five minutes with the significant people in my world. Five quality minutes of talking or hugging or thanking or listening. Today I will make a difference.

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. [Ephesians 5:15-16]