Scripture Reading
Joshua 1:8-9
"Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."
Reflection
January ends with the same word it began with: presence. "The Lord your God will be with you wherever you go" — not just in the new beginnings of January 1, but in the ordinary days, the hard weeks, the moments when courage is exactly what we do not feel. Courage is commanded not because it comes naturally but because the one who commands it goes with us. We can be strong because we are not alone.
Prayer for Today
Lord, like David, I need your encouragement in a time of trial and anguish. Thank you that you are always on the throne, always my God, ready to save. Thank you for being the same God to me that you were to David. Thank you for always being near and always rescuing me from my fears and hurts. Lord, help me remember that daybreak might be just ahead, that this trial will not last forever. Fill me with hope that daybreak is coming and that your love will always prevail! In Jesus' Name, Amen!
Amen.