This God--his way is perfect; the word of the LORD proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.
2 Samuel 22:31 ESV
Greetings prayer partner,
As we continue to study the Scripture verses that inspired the 2024 National Day of Prayer theme, “Lift Up the Word, Light Up the World,” we also want to direct your attention to our 2024 theme artwork that seeks to remind us to take up the shield of faith and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, from Ephesians 6:16-17.
These verses connect with great power and promise. 2 Samuel 22:31 begins with the promise that God’s way is perfect, and since His Word is a lamp to our feet, Scripture lights the way, His perfect way for us to follow. Life came with an instruction manual; daily information, inspiration, and application that will bring transformation to our lives. The Word of the Lord proves true, it is The TRUTH. We continue to hear people say their perspective is their truth, but their version is only a perversion of The Truth. We are commanded by God not to add or take away from His Word. Our prospective and preferences will not come through for you, veering from the ways of God will only leave you lost. God’s perfect and proven Word prompts us to pick up our shield of faith and follow the God who shields us as we take refuge in Him. He is the warrior, He is our protection and provision as we battle the enemy, our shield through every situation and season of life in this broken world, and He alone is our rest and refuge; no position, possession, platform, or person defines or defends us - only our Creator, Redeemer, Sustainer is a shield for ALL those who choose to take refuge in Him. Pause and ponder His faithfulness throughout your life as you chose to trust Him and took refuge in Him.
This history of His faithfulness continually strengthens us as we take up our shield and lift up our prayers in faith. Our shield extinguished all the flaming arrows of the evil one. No matter what the enemy throws at you, the trials and troubles of this world that Jesus warned us about, we take heart and courageously claim the victory that is already ours in Christ and the reward that awaits us when we finish the race.
The Word of the Lord, the sword of the Spirit, was wielded by Jesus at Satan as he attempted to tempt Jesus after 40 days of fasting and prayer in the wilderness. Jesus answered, “It is written…” This is our same weapon against Satan but not against flesh and blood, we don’t stab people with this sword but rather beat it into a plowshare for harvesting hearts to Jesus. Sadly, we can push away those we were sent to draw near and make disciples by wounding them with the Word. Note the heart between the hand and the sword on our theme art, it reminds us that we handle and lift up the Word of God with love. God is our Lamp, His Word is a lamp to our feet and we need to lift it so others can find His perfect way and leads them to the Lord.
God, Your way is perfect and we give You praise and thanks as You are perfecting us and conforming us to the character of Your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. We are commanded to abide in You and Your Word in our hearts that all that we would think, feel, say and do would overflow from what we have seen and received from You. We are commanded to love, give mercy, and forgive as just as You have given these to us. Thank You holy Spirit for working in us and equipping us to live fruitful lives that can express these with great grace as we are called to be salt and light in this world. Each day brings its battles but You are our shield and we put on the full armor of God, pray and stand with shield and sword in hand as You command us to, “Lift UP the Word, Light Up the World!” In our Savior’s name we pray, Amen!
Serving Him with gladness,
Kathy Branzell
President