“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you
nor forsake you” Deuteronomy 31:8  (NIV)

John Telford in The Life of John Wesley records how, on January 1, 1790, John Wesley, founder of the Methodist Movement, wrote, “I am  now an old man, decayed from head to foot. My eyes are dim; my right hand shakes much; my mouth is hot and dry every morning. I have a lingering fever almost every day; my motion is weak and slow. However, blessed be God. I can preach and write still.” Eighteen months later and after fifty years of diligent ministry, Wesley was close to death when he exclaimed, “The best of all is God is with us.”

What a wonderful thought. In every second of every minute, God’s with us. In every minute of every hour, He never leaves us. In every hour of every day, He won’t forsake us. It doesn’t get any better than this; “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you” (Deuteronomy 31:8).

Praise the Lord! God’s with us today and tomorrow. We can’t go anywhere without Him. He never fails or abandons us. His daily companionship, counsel and care is available to all. He shows us the way ahead, carries ultimate responsibility, and is “an ever-present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1). And more . . . He gives us courage to endure, wisdom to make the right decisions, patience under duress, unfathomable joy, extraordinary love and grace to deal with the vicissitudes of life.

God is awesome! There’s nothing too formidable for Him, nothing He fears, no one who can put limits on Him, and no government, power or agency that can thwart His plans. So look up. Forge ahead. Be confident in Him. “Commit your way to the Lord; trust him . . .” (Psalm 37:5). “Delight yourself in the Lord” (Psalm 37:4). And be strong and courageous (cf. Joshua 1:9).

Consider this: “The one who calls you is faithful” (1 Thessalonians 5:24). Whether you face seemingly insurmountable difficulties, the heaviest of trials, the deepest of poverty, or the failure of your faculties, God will never fail you. You can count on Him. He promises to stick closer than a brother, keep you as the apple of His eye, keep you in all your ways, care for you as a shepherd cares for His flock, keep you in perfect peace, keep you from temptation, and keep you from falling. Be assured; “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6).