...and spoke encouragingly

to them saying,

"Be strong and courageous.

Do not be afraid or dismayed

before the king of Assyria

and all the horde

    that is with him.

With him is an arm of flesh,

but with us

   is the LORD our God,

to help us and

to fight our battles.

       2 Chronicles 32. 6-8

(To whom can I

  speak encouragingly today?

We ALL struggle with something,

    but the LORD is with us.

Courage is not

          the absence of fear,

but awareness

       of the Presence of God,

trusting the LORD

   instead of circumstances.

The world says,

         "You can do it!"

but God says,

   "You can trust Me!"

He will guide and provide.

Leaving aside fear and dismay

always leads us

to a different path through it.)

O LORD,

The hordes are upon us.

Help us to realize

that You surround us.

Lead us through

        our battles.

May we learn to trust You

even in this.

Help us to approach this

differently

because we know You,

not just aware of You

but strengthened.

Anoint this day,

            O LORD.

And help us to

speak encouragingly

    to those around us today.