Verse 1-2. “O LORD my God, in You I put my trust; Save me from all those who persecute me; And deliver me, Lest they tear me like a lion, Rending me in pieces, while there is none to deliver.”
 
The Hebrew word for “Trust” means “to seek refuge.” God is the only One we can put our trust in and the only One we can seek refuge in. Persecution is normal for the believer in Christ. The Bible says that “and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” (2 Tim. 3:12). The Bible also says that “we must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22). Jesus said that “a servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also” (John 15:20). The Bible says that we are blessed if we are “persecuted for righteousness’ sake” (Matt. 5:10). We ought to “rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matt. 5:12).
 
Verse 3-5. “O LORD my God, if I have done this: If there is iniquity in my hands, If I have repaid evil to him who was at peace with me, Or have plundered my enemy without cause, Let the enemy pursue me and overtake me; Yes, let him trample my life to the earth, And lay my honor in the dust. Selah.”
 
Here David defends his integrity. We need to be a people of integrity. The Bible says that “the righteous man walks in his integrity” (Prov. 20:7). David also says that he has not repaid evil to him who was at peace with him. The Bible says:
 
"Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. Therefore "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" (Rom. 12:17-21).
 
Verse 6-16. “Arise, O LORD, in Your anger; Lift Yourself up because of the rage of my enemies; Rise up for me to the judgment You have commanded! So the congregation of the peoples shall surround You; For their sakes, therefore, return on high. The LORD shall judge the peoples; Judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness, And according to my integrity within me. Oh, let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end, But establish the just; For the righteous God tests the hearts and minds. My defense is of God, Who saves the upright in heart. God is a just judge, And God is angry with the wicked every day. If he does not turn back, He will sharpen His sword; He bends His bow and makes it ready. He also prepares for Himself instruments of death; He makes His arrows into fiery shafts. Behold, the wicked brings forth iniquity; Yes, he conceives trouble and brings forth falsehood. He made a pit and dug it out, And has fallen into the ditch which he made. His trouble shall return upon his own head, And his violent dealing shall come down on his own crown.”
 
In this Psalm, David cries out “Oh, let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end, but establish the just.” This should be the cry of our hearts as we see the wickedness and the lawlessness abound all around us. The wicked will not get away with it. There is a day coming that God will judge the wicked and find them guilty and cast them into everlasting fire in hell. The Bible talks about The Judgment Day in Revelation 20:
 
“Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire” (Rev. 20:11-15).
 
In contrast, the righteous will not be found guilty before God on the last day because they have put their faith in Christ. They have an Advocate and a Mediator who pleads their cause before God. The righteous are found innocent and pure before God because they “washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb” (Rev. 7:14). The Bible says that “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Cor. 5:21). The righteous are “justified by faith” and “have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom. 5:1).
 
Verse 17. "I will praise the LORD according to His righteousness, And will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High."
 
Here David praises the Lord for His righteousness and sings praises to His name. The praises of the Lord should be always on our hearts and lips. The Bible says that we should “continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name” (Heb. 13:15). The Bible exhorts us to speak “to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord” (Eph. 5:19).

​Give Thanks
 
“O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever” (Psalm 136:1).
 
Next to Christmas, Thanksgiving is my second most favorite holiday. Thanksgiving is a time for us to look back and remember what the Lord has done for us. Thanksgiving should always be in our hearts and lips not only once a year in November but every day of our lives. The Lord wants us to be a thankful people and not forget all His benefits.
 
What does the Bible say about Thanksgiving?
 
1. It is God’s will for us to be thankful. We need to be thankful in everything – in the good times and in the bad times; in times of prosperity and in times of adversity; and in times of joy and in times of sorrow. That is God’s will for us. God does not like a people who murmur or complain but only those who are grateful and thankful.

“In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thess. 5:18).

2. We need to be always thankful.

“Sing praise to the Lord, you saints of His, and give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name” (Psalm 30:4).

“Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms” (Psalm 95:2).

“Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name” (Psalm 100:4).

“Giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Eph. 5:20).

“And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” (Col. 3:17).

“Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name” (Heb. 13:15).

“I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make its boast in the Lord; The humble shall hear of it and be glad” (Psalm 34:1-2).

“And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” (Col. 4:2).

3. When we come to God in prayer, we need to bring our thanksgiving also.

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God” (Phil. 4:6).

“Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving”(Col. 4:2).

4. We need to be ever mindful and not forget what the Lord has done for us.

“Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name!
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits:
Who forgives all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases,
Who redeems your life from destruction,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
Who satisfies your mouth with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s” (Psalm 103:1-5).
 

 
What I am Thankful For
 
I am thankful that Jesus intercedes for me. He is my great High Priest who sympathizes with me and cares for me.
 
“Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us” (Rom. 8:34).

“Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them” (Heb. 7:25).

“For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb. 4:15-16).
 
I am thankful that Jesus has died for me and that He is my substitute.
 
“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8).

“Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed” (1 Peter 2:24).

“For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Cor. 5:21).
 
I am thankful that Jesus has set me free from my sins. I was once a slave of sin and of Satan but Jesus has made me free. He has unshackled my chains.
 
Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed” (John 8:34-36).
 
I am thankful that Jesus has reconciled me to the Father. Because of Jesus, I can boldly approach the father. And because of Jesus, I am fully accepted by the Father.
 
“Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation” (2 Cor. 5:18).

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6).

“My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” (1 John 2:1).

“For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus” (1 Tim. 2:5).

“To the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved” (Eph. 1:6).
 
I am thankful that God has forgiven me of all my sins – past, present, and future. I no longer have to carry this burden of guilt upon my shoulders anymore. God has cast all my sins behind His back and He remembers them no more.
 
“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” (Eph. 1:7).

“And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses” (Col. 2:13).

“He will again have compassion on us, and will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea” (Mic. 7:19).

“For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more” (Heb. 8:12).
 
I am thankful that God has given me eternal life, and no one will be able to snatch me out of His Father’s hand.
 
“And this is the promise that He has promised us—eternal life” (1 John 2:25).

“And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son” (1 John 5:11).

“These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God” (1 John 5:13).

“And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand” (John 10:28).
 
I am thankful that God keeps me through trials and tribulations. He works everything out for my good and conforms me to the image of His Son through these trials and afflictions.
 
“Who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:5-7).

“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing” (James 1:2-4).

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Rom. 8:28).
 
I am thankful for God’s mercies and His faithfulness. His mercies are new every morning and His mercy endures forever.
 
“The Lord is merciful and gracious, Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy. He will not always strive with us, nor will He keep His anger forever. He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according to our iniquities. For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. As a father pities his children, So the Lord pities those who fear Him” (Psalm 103:8-13).

“Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness” (Lam. 3:22-23).
 
I am thankful that God provides for me. His eye is on the sparrow and I know also that He watches over me.
 
“And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:19).

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matt. 6:33).

“And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work” (2 Cor. 9:8).

Verse 1-5 – The Vine and the Branches
 
Jesus is the “true” vine which means that He alone is the One whom we should cling to. In John 14:6, Jesus said: “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me”. His Father is the vinedresser. A vinedresser is “a person who prunes, trains, and cultivates vines.” All true believers will abide in the vine and bear fruit. Those who are not true believers will not bear fruit and will prove that they were not true believers because “by their fruits ye shall know them” (Matt. 7:20).

What is the tool that the Father will use to make the branch grow? It is the Word of God. The Word of God is the tool by which God will sanctify us and make us grow. The Bible says:
 
“Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you” (John 15:30).
 
“Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth” (John 17:17).
 
“As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby” (1 Peter 2:2).
 
Do you want to be fruitful? You need to abide in the Vine, the Lord Jesus. Without Him we can do nothing (John 15:5). But we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us (Phil. 4:13).
 
Verse 6 – The False Branches
 
The false branches will not abide in the Vine and they will wither and will be cast into everlasting fire in hell. 
 
Verse 7 & 16 – Promise of Answered Prayer
 
If we abide in Christ and His words abide in us; we will then have the “mind of Christ” (1 Cor. 2:16) and will ask those things which are in accordance to His will (1 John 5:14) and God will give us the desires of our hearts (Psalm 37:4).
 
Verse – 8 & 16 – Fruitfulness
 
God is most glorified when we bear both inward fruit and outward fruit. Inward fruit is the fruits of the Spirit which is “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance” (Gal. 5:22-23). Outward fruit is seeing souls being saved. God choose us so we can be fruitful and bear fruit for His glory.
 
Verse – 9 to 17 – Love One Another
 
One fruit of abiding in the Vine, the Lord Jesus, is “love.” We are commanded to love God will all our hearts, soul and mind and our neighbor as ourselves (Matt. 22:36-40).
 
Verse 18 – 27 – Expect Persecution and the Promise of the Holy Spirit
 
When you become a Christian, persecution is inevitable. If the world hated Christ, you would need to expect to be hated as well. Christ will not leave us as orphans, but He has promised to give us His Holy Spirit – to strengthen us; comfort us; guide us; teach us; and empower us.

​The Lord Is My Shepherd – Psalm 23
 
Read: Psalm 23 & John 10:1-30
 
Psalm 23 is one of the most well-known and comforting Psalms. It teaches us a lot about our Shepherd, the Lord Jesus Christ.
 
Verse 1 - The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
 
The Bible pictures all true believers as sheep and all false believers as goats (Matt. 25:32-33). We have all sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23). Like lost sheep, we have all gone astray and we need a shepherd to seek and find us. The Bible says:
 
“All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6).
 
“For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10).
 
Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him. And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, “This Man receives sinners and eats with them.” So He spoke this parable to them, saying: “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance (Luke 15:1-7).
 
Jesus said in John 10:11, that He is the “good shepherd.” He gave His life for the sheep. We all need a shepherd. By nature, we are prone to wander and we need a shepherd to follow. David says that “The Lord is my shepherd.” That is personal. We all can say that “The Lord is my shepherd.” He takes care of each individual sheep. He loves each one of them and cares for each one of them. That is how the Lord Jesus is to us. He loves and cares for each one of us. Each sheep is special and unique in His sight. He laid down His life for each one of His sheep.
 
David also says, “I shall not want” which means, “I shall not lack.” As our Good Shepherd, the Lord Jesus promises to take care of each one of us. He provides for all our needs. The Bible says:
 
“And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:19).
 
“The young lions lack and suffer hunger; But those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing” (Psalm 34:10).
 
Verse 2 - He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.
 
Jesus our Good Shepherd makes us to lie down in green pastures and not the dry, brown pastures. He provides for us physically as well as spiritually. He gives us the abundant life (John 10:10). He gives us fullness of joy (John 15:11). He also leads us besides the still waters. He calms the storms in our hearts and life. He speaks peace to our hearts and tells us not to be troubled (John 14:1). He tells us over and over:
 
“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27).
 
“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
 
Verse 3 - He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.
 
He restores our soul when we are down and discouraged. He remembers us in our lowly state (Psalm 136:23). “He satisfies the longing soul, and fills the hungry soul with goodness” (Psalm 107:9). He redeems our “life from destruction” (Psalm 103:4) and renews our strength “like the eagle’s” (Psalm 103:5).
 
He also leads us in the good path, in the path of righteousness. He instructs us and teaches us in the way that we should go (Psalm 32:8) and gives us wisdom (James 1:5).
 
Verse 4 - Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.        
 
We have nothing to fear as long as we have our Shepherd with us. “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Rom. 8:31). As believers, we have nothing to fear, even death itself. Our hope is firm in Christ. Our future is secure. “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Phil. 1:21). Death is not the end for the believer but the beginning of an eternity with our Shepherd, the Lord Jesus.
 
"Should a sheep fear when the shepherd is with it? What cause has it to fear if that Shepherd is omniscient, omnipotent, and full of tenderness? Thy rule and thy correction: thy rod, with which I sometimes am made to smart; thy staff, with which I am supported. These are my comforts; why should I fear? Are you drinking in all this precious truth, dear friends? Are you feeling it in your soul’s deepest experience? This Psalm is very good to read, but it is far better to write out from your own experience. Make it a song of your own; not merely a song in the Book, but a song for yourselves." ~ Charles H. Spurgeon 
 
Verse 5 - You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.
 
There is a fight going on, and there are enemies all around. You do not generally have tables set in the hour of battle; but God keeps his people so calm amid the bewildering cry, so confident of victory, that even in the presence of their enemies a table is spread with all the state of a royal banquet. “Thou preparest a table.” There is a doth on the table, there are the ornaments on it, and there are all the accompaniments of a feast: “Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies.” They may look on if they like; they may grin, they may wish they could devour, but they cannot sit down at the table, and they cannot prevent me from sitting down at it. Let them blow their trumpets, let them fire their guns: “Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies.” It is the very acme of security and repose that is here described. I know of no expression, not even that of lying down in green pastures, that is more full of restfulness than this: “Thou preparest table before me in the presence of mine enemies.” ~ Charles H. Spurgeon

At some feasts, they poured perfumed unguents on the heads of the guests, so God will leave out nothing that is for the joy and comfort of his people. “Thou anointest my head with oil.” You shall have delicacies as well as necessaries; you shall have joy as well as safety; you shall be prepared for service as well as preserved from destruction. ~ Charles H. Spurgeon

I have not only what I wish, but I have more; not only all I can hold, but something to spare: “My cup runneth over.” If this is the case with your cup, dear friend, let it run over in thankful joy, and if you have more of this world’s substance than you need, ask the poor and needy to come and catch that which flows over. ~ Charles H. Spurgeon
 
Verse 6 - Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
 
Jesus, our Good Shepherd will surround us with His goodness and mercy all the days of our life and He will give us eternal life (John 10:28) and no one is able to snatch us from His Father’s hand (John 10:29). We will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. The Bible says:
 
“And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away” (Rev. 21:4).

​The biggest problem is not dying from a virus; but dying without the Lord Jesus Christ! Even, if you don't die from the coronavirus, you are going to die anyway. The Bible says that we all have an appointment that we must keep and that appointment is death. The Bible says:

"And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment" (Heb. 9:27).

If you die outside of Christ, you will experience the worst death of all being cast into the lake of fire, which is the second death.

"But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death" (Rev. 21:8).

The Bible says that we are all sinners. We are all infected with the worse virus of all - which is "sin." That sin virus is infinitely worse than the Covid-19 and there is nothing you can do about it. Your good works; your baptism; your first communion; your church membership; and even your blue gloves, masks, hand sanitizer and face shield will not prevent you from escaping the second death. The only way to be healed from this virus called "sin" is through Jesus Christ, who is the great Physician. Jesus says:

"Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance" (Mark 2:17).

"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Rom. 3:23).

Go to Christ today. Put your faith in Him. You have no guarantee that you will be alive tomorrow. Now is the day of salvation! According to statistics, 150,000 people die every day around the world, and that is without the Covid-19! Are you ready to meet your maker? If you die tonight, are you sure you are going to heaven? Why would God let you in His Holy Heaven? You need a mediator. You need Christ! Christ is the only way to the Father. The Bible says:

"For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus" (1 Tim. 2:5).

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6).

"Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).

"For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Rom. 10:12-13).

"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast" (Eph. 2:8-9).

"And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil" (John 3:14-19).

“Come now, and let us reason together,”
Says the Lord,
“Though your sins are like scarlet,
They shall be as white as snow;
Though they are red like crimson,
They shall be as wool (Isaiah 1:18).

"How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him" (Heb. 2:3).
​
"...Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation" (2 Cor. 6:2).

Since the Covid-19 broke out a few months ago, many have been overcome with fear, anxiety, depression and despair. Dr. Mike deBoisblanc, the head of trauma at John Muir Medical Center, told local station ABC 7. “I mean, we’ve seen a year’s worth of suicide attempts in the last four weeks” in California. We as believers need not despair. Our hope and anchor is in Christ. Here are a few ways we can overcome our fears and anxiety during these unprecedented times.
 
1. God is sovereign (Isaiah 45:5-7; Isaiah 46:9-10).

God is sovereign and has absolute control over everything. God is in control and nothing happens by accident or chance. This Covid-19 did not catch God by surprise. God knows the end from the beginning. We can rest comfortably in the hands of our sovereign God, knowing that God will work out everything for our good (Rom. 8:28).

As Charles Spurgeon put it:
 
“There is no attribute more comforting to His children than that of God’s sovereignty. Under the most adverse circumstances, in the most severe trials, they believe that Sovereignty has ordained their afflictions, that Sovereignty overrules them, and that Sovereignty will sanctify them.” ~ Charles H. Spurgeon
 
“When you go through a trial, the sovereignty of God is the pillow upon which you lay your head.” ~ Charles H. Spurgeon
 
2. God is merciful (Psalm 103:8-14; 1 Cor. 10:13).

God is merciful and will not give us more than we can bear or handle. God is there to comfort us and strengthen us through our trials and afflictions.
 
3. Do not be anxious (1 Peter 5:7; Phil. 4:6-7; Matt. 6:25-36).
​
Do not be anxious about anything. Cast all your cares upon Him for He does indeed care for you (1 Peter 5:7). Do not worry about tomorrow. Do not worry about what you will eat or what you will drink or what you will wear. Remember to seek first the kingdom of God and He will add all these things to you (Matt. 6:36).
 
4. Christ’s peace will sustain you (Isaiah 26:3; John 14:27; John 16:33; Phil. 4:7).

Christ’s peace will sustain you. Keep your mind on Christ. Set your mind on things above and not on the things on the earth. He will give you that peace that surpasses all human understanding (Phil. 4:7).
 
5. Pray! (Matt. 6:7-8; Mark 11:24; 1 Tim. 2:1; 1 John 5:14; 2 Chron. 7:13-14).

Do not be anxious but pray. Our prayers avail much (James 5:16). Nothing is too hard for God (Jer. 32:17; 32:27). Pray for God to bring healing to our nation and the world from this pandemic. Pray for our president and governors and for those who are in authority for wisdom and direction. Pray for God to bring about a revival in our nation and turn people’s heart unto Him.
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Charles Spurgeon said:
 
"The same God that ordains to give a certain blessing has also ordained that we shall pray for it. We do not expect to change the will of God, but we believe our prayer to be a part of his will."  ~ Charles H. Spurgeon
 
“Prayer is an essential part of the providence of God, so essential, that you will always find that when God delivers His people, His people have been praying for that deliverance. They tell us that prayer does not affect the Most High, and cannot alter His purposes. We never thought it did; but prayer is a part of the purpose and plan, and a most effective wheel in the machinery of providence.” ~ Charles H. Spurgeon
 
6. God will never leave you nor forsake you (Psalm 9:10; Heb. 13:5).

God will never leave you nor forsake you. He is there with you during this difficult time. Look to Him. Take refuge in Him.
 
7. Our suffering is only temporary (2 Cor. 4:16-18; Rom. 8:18; 31-39).
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All our sufferings in this present life is only temporary. God has a glorious future awaiting His children. A place where there will be no more tears, suffering, death (Rev. 21:4). God has a new heaven and a new earth awaiting us (2 Peter 3:13).
 
8. Take courage (Psalm 27:14; 31:24; Psalm 42:11).

Therefore, take courage, O Christian! Do not fear! God is there for you. He is our refuge and strength and a very present help in trouble (Psalm 46:1).
 
9. We have nothing to fear (John 14:1; 2 Tim. 1:7; Rom 8:15; Isaiah 35:4; 41:10; 41:13).
 
As believers in Christ, we have nothing to fear. Our future is secure; our hope is sure and our faith is anchored on Christ, the solid rock. “If God is for us, who can be against us? (Rom. 8:31). Nothing shall separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Rom. 8:35-39). We have nothing to fear – even death itself! To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord (2 Cor. 5:8). “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Phil. 1:21).
 
10. The Importance of the Word of God and Prayer (Psalm 1:1-3; Psalm 119:114; 165; John 15:7; Eph. 6:18).
 
During this time of anxiety and uncertainty, it is of utmost importance that we constantly meditate on the Word of God and “pray without ceasing” (1 Thess. 5:17). This is the only way that we can renew our hope and nothing in the world will shake our confidence in God and in His promises.

Applications

1. How have you grown in your walk with God during this pandemic? Have you learned to lean upon Him more?

2. Are you anxious and fearful about tomorrow or are you fully trusting in our sovereign, loving God?