I can’t help thinking about secret service agents when I meditate upon these words Moses spoke to encourage Joshua:

“The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” (Deuteronomy 31:8).

More than 3,000 years have passed since Moses spoke these words of encouragement. Nevertheless, they still encourage all who follow the Way of the LORD. All who follow the Way of Jesus. Including me!

I’ve been in rooms in the United States Capital, when somebody important (such as the Speaker of the House or the Former First Lady, Senator Hillary Clinton) was about to enter.

The door opens. One or two Secret Service Agents enter. There’s no mistaking who they are and what their job is.

They tower over me, even though I’m six feet tall. They obviously work out and press weights as diligently as an NFL football player. If you look closely, you can spot their ear bud. And the bulge of their concealed weapon!

They scan the room and the people in it with experienced ease and thoroughness. Only after they’re sure it’s safe, do they permit the important person to enter the room.

They constantly stay near the person they’re protecting. They will not leave nor forsake the person they’re protecting.

That person can be completely confident that there is nothing to fear, nothing to discourage their complete attention to their words and actions.

It is good to meditate upon such assurances from the LORD at the beginning of each day, throughout each day, and throughout our entire life.

Why?

Because no matter what “rooms” we enter, we can be completely confident that there is nothing to fear, nothing to discourage us from pressing ahead to the high calling of the LORD in the Way of Jesus. (Philippians 3:13-14).

We can be completely confident that we need not conform to the pattern of this  world, but can be transformed. (Romans 12:2).

We can be completely confident that the LORD:

—will satisfy us in the morning with his unfailing love;

—will make us glad all our days so that we may sing for joy: and

—will establish the work of our hands. (Psalm 90:13-14,17).

We can be completely confident that—like the Apostle Paul—we can fight the good fight, finish the race, and keep the faith! (2 Timothy 4:7).

We can be completely confident that the LORD himself goes before us and is with us, never leaving us nor forsaking us, keeping us from fear and discouragement each day, and throughout our entire life, and even after death.

Our complete confidence encourages us as we face death, knowing—like the Apostle Paul did—that there is in store for us the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award us. (2 Timothy 4:8).

Jesus told us not to let our hearts be troubled. Why? Because:

—he has gone ahead of us to prepare a place for us. (John 14:1-3);

—he is a good shepherd who will never leave us nor forsake us (John 10:2-4,10-15; Psalm 23); and

—he is a good shepherd who will protect and care for us so that:

—our life will overflow with blessings;

—goodness and love will follow us all the days of our life; and

—we will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. (Psalm 23:5-6; John 10:9-10).

The Spirit of the LORD convinces us:

Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future,  nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39).

NOTHING will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Secret Service Agent!

QUESTIONS TO THINK ABOUT

Do you ever feel as if the LORD himself goes before you and will be with you? Why?

Do you ever feel as if the LORD himself will never leave you nor forsake you? Why?

Do you ever feel afraid or discouraged? Why?

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For related thoughts, please read my blog “Meditations: The LORD Will Go Ahead of Me”.

For other thoughts related to my morning meditations, please read my blogs “Meditations: This Is the Day that the LORD Hath Made”, “Meditations: The LORD Will Go Ahead of Me”, “Meditations: Let It Go”, “Meditations: Be Still”, “Meditations: The LORD Is My Shepherd”, “Meditations: A Good Parent Is a Good Shepherd”, “Meditations: THIS Is the DAY!”, “Meditations: Hesed Endures Forever”, “Meditations: Hesed Redeems Forever”, “Meditations: Hesed Blesses Forever”, “Meditations: Listening”, “Going Further onto the Patio”, “Amazing Grace: Birdsongs!”, “Pandemic Wisdom: Leaves and Birds”, “Pandemic Wisdom: Meditating”, “A Foggy Sunrise”, “Mountains and Hills Breaking Into Song”, and “God Cares for Each Bird That I See Each Morning”.