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•A Prayer for When You Fear the Future•By Anthony Valente👉 “Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident" (Psalm 27:3)In our current culture, there is much uncertainty about the future. Fears often trigger other emotions, including despair and anger and much of it is played out on social media. In truth, there is much to fear in our lives and in our world. The unknown future can seem dark and filled with danger. We wonder if we can handle it. We wonder how we can endure. From our children's health to paying for college; from job security to who is running our country effectively; from prayers unanswered to relationships under strain; we worry about what could happen and what we will do when it does.David wrote, "Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident" (Psalm 27:3). Psalm 27 is a song and a prayer of trusting God in the face of fears.The ultimate fulfillment of this Psalm is found in Christ, the one who conquered our worst fears at the cross. He is our light and salvation. Because of Jesus, we can come into God's presence with confidence and hope. As Paul wrote in Romans, "If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?" (8:31-32). If God sacrificed His own Son to save us from our sins, how would he not also be with us in the fears we face today?Let us pray.✝️ Father in Heaven, I come before You as the psalmist did, weary, worn, and frightened. I come before You because You are King and You rule all things. I come before You because You are my Father, my Abba. You adopted me as Your child and have given me every privilege that comes with being a part of Your family. I come before You because You are my Savior. All I have comes to me from Your generous hands. I come before You because You are my Redeemer. You alone can redeem and restore all that is broken in my life and in the world around me.Forgive me for turning my gaze from You and looking at the frightening things happening around me. Forgive me for forgetting that You are with me. Forgive me for not trusting. Forgive me for not crying out to You sooner but trying to conquer my fears in my own strength. Forgive me for not living in complete dependence upon You.Father, hear the deepest cries of my heart. Rule and reign over Your Kingdom, turn the hearts of kings, and may Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Raise up godly leaders, teachers, pastors, and people who love You and Your Word. Use Your people to spread Your gospel across the earth. May we be the salt and light You instructed us to be.In my life Lord, give me a peace that passes all understanding. Though I don't know what will happen with all that troubles me this day, help me to trust You. Help me to remember that You are not surprised. Help me to remember that nothing will happen today that takes You off guard. You are not asleep or too busy but are actively involved in all the cares of my life. Help me to wait and watch for Your glory. Help me to obey and do the right thing in the moment, knowing You are there in all the moments to come.Most of all, help me to remember Jesus, the One who cried out in the garden on the night he was betrayed, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will” (Mark 14:36). I thank You that "for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God" (Hebrews 12:2). Even now, he intercedes for me—what a marvelous truth!I pray all this in the name of Jesus, AMEN 🙏 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.(Jeremiah 29:11)This vision is for a future time. It describes the end, and it will be fulfilled. If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed.(Habakkuk 2:3)Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.(Ephesians 4:1-2)Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.(Hebrews 10:36)Fearing people is a dangerous trap, but trusting the LORD means safety.(Proverbs 29:25)The Lord gave us the following order: 'I have made you a light for the nations so that you would save people all over the world.'(Acts 13:47)Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.(Proverbs 3:5-6)Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.(1 Peter 5:7)But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.(1 John 1:9)The LORD works out everything to its proper end— even the wicked for a day of disaster.(Proverbs 16:4)I will not be afraid of tens of thousands of people who have set themselves against me on every side.(Psalm 3:6)You can make many plans, but the LORD’s purpose will prevail.(Proverbs 19:21)For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.(2 Timothy 1:7)In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation.(1 Peter 5:10)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)I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.(Psalm 34:4)Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer. The devil will throw some of you into prison to test you. You will suffer for ten days. But if you remain faithful even when facing death, I will give you the crown of life.(Revelation 2:10)Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.(Hebrews 4:16)“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.(Matthew 7:21)I am the LORD your God; I strengthen you and tell you, 'Do not be afraid; I will help you.'" (Isaiah 41:13)Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.”(Matthew 6:33)We look at this Son and see the God who cannot be seen. We look at this Son and see God’s original purpose in everything created. For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible, rank after rank after rank of angels—everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him. He was there before any of it came into existence and holds it all together right up to this moment. And when it comes to the church, he organizes and holds it together, like a head does a body.(Colossians 1:15-18)Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.(Matthew 6:34)(pic verse)Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil. For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry. During that time the devil came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.” But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ”Then the devil took him to the holy city, Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, and said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say, ‘He will order his angels to protect you. And they will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.’” Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God.’ “Next the devil took him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. “I will give it all to you,” he said, “if you will kneel down and worship me.” “Get out of here, Satan,” Jesus told him. “For the Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’ ” Then the devil went away, and angels came and took care of Jesus.(Matthew 4:1-11)Artist 👨‍🎨 I Am With You Always - David Delfeld