Solid, Steadfast, Unchanging – The Presidential Prayer Team

For you, O Lord, are my hope, my trust, O Lord, from my youth. – Psalm 71:5

Some people are blessed, like the Psalmist of today’s verse, to have known the Lord from their childhood. Many were into their adult years or even in the latter stages of life when they came to faith in Christ. Whenever you came to the Lord, you met Him as the One you hope in and the One you can trust.

A common use of the word hope is “wishful thinking.” For example, “I hope the weather will be nice today“ or “I hope a check comes in the mail.“ But hope in Christ is like a rock. Solid. Steadfast. Unchanging. What the Lord says is true. Even though there are different understandings and interpretations of the Bible, you can be assured that Jesus is the truth. You now have a relationship with Him. You ask for wisdom and He gives it to you. His Spirit will enlighten the Scriptures to you when there seems to be a discrepancy in what various traditions believe the Bible says.

Meditate on what the Lord says about prayer. Pray wholeheartedly and believe Him for the answers. Pray for the people in your circle of influence and the ones who influence you in leadership positions. Pray for the United States. Ask that the revelation of the gospel of Christ would reach every soul. Pray for hearts to be steadfast, putting hope and trust in the Lord. Pray for the children, particularly that they would hear and embrace the gospel. Ask that government and schools of the United States comprehend the “Establishment Clause” and how it relates to freedom of speech and religion.

Today’s Verse: Psalm 71:5

For you, O Lord, are my hope,
    my trust, O Lord, from my youth.

All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Recommended for further reading: 2 Timothy 1:1-14

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God according to the promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus,

²To Timothy, my beloved child:

Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

³I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. ⁴As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy. ⁵I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. ⁶For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, ⁷for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

⁸Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, ⁹who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, ¹⁰and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, ¹¹for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, ¹²which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me. ¹³Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. ¹⁴By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.