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A man tells how when he was a young boy the stage was set for him to fail, but one person came into the life of this boy that changed everything. The kids around him were counting him out. Writing him off. After all, he had trouble reading out loud in first grade. He couldn’t get the words out in the right way and he wasn’t very fast.
In first grade that makes kids stare at you and think you’re different; you can’t fit in. You can’t be “anybody.” But that changed for this boy when a teacher named Mrs. Eldridge refused to write him off. She knew his reading problem wasn’t because he was stupid or wouldn’t put forth effort. It was just taking some time.
So when his turn to read would come, she wanted to make sure fear wouldn’t take over his ability. He had to maintain his position of who he was and what he could do or it would affect his entire future. Having a first-grade teacher who realized that was God sending a miracle to him.
During the time when the first-graders had to read out loud, this teacher would come over to the boy, sit down in one of those tiny chairs they have in first grade, and put her arm around him. She was right there beside him. So when he would start reading out loud and he would stumble and try to make out the words, you know what? None of the other kids made fun of him or laughed.
Years after this he said he knew it was because he had the Mafia sitting next to him! That was his way of saying he knew he had power and protection sitting next to him. So his position was safe. No one dared do anything against him because of that arm that was around him.
He believes her arm saved him from developing fear and shame. He was able to believe in himself. He is now a doctor and a psychiatrist. He understands how a protective arm can help a person maintain their position so they believe in what they can do.
We have a protective arm around us. A divine arm. When something comes against us that would try to push us out of our position, that arm can stop it. We can maintain our position as a child of God.
We are powerful, healthy, well, smart and courageous.
We’re a child of God who is blessed and has provision.
We have spiritual maturity, and we know God.
We can conquer every challenge and overcome trouble.
In Isaiah 41:10, God gives us one of His strongest promises for our lives. I say it’s strong because without that promise of His arm around us, our life would be open to the attacks of the enemy being victorious over us.
We don’t have to exist in fear because even if we know bad things come, we can say, “Don’t count me out.” We know God is there to protect our position in Him.
He says in that Word in Isaiah, Fear not [there is nothing to fear], for I am with you; do not look around you in terror and be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen and harden you to difficulties, yes, I will help you; yes, I will hold you up and retain you with My [victorious] right hand of rightness and justice.
He has that arm around us from the very first until the day we’re in heaven. Nothing can knock us out of the position of what He has for us.
The greatness of God can be seen when you are willing to maintain your position instead of maintaining fear. You can maintain one or the other in your life. You can either walk in fear and look around you in terror and be dismayed, as that verse described. Or you can be strong and hardened to difficulties.
You can maintain your position because you know He is there to hold you up and retain you by His victorious hand. That means YOU will be victorious. His arm is around you to help you go into everything He has planned.
Spiritual Powerline to say out loud:
“GOD IS RIGHT BESIDE ME!”
Here is a powerful prayer to say out loud:
Father, because You are beside me, I know I am protected. I won’t fear. Because of You, I am strong and blessed. I refuse to be written off, but I will be victorious. In the name of Jesus. Amen.
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