"Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10

I was a Marine having just arrived on a tiny Pacific island called Okinawa. That's when Jesus came to me in my emptiness and loneliness and became so real I thought I was touching Him.

Like a starving man turned loose in a supermarket, I immediately began devouring page after page, book after book, of Scripture. The first verse that I can remember jumping out at me was Isaiah 41:10. Again and again I would break off separate morsels of this "meal in a verse" and savor them anew on my spiritual palate. "Fear not..." ("But Lord, I'm alone and full of fears."), "for I am with thee" (Wow, Lord, You, the God of all creation, including this island, with me?!)

Then I got spiritual goose bumps when I began seeing who this "I am" really is. The "I am" revealed to Moses. The "I am" revealed through Jesus in titles that still take my breath away: I am the way, truth, life, resurrection, true vine, door, and on and on! And the one that thrilled me most was "Before Abraham was, I am!" (John 8:58)

Now look at the repeat of the words "I am" in our verse today. After "I am with thee" that causes hopelessness to evaporate, the Lord says, "for I am thy God." Next follow three "I will's" that should bring thrills to you and me today. "I will strengthen thee" (to meet any test or trial); "I will help thee" (every hour of every day in every way); " I will uphold thee" (His powerful right hand leading us into battle against the powers of darkness and causing us to stand in triumph). Memorize this scripture and make it your own!

My prayer: "Oh my loving Father, I thank You for Your promise to be the great 'I am' in my life. Help me to step out boldly each day, know­ing that You will strengthen, help and uphold me."

"Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ" (I Corinthians 11:1)
The ST. PAUL SCHOOL, with Frank Eiklor, Eileen Young and Cecilia Contreras