To read: Psalm 27
New Revised Standard Version Bible,The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When evildoers assail me to devour my flesh - my adversaries and foes - they shall stumble and fall. Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war rise up against me, yet I will be confident. One thing I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple. For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will set me high on a rock. Now my head is lifted up above my enemies all around me, and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the Lord.
Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud, be gracious to me and answer me! "Come," my heart says, "seek his face!" Your face, Lord, do I seek. Do not hide your face from me. Do not turn your servant away in anger, you who have been my help. Do not cast me off, do not forsake me, O God of my salvation! If my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will take me up. Teach me your way, O Lord, and lead me on a level path because of my enemies. Do not give me up to the will of my adversaries, for false witnesses have risen against me, and they are breathing out violence. I believe that I shall see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!
copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the
National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.
To think about:
In 
January, I went to a youth event where I heard a story about a girl who fought cancer throughout her childhood and died in her adolescence from it. Throughout her whole life, her only true enemy was her body attacking itself. In that story I saw God, sitting by the bed, being the surgeon and healer, preparing his daughter to come home fully healed. Her enemy was the cancer but God fought that cancer, made this girl an inspiration to those around her and brought her home, to Heaven, fully healed.
God works in my life every day to help me overcome enemies. He is my light in the darkness, and Christ is a beacon for my life. He is able to guide me through treacherous land and fights off my enemies, so that I will rise with him in heaven when my journey is over. My prayer and my plea is that all will accept Christ to fight the battles of life, so that all may taste and see victory when our earthly life is over and, more importantly, so that all will be able to see Christ in his magnificent glory in the land of the living.
To pray:
Eternal protector, come into my heart prepared for battle, that I may see your glory always. Amen.
Delaware-Maryland Synod Council Youth Member
St. James Lutheran Church, Rockdale, Md.