May 25

Morning

Do not forsake me, O LORD; be not far from me, O my God. — Ps 38:21 BSB

We often pray that God would not forsake us in times of trial and temptation, but we forget that we need this prayer at all times. There is no moment in our lives, however holy it may seem, when we can go without His constant support. Whether in moments of light or darkness, in fellowship or temptation, we always need the prayer, "Do not forsake me, O Lord!" and "Hold me up, and I shall be safe!"

A little child learning to walk always needs their parent’s hand. A ship abandoned by its pilot immediately drifts off course. We cannot do without God’s constant help. Let your prayer today be, “Do not forsake me! Father, don’t leave Your child, or I will fall into the enemy’s hands. Shepherd, don’t forsake Your lamb, or it will stray from the safety of the fold. Great Gardener, don’t forsake Your plant, or it will wither and die! Don’t leave me now, Lord, and never forsake me at any moment of my life. Don’t forsake me in my joys, or they may steal my heart away. Don’t forsake me in my sorrows, or I might murmur against You. Don’t forsake me in the day of my repentance, or I may lose hope of pardon and fall into despair. Don’t forsake me in the day of my strongest faith, or my faith may turn into pride. Don’t forsake me, because without You I am weak, but with You I am strong. Don’t forsake me, for the path is dangerous and full of snares, and I cannot make it without Your guidance. Like a hen with her brood, cover me with Your wings and let me find refuge there. Don’t be far from me, O Lord, for trouble is near and no one else can help. Do not leave or forsake me, O God of my salvation!"

Evening

And they got up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, gathered together Then the two told what had happened on the road, and how they had recognized Jesus in the breaking of the bread. — Luke 24:33,35 BSB

When the two disciples reached Emmaus and were having dinner, the mysterious stranger who had captivated them on the road took the bread, broke it, and suddenly revealed Himself to them—then vanished from their sight! They had urged Him to stay with them since the day was almost over, but now, even though it was much later, their love became a lamp to their feet—and wings as well! They forgot the darkness, and their weariness was gone. They immediately traveled the seven miles back to Jerusalem to share the incredible news that the risen Lord had appeared to them along the way. When they arrived, they were greeted with even more joyful news from the other believers before they had a chance to share their own story.

The early Christians were eager to speak of Christ’s resurrection and share what they knew of the Lord. They shared their experiences with each other, and their joy overflowed. Let their example inspire us tonight. We, too, must bear witness about Jesus. John’s account of the empty tomb needed to be confirmed by Peter, and Mary added even more. Together, their testimonies form a complete picture—nothing is missing.

Each of us has unique gifts and experiences, but God’s ultimate goal is to perfect the whole body of Christ. We must share what we’ve been given and lay it before others, distributing it freely. Don’t hold back any part of the precious truth—speak what you know and testify to what you have seen. Don’t let fatigue, darkness, or the possible unbelief of others stop you for even a moment. Rise, march forward to the place of duty, and tell everyone what great things God has shown to your soul!