The Words That Move Me

Words move me. I love great quotes! Shortly after the collapse of France, Winston Churchill spoke to the House of Commons. Many thought Britain would be the next to fall, but Churchill challenged his countrymen to uncommon valor: “Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties, and so bear ourselves that if the British Empire and Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will still say, ‘This was their finest hour.’”

Who can forget Kennedy’s challenge to our nation: “And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.”

Rev. Martin Luther King’s “I Have A Dream” speech at Washington D.C. in 1963 is one of my all-time favorites: “I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up, live out the true meaning of its creed: we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.”

Churchill motivates me, Kennedy challenges me, and Dr. King inspires me. Their words move me, but nothing calms my fears and encourages my heart like the words of God:

Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." So we can confidently say, "The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?" (Hebrews 13:5-6 ESV)

Churchill, Kennedy, and King all spoke with power, but not one could match the promise of God Almighty: “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” God will not forsake us: not in plenty or in poverty, not in good times or bad times, not when we have boldly followed or badly failed, not at birth or death, not in victory or in defeat, and not in the winner's circle or the waiting zone!

The person who has the Lord as his helper can say with a bit of brashness: “I will not fear; what can man do to me?” Trials will pursue us and troubles will pummel us, but God will never leave us. Hang on to that promise. It will sustain you!