Hebrews 13: 5-6 "Be content with what you have, because God has said, 'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.' So we say with confidence, 'The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.'"

All of us have experienced the aching pain of loneliness -- days when the world seems to have passed us by and left us to our single, solitary selves. If only we had someone, preferably a friend, to talk to, to share our inmost thoughts, our hopes, our dreams, our fears!

As believers in Christ, we have such a friend. Again and again we are assured of His presence in our lives. The Lord has told us: "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." And Jesus assures us: "I am with you always, to the very end of the age" (Matthew 28:20). We may be sure: He will never go back on these promises.

We may well ask ourselves: Have we cultivated this sense of nearness to our Lord? Do we walk and talk with Him? Do we share our thoughts with Him -- not only in our formal prayers but also in those frequent quiet moments that occur throughout the day?

There may indeed be moments in our life when we feel lonely. In those moments may we always remember: we are never left alone.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, thank You for being our great Friend and sharing our troubles and fears. We thank you, Lord, for Your presence. Amen.

(Taken from "Words of Promise," copyright 1996, Concordia Publishing House (out of print). For information on other devotional materials, call 1-800-325-3040.)

Today's Bible Readings: 1 Samuel 19    Psalms 23    Psalms 59    Luke 21:1-19

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