“Though troubles assail us and dangers affright” are the first words of the hymn written by John Newton. In the third stanza, he writes “when Satan assail us …we triumph by faith.”  But even though we are people of faith we are also prone to think God is ‘afar off.’ The psalmist’s words echo back to us: “You are near Lord!..the Lord is near all who cry out to him.” [Ps 119/145]

That is the one gripping truth we need to cling to in times of danger or trouble. The ungodly boast, are arrogant because they think God will not see nor hold them accountable. This is the picture of pride the Proverbs author reminds us of with the warning that it will bring about his fall.

But even though we are people of the faith we face this foe more often than we would like to admit. It creeps ever so silently into our framework as we look in the mirror or when we act less than favorably towards others in our countenance or our words. At times like that we must recall the warning of our Lord from our study in Luke:  “And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” [Luke 14] Remember Beloved that God is still in his holy temple sitting upon his throne. Nothing goes unnoticed and a day of reckoning is near. Keep your lamps filled awaiting his appearance! Keep your sin accounts short! God is near to the brokenhearted.