Category: 2026 Trek Intro
Day 5–“Because He Knows My Name”
Scripture reading for May 29: Psalm 91:14-16“”Because he holds fast to Me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows My Name. When He calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him My salvation.””
Up to this point in the psalm, which was a song sung by God’s people in worship, the psalmist has been declaring his personal knowledge of God’s Name and his steadfast trust in God Most High as His Almighty, Refuge, and Fortress. The people have answered with the benefits of trusting God and how God would bless and protect them. But now God, Himself, boldly declares His will and plans to reveal to the people eternal life and full salvation. This is God’s sovereign decree, bringing this worship song to an amazing climax.
Because His people have a relationship with God Almighty, they cling to Him in love and respect. They call out to Him when in need or trouble. They invoke His Name, revealing their love and faith, honoring Him. God promises He will deliver him who holds fast to Him in love. Note the personal nature of this promise–made to the individual in relationship, but implied to all who hold relationship in love. God promises He will answer him when called upon. He promises His presence with him in any trouble and promises rescue and honor to the trusting one. His final promise is a ‘long life’ that satisfies. This surely isn’t just for our earthly life alone, but implies eternal life which is the essence of full salvation! All God’s “I will” statements are directed at the person who is holding fast in love to God’s Name.
The logical application for all individuals is to say ‘Amen!’ to God’s promises and claim them confidently in loving trust. First responders who know God’s Names, can work without fear. Even if life presently is less than satisfying, we trust God’s promise to fully satisfy us with answers, protection, rescue and honor in the end.
Prayer: Father God, thank You for Your divine and precious promises which give us faith and eternal hope as we await our full salvation. We love You and call on You in worship and adoration! Amen.
Day 4–Angel Guards!
Scripture reading for May 28: Psalm 91:11-13 “For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone. You will tread on the lion and the adder; the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot.”
God was revealed to the psalmist as the “Almighty”. Another description in Scripture is the “Lord of Hosts”, referring to His supreme authority over the angel armies faithful to our Lord. They willingly serve Him and minister to those who are heirs of salvation at His direction. The psalmist wrote confidently of God’s command of His angels, giving them specific instructions to guard individual believers in ‘all their ways’ as they journey through the wilderness of this world to their eternal home in the City of God.
These verses remind us of the greater invisible realm of God’s kingdom where there is a spiritual conflict taking place. Before we were saved, we were dead in trespasses and sins and walked under the control of the prince of the powers of the air, Satan. (Ephesians 2:1-2) We were under God’s wrath and judgment because our rebellious association with the fallen angels. But God’s mercy flowed when we put our trust in Jesus Christ. When we allow God to rule our lives, He commands His angels to guard His people. They are unseen, but there protecting us from harm and evil. They enable us to confront the ‘lion’ and the ‘adder’, powerful foes seeking to kill or destroy us. Instead, we trample them underfoot because God’s angel army stands guard.
As first responders, we are involved in the daily warfare with the forces of darkness that are often invisible. It is encouraging and comforting to know that God is commanding His angel army concerning our protection and empowerment. We are working for the Commander Himself and we are safe in Him. In Christ Jesus, all our enemies are under our feet! (Psalm 110:1) (Matthew 22:44)
Prayer: Father God, thank You for Your amazing power and the unseen armies of angels that watch over those who trust You. Protect all responders who are attacked by the prince of the power of the air and empower them to walk confidently. Amen.
Day 3–Good News for ‘Tent-Dwellers’!
Scripture reading for May 27: Psalm 91:7-10 “A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only look with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked. Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place–the Most High, Who is my Refuge–no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent.”
In Scripture, our bodies are likened to ‘tents’ that we live in while on earth. John 1:14 states that ‘The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. . ‘, referring to Jesus coming to earth to live among His people and reveal the heart of the Father God. The word ‘dwell’ actually means to ‘tabernacle’ or pitch a tent. If you remember, the Israelites had a ‘tent’ for God, the Tabernacle, that they carried and pitched for God to dwell in their midst. The cloud of God’s glory would rest over it until it led them in their journey. It was a fire by night bringing light and the comfort of God’s presence. They also had a yearly feast of Tabernacles where they lived in temporary dwellings remembering their journey through the wilderness. (Leviticus 23:33-36)
The psalmist wrote to encourage those who know God by Name and trust in Him as their Refuge and Fortress. Thousands may fall close to you, but the plagues and satanic attacks of this life will not come near you. You will observe the recompense of the wicked only. The psalmist King David wrote in Psalm 37:34 that those waiting on God will look on when the wicked are cut off. If the Lord Most High is your ‘dwelling place’, if His ‘Tabernacle’ is your refuge or secret place, no harm or evil will come near your ‘tent’!
What good news the psalmist brings to first responders on their missions to help the hurting and diseased! These ancient confessions of faith in the Most High God give us comfort and courage to face danger with calm and trust. No plague or evil can harm us as God abides in our ‘tent’.
Prayer: Father God, thank You for these ancient words written down to encourage and teach Your people faith and trust. Help us as faith responders to remember that You dwell in our ‘tent’ by the Holy Spirit. You give us power and courage to share the Good News with those You send us to. Amen.
Day 2–Blessings of Abiding
Scripture reading for May 26: Psalm 91:3-6 “For He will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his pinions, and under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and buckler. You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.”
The psalmist made personal declarations of his choice to abide in God Almighty and Most High for his refuge and fortress. He claimed a personal possession of relationship with ‘my God.’ In this next section of the psalm, it is a more corporate declaration of the blessing of abiding. Here the psalmist refers to God’s protection as a person or people being covered with an eagle’s wing feathers. God is faithful in all He promises. His faithfulness is a ‘shield and buckler’ to those who are depending on Him. God’s faithfulness covers His trusting people like what is described in the New Testament as a shield of faith. (Ephesians 6:16)
The protection of God covers seen and unseen enemies. The snare of the fowler refers to a trap set to catch birds. They are enticed to the trap, and then suddenly caught by the fowler. A pestilence is an unseen disease or plague whose germs are invisible. They are inadvertently picked up and infect the body bringing disease and death. They are like demonic forces that attack in darkness and then destroy. The arrow by day is likened to an attack of an enemy or demonic force aimed particularly at a person or nation that is known to be coming. Our Almighty God will be a refuge for us to shelter in. He will by His power defeat attacks in darkness and defend us from the arrows of Satan aiming to take us out.
We can see how this psalm applies particularly to us as first responders and those facing dangers that are seen and unseen. God’s faithfulness to do what He has promised is our shield and buckler. We simply and humbly declare our trust and claim by faith His covering and defense. No pestilence can take us out. No weapon formed against us shall succeed! (Isaiah 54:17)
Prayer: Father God, the Most High and Almighty, I take refuge under Your wings today. I trust You to keep me from snares, arrows, pestilence and disease. Your faithfulness is my shield. Amen.
Week 22–Day 1–Declaring God’s Names
Scripture reading for May 25: Psalm 91: 1-2 “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, “My Refuge and my Fortress, my God in Whom I trust.”
For many years, Psalm 91 has been a favorite of those in the military and those involved in the first responder network. It is held in reverence by believers who regularly face danger and enemies, seen and unseen. It is a personal declaration of faith and trust in God, naming God in these first two verses with four names that reveal Who God is to this psalmist. The first thirteen verses are faith statements and declarations of God’s overcoming grace towards those who trust in Him personally and communally. The last three verses are a prophetic declaration by God of His provision for those who humbly cling to Him in faith and trust.
Today we will consider these first two verses and the names ascribed to God by this psalmist. The psalmist encourages everyone to dwell in the shelter of the Most High. This term exalts God to the highest place of honor, above all powers and thrones, in heaven and on earth. Taking refuge in God Himself places the one needing shelter in a totally secure place. In fact, it is described as ‘abiding’ in the shadow of the Almighty. To abide is to chose to dwell in a continual relationship in close proximity to the One Who has all power and authority.
The psalmist personally confesses to the Lord that he is declaring Him as his personal refuge and fortress. A place of refuge is a hiding place where one can be secure against any attack of their enemies. A fortress signifies a walled enclosure providing safety and security. The psalmist declares it is ‘my God’ Who is this Refuge and Fortress. He places full trust in his God Alone, the Almighty and Most High God, abiding in Him in humble trust and faith.
As responders, we would do well to read and meditate on this psalm regularly. We will bless our God to declare our Him as our Refuge and Fortress on a daily basis. Abiding requires us to stay close so His shadow will cover us.
Prayer: Father God, I declare that You are the Most High God, the Almighty One. You are my Refuge and Fortress, My God in Whom I place my trust. Amen.
Day 5–Jesus made House Calls!
Scripture reading for May 22: Matthew 8:14-17 “And when Jesus entered Peter’s house, He saw his mother-in-law lying sick with a fever. He touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she rose and began to serve Him. That evening they brought to Him many who were oppressed by demons, and He cast out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick. This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: “He took our illnesses and bore our diseases.””
Jesus loved to go where the hurting people were and bring healing to their souls and bodies. In this account, Jesus entered the home of Peter, one of the disciples, in the town of Capernaum. Jesus and His disciples had been ministering to the sick and healing people most of that day. In the house was Peter’s mother-in-law was lying sick. It is unclear if this was just a hospitality visit or if Peter had asked Jesus to come specifically to bring healing. Jesus, in compassion, reached out to touch the sick mother and her fever left immediately. Later that evening, many other people crowded around the house to seek healing and deliverance. Jesus reached out and spoke healing words to them and all were healed. Matthew states that in doing this, Jesus fulfilled prophetic Scripture from Isaiah 53:4.
As first responders and especially EMT’s and paramedics, we are often called to homes of hurting people. Sometimes we have a brief description of what is happening and other times the problem must be diagnosed through questions or deduction at the scene. Human touch is required and we must not act in fear, but faith to help the hurting. We must be gentle and caring, helping calm the emotions and facilitate timely treatment. As believers, it should comfort us to know that Jesus is with us and as we touch our patient, He is touching them too. Like Jesus, our goal is to see them raised up and able to serve again.
Prayer: Father God, thank You for sending Your Son to demonstrate to us Your love and care for the diseased and sick. Thank You for meeting us where we live and reaching out to touch us when we are diseased. Thank You for the privilege of serving others where they work and live as You work with me. Amen.
Day 4–God Personally Cares!
Scripture reading for May 21: Ezekiel 34:15-16“I Myself will be the Shepherd of My sheep, and I Myself will make them lie down, declares the Lord God. I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, and the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them justice.” John 10:14 “I am the Good Shepherd. I know My own and My own know Me, just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.”
In this passage of Scripture, the Israelites are in Babylonian captivity because the leaders (shepherds) of their nation had failed them and many were sick, injured, and strayed. These lazy shepherds had been feeding themselves and not the sheep entrusted to their care. (Ezekiel 34:2-3) These shepherds had not strengthened the weak or healed the sick sheep. They had not bound up the wounds of the injured or rounded up those who had strayed into enemy territory. Instead of gentle care and correction, they had been harsh and mean. God’s people had become like sheep with no shepherd, and food for wild beasts. (Ezekiel 34:4-5)
God had raised up Ezekiel to speak to the people about this breakdown in leadership and His own plan to shepherd His people in righteousness. This passage reminds us of Psalm 23, where David calls God ‘my Shepherd.’ God would lead His people to green pastures and they would lie down in peace. He would seek the lost and bind up the injured and strengthen the weak. In justice, He would also deal with the leaders, here referred to as ‘fat and strong.’
As those charged with responding to people in need and often weak and injured, we must follow the example of our ‘Good Shepherd’ Jesus Christ. We are called to set aside our own agenda and plans and respond to the call for help from our community members. We use our skills and equipment to care for the hurting. We seek out those lost in a crisis and bring them to better pastures, medical treatment, and connect them with skilled assistance.
Prayer: Father God, thank You for sending Your Son as the Good Shepherd to care for the hurting and wounded. Thank You for calling me and others to represent Your great mercy and love to those who are hurting. Amen.
Day 3–Serpent on the Pole
Scripture reading for May 20: Numbers 21: 5-9 “And the people spoke against God and against Moses, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loath this worthless food.” Then the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died. And the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned for we have spoken against the Lord and against you. Pray to the Lord, that He take away the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people. And the Lord said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.”
As God’s people wandered in the wilderness for forty years, they became grumpy and complained about the journey and God’s food supply and water supply. They blamed leadership for their issues and by implication blamed God in a deadly fit of unbelief. As a consequence, God allowed fiery serpents of the desert to bite these people and their poison venom brought death. This consequence caused the people to confess their sin of unbelief and ask Moses to ask God for deliverance from the snakes and death. As Moses was faithful to intercede for the people, God told him what to do. He was to make a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. It was lifted over the camp of God’s people. All who in faith would look upon that serpent with sincere repentance would be healed.
As first responders in the medical field look at this story, something should come to mind. The symbol for the medical field is two snakes coiled around a pole. This ancient remedy, according to Jesus Christ, was a symbol of His own crucifixion on the cross where He took the curse of our sins, sickness, and disease in His own body for our healing. “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him may have eternal life.” (John 3:14-15) All who bear the sentence of death from Satan’s poisonous lies can find healing and eternal life by looking at Jesus crucified and resurrected.
Prayer: Father God, What amazing mercy You show to us who are sinners bitten by sin’s poison! We look thankfully to Jesus Christ for healing and mercy. Use us to lift His healing banner. Amen.
Day 2–“Who is my neighbor?”
Scripture reading for May 19: Luke 10:29-34, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. So, likewise a Levite, when he come to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him he had compassion. He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. . . .” vs 36 “ Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor. . .?”
Jesus loved to ask questions and to tell stories that helped those asking questions to figure out the answer for themselves. In this story of the ‘Good Samaritan,’ Jesus was asked by a religious ‘lawyer’ a question concerning how to determine who was our neighbor. God’s law instructed His people to love their neighbors as themselves. But prejudice against the Samaritans ran deep in Jewish culture. The lawyer sought to trap Jesus but Jesus told him a story.
The story was that of a man who was robbed, beaten, and left to die by a road in Israel. Two respected Jews, a priest and a Levite, passed this helpless victim. They purposely moved to the opposite side of the road to avoid facing the need. The third traveler was a ‘Samaritan’ who had compassion and stopped to help, using his own supplies to bind up the wounds. He utilized his own animal to transport him and paid expenses for him at the inn. Jesus asked the lawyer: “Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor?”
As first responders, we must take the stance of the third traveler. There is no room for prejudice against anyone of a different race or religion. We must not be in such a hurry that we avoid facing the needs presented or make excuses. All should be done with excellence and compassion, proving us good neighbors.
Prayer: Father God, thank You for asking questions and telling us stories we can identify with. Forgive me when I have made excuses not to help others or been in a hurry. Fill me with compassion. Amen.
Week 21–Day 1–EMS Encouragement
Scripture reading for May 18: Psalm 103:1-5 “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy Name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits, Who forgives all your iniquity, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from the pit, Who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, Who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”
King David loved to worship God and composed many of the psalms, including this one. This psalm extols the blessing of God, encouraging each believer to remember and worship God Who alone can bring these benefits. This song of blessing to God comes from deep inside of David’s heart and the blessing are tied to personal experience of each one. We note that David blesses God’s holy Name. God’s Names in the Old Testament reveal these benefits and are part of His revelation to man of His merciful character and desire to see man made in His image made whole and fully reflecting Him.
First, God forgives us of all our iniquity. Iniquity is a term used to describe not just a transgression of God’s law, but a pattern of living outside of God’s law. When we confess and repent, God not only forgives us our sins but has the ability to help us live victorious over the patterns of sin that beset us.
God also heals all our diseases. Disease and sickness are part of living in a fallen world. They are part of Satan’s plan to kill, steal from us and destroy our bodies and souls. God revealed Himself as His people’s healer in Exodus 15:26 and the psalmist declares this as a benefit of trusting God. Jesus came doing miracles of healing to show His Father’s compassion for sick and hurting people.
As first responders who are believers, God wants us to allow His love and mercy to flow through us to those we respond to. We are to bless people by our competence and care, trusting God to do the healing. As medical professionals, we can only show compassion and treat disease and injury. God can bring healing and renew strength like an eagle.
Prayer: Father God, we bless You for all Your many benefits and Your steadfast love and mercy. We willingly give ourselves to You to minister Your love and mercy to those You send us to. Amen.