"I am the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last."
Revelation 1:11, KJV

What must if have been like for the Apostle John to hear the great voice, bold and musically clear as a trumpet, announcing these words?

This is the New Testament echo of that glorious word in the Old Testament: "The Lord will go before you! The God of Israel will be your rear guard! (Isaiah 52:12)

In one translation of the bible it is: "For your Vanguard is the Lord, and your Rear-guard the God of Israel." (Rotherham)

Alpha and Omega.
Vanguard and Rear-guard.

No wonder that, over and over again, in one form or another, the Lord says to us: "Fear not!" and "Do not let your hearts be troubled" (John 14:1)

He who begins, finishes. He who leads us on, follows behind to deal in love with our poor attempts... He gathers up the things that we have dropped - our fallen resolutions, our mistakes... He makes His blessed pardon to flow over our sins till they are utterly washed away. And He turns to fight the Enemy, who would pursue after us, to destroy us from behind.

He is first, and He is last!

And we are gathered up in between, as in great arms of eternal loving kindness. 

As we travel on to another day, another month, or another year, we need never fear!

My Father, today is the last day of 30 Days of Prayer, but let us never cease praying for our NEEMA girls. You are with me and You are with all of NEEMA... today and tomorrow... and for all of our days... Your arms embrace our entire lives. Washed clean in You... surrounded by You... secure in You. Let us all say, today and every day, You are our hiding place! 

Devotion rewritten from Amy Carmichael's I Come Quietly To Meet You