SermonTopic: God Holds Your Hand

Psalm 73:2-3, 23-24, 28

“But I nearly missed it, missed seeing his goodness. I was looking the other way, looking up to the people at the top, envying the wicked who have it made, who have nothing to worry about, not a care in the whole wide world.”

“I’m still in your presence, but you’ve taken my hand. You wisely and tenderly lead me, and then you bless me.”

“But I’m in the very presence of God—oh, how refreshing it is! I’ve made Lord God my home. God, I’m telling the world what you do!”

Date – 15.06.2026

Praise the Lord! Welcome to Day One of our 3-Days Early Morning Fasting Prayer. It is so good to see all of you here early in the morning. Seeking God first thing in the morning is a very powerful choice. Your sacrifice of sleep and food shows God that you love Him more than anything else.

Today, we are going to look at a very beautiful and honest passage from the Bible. We will read Psalm 73:2-3, 23-24, and 28. This psalm was written by a man named Asaph. He was a real person who faced real struggles, just like you and me. He was very honest with God about his doubts, his fears, and his hurts. If you have ever felt like giving up, this message is exactly for you.

Special Encouragement for This Morning

My dear brothers and sisters, look around you. The sun is just beginning to rise, the world is quiet, and while most people are still asleep, you are here in the house of God. I want to encourage your hearts right now: your sacrifice this morning is not in vain.

Fasting early in the morning is not easy. Your body might feel tired, your stomach might be grumbling, and the enemy might whisper to your mind, “Why are you doing this? It won’t change anything.” But I came to tell you that Satan is a liar! Every single minute you spend in God’s presence this morning is powerful.

The Bible says in Psalm 63:1, “Early will I seek thee.” There is a special blessing waiting for those who give God their first fruits—the first hours of the day, the first thoughts of their mind, and the first strength of their body. By coming here today, you are telling God, “Lord, You are more important to me than my sleep. You are more important to me than my food.”

God sees your heart. He sees the effort it took for you to wake up, get ready, and come to this prayer meeting. He is collecting every tear you cry, and He is listening to every groan of your heart. Do not let tiredness steal your focus. Stir up your faith! Open your mouth and pray with expectation. God is moving on your behalf this very morning, and Day One is going to set the tone for a week of absolute victory. Stay strong, because your breakthrough is closer than you think!

1. The Danger of Slipping away from God

Let us look at the first two verses of our scripture today. In Psalm 73:2-3, Asaph says:

“But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold. For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.”

Asaph starts with a very big confession. He says his feet almost slipped. Imagine walking on a very muddy or icy road. If you lose your balance, your feet start to slide, and you feel terrified because you are about to fall down hard. Asaph felt like that in his spiritual life. He felt like he was losing his grip on his faith, his joy, and his trust in God.

Why did he feel this way? He tells us exactly why in verse 3. He looked at other people who did not care about God, and he saw that they looked very happy and rich. He saw bad people living easy lives, and he began to feel jealous. He started to think, “Why am I working so hard to please God? Why am I fasting and praying while these bad people have no troubles at all?” This thought is a dangerous trap, and it can happen to any of us.

When you look at the world around you, it is easy to feel discouraged. You might see your neighbors or co-workers who do not pray, yet they get promotions, buy nice things, and have smooth lives. Meanwhile, you are awake early in the morning, fasting, crying out to God, and still facing heavy financial problems, sickness, or family trouble. You might ask, “Is God even watching me? Does my prayer matter?”

Asaph felt that exact same pain. He almost gave up his faith because he took his eyes off God and started looking at other people. When we compare our hard times with another person’s good times, we will always feel miserable. But remember, this is only day one of our prayer. God brought you here to stop your feet from slipping. He wants to save you from that slippery path before you fall.

2. God is Still Holding Your Hand

Even though Asaph felt weak and wanted to quit, something amazing happened. He did not fall completely. Why? Let us look at Psalm 73:23:

“Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand.”

This is one of the most beautiful promises in the whole Bible. Please notice the word “Yet”. It means that even though Asaph was jealous, even though his faith was weak, and even though he complained, God did not leave him. God did not get angry and walk away. Instead, God stood right next to him and held his right hand.

Think about a small child walking with their father through a very crowded and dangerous street. The child might get distracted by the bright lights, the toys in the shop windows, or the other children playing. The child might even try to pull away from the father’s grip to run into the street. But because the father is big, strong, and loves his child, he does not let go. He holds that small hand tightly so the child stays safe.

That is exactly what God does for you. You are that child, and God is your loving Heavenly Father. During this season of fasting and prayer, you might feel weak in your body. You might feel lonely or tired from your daily struggles. But the Holy Spirit wants to whisper to your heart today: “I am still holding your hand.”

Your safety does not depend on how strong your grip is on God. Your safety depends on how strong God’s grip is on you. You might feel like you are letting go of God because of your heavy trials, but God will never, ever let go of you. He is holding your right hand this very morning, keeping you steady, and keeping you alive.

3. God Guides You with His Wisdom

When God holds your hand, He does not just stand still with you. He moves you forward. Let us look at Psalm 73:24:

“You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.”

Asaph realized that he did not know everything. When he looked at the wicked people, he only saw the present moment. He could not see their future. But God sees everything from the beginning to the end. God has a perfect master plan for your life, and He guides you step by step through His holy word and His counsel.

What does it mean to be guided by God’s counsel? It means that when you do not know what decision to make, God speaks to your heart and tells you which way to go. When you are confused about your job, your family, or your future, God gives you wisdom. During these three days of early morning fasting, you are setting yourself apart to listen to that divine counsel. You are turning off the noisy voices of the world so you can hear the quiet, clear voice of God.

Notice the second part of verse 24: “and afterward you will take me into glory.” This means your story does not end in failure or shame. Your story ends in glory! The difficulties you are facing today are only temporary. The pain you feel while fasting today is just for a short season. But the reward God has prepared for you lasts forever.

People who do not know God might enjoy a comfortable life right now, but their path leads to destruction. Your path might have some rough hills and steep rocks right now, but it is leading you straight to God’s glorious presence. Do not trade an eternal reward for a temporary comfort. Trust the guidance of the One who holds your hand.

4. It is Good to be Near God

Finally, let us read the beautiful conclusion in Psalm 73:28:

“But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.”

Asaph started the psalm by looking at the world and feeling miserable. But he ends the psalm by looking at God and feeling completely satisfied. He makes a powerful declaration: “It is good to be near God.” There is no better place in the world than being close to our Maker.

Fasting is not just about skipping meals. Fasting is a holy tool to draw near to God. When your stomach is empty of physical food, your spirit becomes hungry for spiritual things. When you pull away from the distractions of the world early in the morning, you come near to the secret place of the Most High. And in that place, you find perfect peace, deep joy, and fresh strength.

Asaph also says, “I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge.” A refuge is a safe house, a fortress, or a strong shelter during a terrible storm. When the winds of trouble blow hard against your life, you do not have to run around in panic. You can run directly into the arms of God. He is your safe place. No enemy can touch you when you are hidden inside the shelter of God.

The very last sentence says, “I will tell of all your deeds.” This is your homework and your vision for the future. God is going to do great things for you during these three days of fasting. He is going to answer your deep prayers, heal your broken body, restore your family, and break your heavy chains. When He does this, do not keep it a secret. Share your testimony! Tell your family, your neighbours, and your church family about how good God has been to you. Your story will encourage someone else who is about to slip.

Conclusion and Call to Prayer

My dear brothers and sisters, as we close this first morning message, let us take a moment to look into our own hearts. Have you been looking at other people and feeling jealous or bitter? Have you felt like your feet were about to slip away from your faith? Have you been wondering if your prayers even matter to God?

Please do not be discouraged. Bring all your weariness, your doubts, and your heavy burdens to the altar right now. God is not mad at you for feeling tired. He understands your human weakness, and His love for you is deep and unchanging.

Remember the big truth of today: God is holding your right hand. He is guiding you through the dark valleys, and He is leading you into a bright, glorious future. It is truly good to be near Him this morning. Let us rise to our feet, lift up our hands, and begin to pray with loud, joyful voices. Let us ask God for fresh strength to complete this 3-day fast, knowing that He is our ultimate refuge and our faithful guide. Amen. Have a blessed day ahead in Jesus’s name. God bless abundantly