Deuteronomy 13:4 
“It is the Lord your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him.” (NIV)

You are to follow only GOD, your God, hold him in deep reverence, keep his commandments, listen obediently to what he says, serve him—hold on to him for dear life! (The Message)

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In Michael Connelly’s books about Los Angeles police detective Harry Bosch, young Harry joins the army and gets tattoos on his knuckles like an older man he respects. The tattoos spell out the words HOLD FAST. 

What does HOLD FAST mean? It means to tightly secure something. It can also mean continuing to believe in or adhere to a principle. (Oxford Definitions)

The website holdfastgloves.com provides this explanation of the phrase: 

In sailing, “hold fast” is a command meaning “hold on tightly” or “grip firmly,” originating from the Dutch “houd vast,” which tells sailors to secure themselves to the rigging during storms to avoid being swept overboard. It’s often tattooed on knuckles as a reminder. It also metaphorically means to stay steadfast, true to principles, and endure life’s difficulties, like riding out a storm. 

Old Mo gave us this simple, powerful instruction thousands of years ago. It was peak wisdom then, and there’s no higher wisdom now. 

How do we stay strong in hard times? We hold fast to God. 

How do we know which way we should go? We hold fast to God.

How do we decide the biggest decisions of our lives? We hold fast to God. 

But what do we do when it feels like we are losing our grip?

Here’s the good news from Jesus:

“I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.”
‭‭John‬ ‭10‬:‭28‬-‭29‬ ‭NIV‬‬ (Emphasis added)

If you have received God’s gift of salvation, He will keep you securely saved now and forever. You now live a snatch-proof life. We live in the grip of God’s grace. 

Hold fast to God as God holds fast to you. 

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I will hold fast to God as he holds fast to me.

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Our Father, thank you that we live in the grip of your grace. I will follow you as this Bible verse says. I will relate to you from a place of deepest reverence. I will live an obedient life before you. I will serve you now and forever. I will hold fast to you as you hold fast to me. Amen.