God is on my side, and that's all I need. I get up in the

The words of Mr. T thunder like a declaration of faith carved upon stone: “God is on my side, and that’s all I need. I get up in the morning, I pray to God. I don’t pray to the president, the governor, the mayor, no black caucus, no this and that. I pray to God, and that’s the end of it.” In these words, there is fire and clarity. He proclaims a truth as old as humanity itself: that the strength of man does not come from earthly powers, nor from fleeting institutions, but from trust in the Eternal.

The origin of this saying lies in Mr. T’s own life. A man who rose from hardship, who bore the struggles of poverty and prejudice, he did not find his strength in the approval of rulers or the favor of officials. His armor was his faith, his weapon was prayer, and his certainty was the conviction that if God was with him, no man could stand against him. In a world where many bow before political power, Mr. T’s words are a cry of defiance: that his allegiance belongs not to governors, presidents, or councils, but to the Most High alone.

The ancients knew this truth well. Daniel, cast into the lions’ den by decree of a mighty king, did not pray to the throne of Babylon, but to the throne of Heaven. His faith made him unshakable, and his deliverance made him unforgettable. Likewise, the early Christians did not bend the knee to Caesar, though it cost them their lives. They knew, as Mr. T declares, that prayer to God outweighs all supplication to the rulers of men. For the kingdoms of this world are temporary, but the kingdom of Heaven is everlasting.

Mr. T also points us to the daily rhythm of faith. “I get up in the morning, I pray to God.” This is no occasional act, no desperate cry only in times of trouble, but a habit as steady as the rising sun. He reminds us that strength is not found in waiting for crises, but in daily communion with the Divine. The ancients too rose at dawn to greet their gods, to center their souls before the labors of the day. To begin with prayer is to anchor oneself upon the rock, so that no storm of life may easily sweep us away.

His words also reject the temptation of misplaced hope. How often do people place their trust in leaders, parties, or institutions, believing these to be their salvation? Yet history teaches us that rulers rise and fall, councils change, policies shift like sand in the wind. But those who anchor themselves in God endure, for their strength is drawn not from the changing tides of politics, but from the eternal source of life and truth.

The lesson, then, is clear: do not bow your spirit to the powers of this world. Respect authority, yes, but do not worship it. Seek justice through your actions, but know that true guidance comes from above. Begin your days, as Mr. T does, with prayer, grounding yourself in the eternal rather than the temporary. Let your hope be in the One who does not change, and your strength will outlast every trial.

Practically, this means setting aside time each morning for stillness and prayer. It means seeking courage from God before you seek approval from men. It means living not for the praise of leaders, but for the approval of conscience and Heaven. And when the world seems uncertain, when rulers fail and councils falter, you will stand firm, for your strength will not depend on their power, but on the eternal hand that holds you.

So carry this teaching: be steadfast, like Daniel, like the saints, like Mr. T himself. Begin each day with prayer, stand tall in your faith, and do not bend your heart to the fleeting rulers of men. For if God is on your side, indeed, that is all you need.