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In hard times we’ve learned three things…

We’re stronger than we’ve ever imagined.

Jesus is closer than we’ve ever realized.

And we’re loved more than we ever knew. 

Psalm 46:1

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”

Psalm 9:10

“And those who know Your name will put their trust in You, For You, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You.”

Psalm 22:8

"Commit yourself to the LORD; let Him deliver him; Let Him rescue him, because He delights in him."

Exodus 14:13-14

“And Moses said to the people, ‘Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. The LORD will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.’”

Psalm 91:7

“A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you.”

Nahum 1:7

“The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knows those who trust in Him.”

2 Corinthians 4:8-9

“We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.”

Eternal Perspective

When things around us don’t make sense and things are falling apart, and it seems we keep getting caught up in the storms of life, go to the sanctuary of God and find rest.

An amazing thing happens when we view our problems from His perspective. The problems that seem so big and hopeless from our human perspective look so small in light of Jesus. 

Because we know that the Living God of the entire universe can handle them.  God delivers all who call on His name. 

 Being in His presence will give us an eternal perspective.

Psalm 27:5

For in the day of trouble He will conceal me in His tabernacle; In the secret place of His tent He will hide me; He will lift me up on a rock.

Psalm 81:7

"You called in trouble, and I rescued you; I answered you in the hiding place of thunder; I proved you at the waters of Meribah. Selah.

Psalm 86:7

In the day of my trouble, I shall call upon You, For You will answer me.

Psalm 34:4

I sought the LORD, and He answered me And delivered me from all my fears.

Psalm 34:6

This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him and saved him out of all his troubles.

Psalm 34:16

Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivered him out of them all.

Author of Peace

God brings order out of chaos even the chaos we create ourselves.  

If there is conflict and confusion in your life today and you lack peace, chances are you are looking at the relationship, situation, circumstance, decision that needs to be made, or the problem through the eyes of the world.  

Doing so brings about disorder, anxiety, anger, impatience and can cause us to lash out unlovingly at others.

But when you shift your focus through God’s lens His peace begins to reign in your heart.  

God is able to help you respond to others in love, in forgiveness, and in peace, and thus, maintaining peace with those around you. It’s your choice – you can live in confusion or chaos, or you can live a life marked by peace.

Proverbs 16:7

“When a man’s ways please the LORD, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.”

Isaiah 26:3

“You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.”

John 14:27

“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

John 16:33

“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

Philippians 4:6-7

 “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Our Good Shepherd

Let this promise for the lost, wounded, hurting, sick and wandering fill you with hope. God fulfills His promise to those who cry out to Him. He pursues with His steadfast and unwavering love.

Understanding how He longs to mend, heal, and restore you will fill your heart with joy.

No matter what has happened in your life, what you’ve done or how far you have wandered, our Good Shepherd will find you, restore you, and bring you home.

Psalm 23:1-3
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He maketh me lie down in green pastures; He leads be beside the still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.

John 10:14
I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.

Isaiah 40:11
He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.

Psalm 100:3
Know that the LORD Himself is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

Revelation 7:17
For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; 'he will lead them to springs of living water.' 'And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.'"

Pulling Out The Weeds

Have you ever had a weed in your yard that you chopped down and thought it was gone – only to have it spring up again? It’s roots, you discovered, were still alive, and they might even have spread. 

Sinful thoughts can be like that.  When we come to Christ, He begins to change our thinking, and new thoughts begin to take root in our mind – thoughts about God’s love for us and His will for our life. But those old thoughts haven’t been completely killed, and sometimes they suddenly spring to the surface. When they do, Satan will try to deceive us into thinking that we aren’t new creations in Jesus after all, because we have failed Him. 

Don’t be surprised when old ways of thinking crop up – but don’t let them linger. When they come, immediately turn to God and ask Him to help you get rid of them—just as you pull weeds out of your garden.

Most of all, let the Word of God fill you and renew your mind every day. When our minds are on Christ, Satan has little room to maneuver.

Billy Graham Daily Devotional  

Believe and Obey

Faith in God is our means to overcoming every trial and temptation that we are faced with in our humanity.

When we turn away from temptation and turn to Him with absolute confidence, we will be victorious through Him.

He is a God of unlimited power and resources. He knows all about yesterday, today and tomorrow. He knows exactly how much we can bear and He knows the way out of every conceivable situation.

Believe and obey...and see the promises over your life fulfilled, according to His Will for you in Christ.

Matthew 6:13
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

2 Thessalonians 3:3
But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one.

Hebrews 10:23
Let us hold resolutely to the hope we confess, for He who promised is faithful.

Mark 9:23
"If You can?" echoed Jesus. "All things are possible to him who believes!"

John 11:40
Jesus replied, "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God."

1 Corinthians 1:9
God, who has called you into fellowship with His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.

2 Peter 2:9
...if all this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment.

1 Thessalonians 5:24
The One who calls you is faithful, and He will do it.

Romans 8:28
And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.

Treasures In Heaven

Praise The Lord, for our promised treasure is the imperishable crown of eternal life!

May we press on with endurance in our Holy Spirit led race...

As we await the prize that Christ claimed victoriously on our behalf!

1 Timothy 6:19
...treasuring up for themselves a firm foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.

Philippians 3:12
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been perfected, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.

1 Corinthians 9:24
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way as to take the prize.

1 Corinthians 13:12
Now we see but a dim reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

Philippians 3:8
More than that, I count all things as loss compared to the surpassing excellence of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ.

1 Timothy 6:12
Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made the good confession before many witnesses.

1 Corinthians 9:25
Everyone who competes in the games trains with strict discipline. They do it for a crown that is perishable, but we do it for a crown that is imperishable.

Walking in The Spirit

Let us walk boldly in The Spirit of Life...a true and righteous race of everlasting endurance.

Let us clothe ourselves with Jesus...receiving and reciprocating His marvelous riches of hope, glory, grace and freedom.

Romans 13:14
Instead, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the desires of the flesh.

2 Corinthians 3:6
And He has qualified us as ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

Romans 6:14
For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.

Romans 6:18
You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.

Romans 8:4
so that the righteous standard of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

Galatians 5:16
So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.

He Loved Us First

Let us not be fearful of the snares of man, because that leads to the trap of an unholy path.

Let us instead pray for God's hand of protection over us in the midst of rejection, ridicule and persecution.

Let us instead pray for patience, courage and strength of endurance...reacting as children of The Living God.

Let us rejoice that He called us out of darkness and pray for those who do not know The Father...remembering that we love and forgive because He first loved and forgave us.

Proverbs 29:27
An unjust man is abominable to the righteous, And he who is upright in the way is abominable to the wicked.

Matthew 10:22
You will be hated by everyone on account of My name, but the one who perseveres to the end will be saved.

John 16:33
I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take courage; I have overcome the world!

1 John 3:1
Behold what manner of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God. And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him.

1 John 3:13
So do not be surprised, brothers, if the world hates you.

Luke 21:19
By your patient endurance, you will gain your souls.

John 15:19
If you were of the world, it would love you as its own. Instead, the world hates you, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world.

John 15:21
But they will treat you like this on account of My name, because they do not know the One who sent Me.

Luke 23:34
Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." And they divided up His garments by casting lots.

1 John 4:10
And love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

Steadfast Faith

Steadfast Faith

May God guide, direct and uphold us with His righteous hand, as we stay steadfast in our hope of things unseen...preserved by our faith in our Sovereign and Eternal Savior, Jesus Christ...

Romans 8:24
For in this hope we were saved; but hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he can already see?

2 Corinthians 5:7
For we walk by faith, not by sight.

2 Corinthians 4:18
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Hebrews 10:38
But My righteous one will live by faith; and if he shrinks back, I will take no pleasure in him."

Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see.

Romans 1:17
For the gospel reveals the righteousness of God that comes by faith from start to finish, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."

Romans 3:22
And this righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no distinction.

John 6:47
Truly, truly, I tell you, he who believes has eternal life.
Steadfast Faith

Renewal

Father God,

We pray that You will partner with us to reveal and remove the weeds that choke the fruitfulness of Your Holy Spirit within us.

Show us Your ways, Lord, and give us the courage and endurance to see them through to fruition in our lives, as it is righteous and pleasing to you.

Father, we open our hearts to You and Your Will for us...that You will renew and restore us...take our holy head knowledge to our pliable hearts...bringing us from faith to faith, glory to glory...beings fully molded into Your image.

Lord, we pray for Your hand of protection over our hearts and minds, today and every day, as we walk out our faith in You.

In The Name of our holy and righteous Savior, Jesus Christ, we pray these things,

Amen.

Matthew 13:22
The seed sown among the thorns is the one who hears the word, but the worries of this world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

Mark 4:19
but the cares of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth, and the desire for other things come in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

Ephesians 4:23
to be renewed in the spirit of your minds;

Ephesians 4:24
and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Ephesians 5:10
Test and prove what pleases the Lord.

Ephesians 5:17
Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is.

Colossians 1:10
so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God.

The Battle Is Won

The Battle is Won

We are victorious conquerors through Jesus Christ!

He has overcome all and the battle of our salvation is already secured. Nothing can separate Him from us!

So, have courage and give your struggle to Him...stand and see The Lord work on your behalf!


Psalm 118:6
The LORD is for me; I will not fear; What can man do to me?

Isaiah 41:10
'Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.'

John 15:18
If the world hates you, understand that it hated Me first.

John 16:33
I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take courage; I have overcome the world!"

2 Corinthians 4:7
Now we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this surpassingly great power is from God and not from us.

2 Chronicles 20:17
You need not fight in this battle; station yourselves, stand and see the salvation of the LORD on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.' Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out to face them, for the LORD is with you.

Romans 8:37
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

1 Corinthians 15:57
But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!

Forever With The Father

Forever with The Father

Anticipation of the glory that awaits us...

Our fullness in Him made complete...

Face to face forever with The Father...


1 Corinthians 13:12
Now we see but a dim reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

1 John 3:2
Beloved, we are now children of God, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that when Christ appears, we will be like Him, for we will see Him as He is.

Job 19:26
Even after my skin is destroyed, Yet from my flesh I shall see God;

Psalm 17:15
As for me, I shall behold Your face in righteousness; I will be satisfied with Your likeness when I awake.

Revelation 22:4
They will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads.

Matthew 5:8
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

Revelation 4:8
And each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around and within. Day and night they never stop saying: "Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!

Secured By His Word

Secured by His Word

Praise The Lord that His every truth is immutable, His every promise is kept and His every purpose is completed!

Praise Him that, regardless of our iniquities, He is faithful to complete His work and He will never abandon us!

Praise Him that His Word is irrefutable and shall never fade or pass away!

Praise Him that because He is infallible, we are sealed and secured with our Father, forevermore!

Isaiah 55:11
"So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it."

Psalm 138:8
"The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands."

Matthew 5:18
"For I tell you truly, until heaven and earth pass away, not a single jot, not a stroke of a pen, will disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished."

Mark 13:31
"Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away."

Isaiah 46:10
"Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, 'My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure.'"

Philippians 1:6
"Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ."

Philippians 2:16
"Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain."

2 Timothy 3:16
"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness."

1 Corinthians 1:9
"God, who has called you into fellowship with His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful."

2 Timothy 2:13
"if we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself"

1 Thessalonians 5:24
"The One who calls you is faithful, and He will do it."

Ephesians 1:13
"And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit."

Our Deliverer Is Always Near

Our Deliverer is always near...

Psalm 18:6
"In my distress I called upon the LORD, And cried to my God for help; He heard my voice out of His temple, And my cry for help before Him came into His ears."

Psalm 9:10
"And those who know Your name will put their trust in You, For You, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You."

Psalm 18:2
"The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold."

Psalm 34:17
"The righteous cry, and the LORD hears And delivers them out of all their troubles."

Matthew 7:7
"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you."

Psalm 34:18
"The LORD is near to the brokenhearted And saves those who are crushed in spirit."

Romans 4:25
"He was delivered over to death for our trespasses and was raised to life for our justification."

Romans 8:2
"For in Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life has set you free from the law of sin and death."

John 8:32
"Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

The Greatest Gift

May we be clothed in grace and mercy by loving the unlovable and forgiving the unforgivable.

May we honor God by abiding in the ultimate expression of His righteousness and the greatest gift of all...

"Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.

When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.
And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love."
(1 Corinthians 13)

Matthew 7:12
"In everything, then, do to others as you would have them do to you. For this is the essence of the Law and the prophets."

John 13:34
"A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so also you must love one another."

Matthew 22:39
"And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"

James 2:8
"If you really keep the royal law stated in Scripture, 'Love your neighbor as yourself,' you are doing well."

Romans 13:8
"Be indebted to no one, except to one another in love, for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the Law."

Galatians 5:14
"The entire Law is fulfilled in a single decree: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"

Our Rock Our Fortress

May He deliver, defend, restore and maturate us; keep and direct us in the way of righteousness...all for the sake of His glory.

2 Samuel 22:2
He said, "The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;

2 Samuel 22:33
"God is my strong fortress; And He sets the blameless in His way.

Psalm 5:8
O LORD, lead me in Your righteousness because of my foes; Make Your way straight before me.

Psalm 18:2
The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

Psalm 71:3
Be to me a rock of habitation to which I may continually come; You have given commandment to save me, For You are my rock and my fortress.

Psalm 79:9
Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of Your name; And deliver us and forgive our sins for Your name's sake.

Psalm 91:2
I will say to the LORD, "My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!"

Psalm 23:3
He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake

Called To Forgive

Forgiving has a tendency to make us feel uncomfortable at times. Sometimes we hold on to things in our humanity because we feel we are justified in clinging to our righteous anger. But as God's children, we are called to forgive, just as our Father forgives us.

We cannot justify our own behavior based on the actions of another.

We cannot refuse to forgive others, nor pridefully neglect or excuse the sins in our own lives because someone else is with sin.

When we commit an offense against another, we are commanded to attempt to make to peace with them, even before we approach The Throne of Grace for exchange.

We are called to forgive as often and as many times as it takes.

Only God knows the affairs of the heart and what each individual is personally dealing with. He is our Banner...we must have faith in His power and desire to deal with things according to His holiness and righteousness.

Our job is to follow His Truth and the promptings of The Holy Spirit....to partner with Him in our own transformation and heart cleansing...and to forgive.

Let Him remove the power the enemy has in offenses. And exchange with Him any unforgiveness we harbor in our own hearts. Forgive self and others....as often and as many times as it takes.

Matthew 5:7
"Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy."

Matthew 7:2
"For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."

Matthew 7:3
"Why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but fail to notice the beam in your own eye?"

Matthew 18:35
"This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart."

Mark 11:25
"And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins."

Luke 6:37
"Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven."

Ephesians 4:32
"Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."

Colossians 3:13
"Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you."