My Grace Is Sufficient For Your

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for encouragement and truth in Your Word and Your promise of sufficient grace. I thank You for creating me the way I am and for showing me how to accept even my weaknesses...for this is where You fill in the gap with Your grace and Your power is magnified.

I pray for less of me and more of You....reveal to me new areas where I need refinement of character...sanctify me with Your Holy Spirit and maturate me spiritually, as You bring me from faith to faith...from glory to glory.

Show me Your Ways, Lord. Take all of me and shape me according to Your perfect will...partner with me today and every day, so that others will see You in me...all for Your glory and Your kingdom.

I praise You for Your redemptive gift of Christ so that I may freely receive grace and walk in freedom...in my true, authentic identity. Thank You for Your ongoing transformation in me and for bringing me to where I am today. I praise You, Lord, for all the ways You have chosen to bless me...and I pray that You will enable me to open up even more of my heart to the work of Your hands.

Keep me on Your lighted, anointed and ordained path for my life, Father...and thank You for Your comfort and grace when I lose my footing. I need You...I love You...and I fully trust Your plan and purpose for my life, which belongs to You alone.

I pray this all in Jesus Christ's Holy and Righteous Name,

Amen.

1 Corinthians 2:5
...so that your faith would not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power.

2 Corinthians 12:5
I will boast about such a man, but I will not boast about myself, except in my weaknesses.

Ephesians 3:16
I pray that out of the riches of His glory, He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being...

2 Corinthians 13:9
In fact, we rejoice when we are weak but you are strong, and our prayer is for your perfection.

Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.

2 Corinthians 12:10
That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Heavenly Hope

May The Lord ordain, anoint and order our steps as we press toward a new world.

May He bless us with a fierce faith, strengthening and sustaining our hearts, as we fight the good fight and run our race...

And may we be filled with Heavenly hope in our high calling, with our eyes on the prize of eternity with Jesus.

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.

2 Timothy 1:9
He has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not because of our own works, but by His own purpose and by the grace He granted us in Christ Jesus before time eternal.

Hebrews 3:1
Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, set your minds on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess.

2 Timothy 2:10
For this reason I endure all things for the sake of the elect, so that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.

1 Peter 5:10
And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore you, secure you, strengthen you, and establish you.

2 Timothy 4:7
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

1 Corinthians 9:23
I do all this for the sake of the gospel, so that I may share in its blessings.

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Dwelling Place For The Holy Spirit

Jesus Christ is our firm and faithful foundation...and a costly cornerstone.

May we be wise master builders, careful in our construction; a unified body of believers, built together for the indwelling of The Holy Spirit.

My we withstand all elements not born of The Holy Spirit, our building never breached, because we are founded on the tested stone of Jesus.

Corinthians 3:9-11
For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building. By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise master builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one must be careful how he builds. For no one can lay a foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Isaiah 28:16
Therefore thus says the Lord GOD, "Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a tested stone, a costly cornerstone for the foundation, firmly placed. He who believes in it will not be disturbed."

Ephesians 2:20
built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone.

Ephesians 2:21
In Him, the whole building is fitted together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord.

1 Corinthians 3:16
Do you not know that you yourselves are God's temple, and that God's Spirit dwells in you?

1 Peter 2:4
As you come to Him, the living stone, rejected by men, but chosen and precious in God's sight.

Matthew 21:42
Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the Scriptures: 'The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This is from the Lord, and it is marvelous in our eyes'?"

Psalm 118:22
The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief corner stone.

I Cried Out To The Lord...

“I cried out to the LORD in my great trouble, and he answered me. I called to you from the land of the dead, and LORD, you heard me! 

You threw me into the ocean depths, and I sank down to the heart of the sea. The mighty waters engulfed me; I was buried beneath your wild and stormy waves. 

Then I said, ‘O LORD, you have driven me from your presence. Yet I will look once more toward your holy Temple." (Jonah 2:2-4)

"One thing I have desired of the LORD, That will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD All the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD, And to inquire in His temple.

For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; In the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock." (Psalm 27:4-5)

"For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God Than dwell in the tents of wickedness." (Psalm 84:10)

“In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ" (I Peter 1:6-7)

He Is Who He Is

Praise The Lord God Almighty that He IS Who He says He IS!

He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. He never waivers in His love for His precious children. His Word is immutable, His promises are unbreakable and His plans is unshakable.

No matter where we are today, His love, mercy and grace endures forevermore! He IS our perfect, faithful and unchanging Father.

Hallelujah!

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
-Hebrews 13:8

I AM WHO I AM
-Exodus 3:14

For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.
-Psalm 100:5

For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.
-2 Corinthians 1:20

"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, who is and was and is to come--the Almighty.
-Revelation 1:8

In The Light of Jesus

May The Lord shine His countenance upon us...expose and drive out any hidden darkness in our hearts, so we may live a lighted life of transparency before God.

May His Holy Spirit burn brightly for all to see what He has accomplished within us, all for the glory of our Holy and Heavenly Father.

And may we be true imitators of Christ, awake in our faith and walking steadfastly in His fellowship of truth and love...the illuminated path of our Lord and Savior.

Ephesians 5:13-14
But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. This is why it is said:
“Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

Psalm 4:6
Many are saying, "Who will show us any good?' Lift up the light of Your countenance upon us, O LORD!"

Numers 6:25
The LORD make His face shine on you, and be gracious to you;

Psalm 31:16
Make Your face to shine upon Your servant; save me in Your lovingkindness.

John 3:21
But whoever practices the truth comes into the Light, so that it may be clearly seen that what he has done has been accomplished in God.

John 8:12
Once again, Jesus spoke to the people and said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life."

John 12:35
So Jesus told them, "For a little while longer, the Light will be among you. Walk while you have the Light, so that darkness will not overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going."

Fisher of Men

Praise God for His precious, perfect plan to send His Son to dwell among us..to shed His blood as an atoning sacrifice for our sins...to be raised on the third day, that we might be also risen with Him and saved from eternal death.

Thank you, Jesus, that You are a Fisher of men...that You came that the lost may be found; the hurting may be healed; that sinners may be saved.

Thank You, Jesus, that we ALL may call upon You...and in Your Name, be redeemed, restored and reconciled...and dwell in The House of The Lord forever.

John 3:17
For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.

Matthew 18:11
For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.

Mark 2:17
On hearing this, Jesus told them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

Matthew 4:19
"Come, follow Me,'" Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."

1 Timothy 1:15
This is a trustworthy saying, worthy of full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the worst.

Romans 3:23
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God...

Acts 2:21
And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

Romans 10:9
that if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

Romans 10:10
For with your heart you believe and are justified, and with your mouth you confess and are saved.

John 3:16
For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Patience and Perseverance

Perseverance and patience are virtues that we may not willingly welcome into our spiritual transformation. In order for our character to be honed with these, it means we must face difficulties and hardships. These often occur in clusters, sometimes resulting in whole seasons of despair.

We grow weary and worn from the battle, and sometimes feel as though we cannot possibly proceed another day in this way. We feel frustrated, even angry, and may begin to believe that God is far away and doesn't hear our pleas for mercy.

While these seasons can be tremendously difficult to endure, we must not lose hope. Perhaps the outcome is irrelevant, because the lesson lies in the process of moving through the mountain. Thus, we can pray for God to remove our obsession with the problem and expel our own expectations of acceptable solutions; acknowledge that He alone is on The Throne, has the absolute answers and is equipped for the battle. We can ask the Teacher to reveal what He would have us learn in these trials; pray for Him to strengthen our resolve while we wait upon Him. We can carelessly continue to claw forward, or we can allow Him to carry us; pray for His comfort, rest in His embrace and ask that He pour His refreshment into us. We should reconcile the situation in ourselves; accept His portion, provision, help and healing. We must pray persistently for the fulfillment of His promises over our lives; claim victory with confidence and in Christ's Name.

But most of all, we must persist in our hope and trust in The Lord. We must pray for patience and perseverance, regardless of how we "feel" and get real with ourselves and God in our prayers. He already knows about yesterday, today and tomorrow. He is intimately acquainted with our weaknesses and the struggles we face. He knows the best possible outcome for every problem. He has already designed all the ways He intends to shape us. Regardless of the cause of the issue, He can tailor it to a useful and beautiful benefit for His purpose.

And when He deems it time to prevail and we have our blessed breakthrough, we can reflect on all of the marvelous miracles we are able to see in our hindsight. We must praise Him for sustaining us with His righteous hand...for increasing our faith...for fulfilling His promises...and for maturating our character with spiritual patience and perseverance.

Hebrews 10:36
You need to persevere, so that after you have done God's will, you will receive what He has promised.

Romans 12:12
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, persistent in prayer.

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

Romans 2:7
To those who by perseverance in doing good seek glory, honor, and immortality, He will give eternal life.

Hebrews 12:1
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with endurance the race set out for us.

Romans 5:3-4
Not only that, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.

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!

Redeemed!

Redeemed

Let us open our hearts to receive and embrace His glorious gift of grace...freedom, forgiveness, redemption and justification...freely given according to His riches and mercy...never by our own efforts, desires or works.

Praise to The King of Kings!

Romans 3:24
"...and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus."

Romans 9:16
"It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God's mercy."

Ephesians 2:5
"...made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved."

Ephesians 1:7
"In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace."

Freedom from Fear

God's immutable Word tells that us He has not given us a spirit of fear. Walking in a state of perpetual fear is bondage; a spiritual battle only conquered through God and His truth.

Reacting to protect ourselves from eminent danger is a healthy fear response. In contrast, being a slave to fear produces crippling hopelessness, doubt and uncertainty...all strongholds of the enemy. False emotions beget a faulty belief system, which robs us of our peace and derails us from our authentic path of freedom.

As with any darkness, a spirit of fear is demolished by light and truth...and that Truth is The Word of God. We must don the Sword of The Spirit...read, believe, absorb and apply The Word. "Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (John 8:32)

Praise The Lord that He has called us into His marvelous light and that He is with us always!

Joshua 1:8-9
"This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Ephesians 6:17
And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Galatians 5:1
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not be encumbered once more by a yoke of slavery.

John 8:36
So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

Romans 8:15
For you did not receive a spirit of slavery that returns you to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!"

No Fear In Love

Fear. That is a big one.
—
Fear of the unknown, fear of failure, fear of disappointing, fear of being disappointed, fear of being disliked, of being unaccepted, rejected or hurt, even death… we can go on and on about fear.
—
But, where does fear even come from?
—
When I think about all the times I have feared, or begin to fear, it seems like the one thing I am always tracing it back to is, lack of control.
—
As humans, we are naturally born thinking we have the power to control; but, as we grow, we realize, quick, that we don't; and, naturally, we begin to fear... in fact, it’s those of us that seem to understand this the most, that are often the ones that are doing the most to overcome it; because, in a way, that’s what makes us feel as though we are proving what we subconsciously know to be true, wrong; and, in our minds, our proof is our ability to achieve what we have willed for ourselves to do. We “prove ourselves wrong.” But, of course, that is just false comfort... just like the opposite extreme: feeling safe by doing nothing.
—
What I’m trying to say is this: because we’ve subconsciously realized our powerlessness, we’ve developed fear; and, that fear is what drives us in life. It’s what makes our decisions and directs our thoughts; we, literally, are controlled by fear.
—
So, how do we overcome it?
—
God’s Word says: “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” (1 John 4:18)
—
We must be made “perfect” in love! And, God is love (1 John 4:8)...
—
When we’ve finally come to a place to admit that, ultimately, we have no control, we will finally be at a place to be able to receive the One Who DOES have control; and, being one with Him – God – is being one with The Power Who has ALL control.

_ Katie Armstrong

https://whenfaithleaps.wordpress.com/ 

The Bread of Life

Let us always be grateful and mindful that in the wilderness of famine or the valley of temptation, The Word of God prevails...it is our soul's food...the means by which our Spirit is nourished and sustained.

Let us praise Him for feeding us the manna of Jesus Christ, that we may be spiritually strengthened, supported and fulfilled all the days of our lives.

May we always be hungry for Truth...comforted by His Rod and Staff - His Word and The Holy Spirit...and rejoice in The Bread of Life, forevermore...

"He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord." (Deuteronomy 8:3)

"And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst." (John 6:35)

"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me." (Psalm 23:4)

"He provides food for those who fear him; he remembers his covenant forever." (Psalm 111:5)

"I am the bread of life." (John 6:48) Posted by Growing Up In The Word at 5:21 AM No c

Cleansed

Holy and Heavenly Father God,

I pray that today and every day You will partner with me in a thorough examination and cleansing of my heart…reveal, heal and deliver me of all the strongholds I am bound by in my life.

LORD, please expose with Your Truth and Light all the pain, fear, shame, guilt and sorrow that is hidden within dark places of my heart...all the things that prevent me from living a life of freedom, peace and joy that come from a transparent relationship with You.

Father, please show me how to come before You in faith, trust, obedience and submission …and in this exchange, please reveal to me all the lies I have received and believed in my life…partner with me in replacing my deformed belief system with Your Word and Your Truth, which is infallible and endures forever.

Teach me Your Ways, LORD, and show me how to find freedom in forgiveness of self and others…to embrace myself as a new creation...to put away the former things and live each day in the way You designed and ordained long ago...and to see myself through Your eyes, as Your precious child and joint heir with Christ in Your Kingdom of Heaven.

Show me, LORD, how to receive Your Fatherly Forgiveness, Great Grace, Limitless Love and Marvelous Mercy…lead me to bathe in the peaceful, still waters of renewal and sanctification…anoint me with Your Holy Spirit until my cup runs over.

Write a new story on my heart, LORD…one born of The Holy Spirit and guided by the power of Your redemption and restoration...please bless and comfort me with a holy wholeness of healing that is only possible through You, Jehovah-Rapha, my LORD Who Heals.

Abba Father, I praise You for all that You Are, yesterday, today and tomorrow, and pray all these things in the Name of my Savior, Jesus Christ...

Amen.

"Be of good cheer. Your faith has made you well. Go in peace."  (Luke 8:48)

True Friendship

Our culture uses the term friendship very loosely. Social networking Websites like Facebook, Twitter, and Snapchat connect us with scores of “friends” yet many of them we’ve never met, are only acquaintances, and not real or true friends.

Many passages in scripture unveil the meaning of a true friend. They are someone who brings out the best in you, encourages you, exhorts you, who loves and gives unselfishly. They build you up not tear you down.

They listen and speak truth with love and kindness – and when others criticize your, they stand in your defense.

Friendship is never one sided because to have a friend, we must be a friend. Think of your closest friend. Do they reflect attributes of a true friend? Do you?

“A man who has friends must himself be friendly, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”
Proverbs 18:24

“A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need.”
Proverbs 17:17

“As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.”
Proverbs 27:17

““Anyone who withholds kindness from a friend forsakes the fear of the Almighty.”
Job 6:14

Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.”
Proverbs 27:6

“A perverse man sows strife, And a whisperer separates the best of friends.”
Proverbs 16:28

“Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.”
John 15:13

Strength to Strength

Lord, I worship You for all that You are. You are my Lord in the good times as well as it difficult; on the mountaintop as well as in the valley. I praise you in times of great blessing as well as in times of great challenge. It is because of You that I can stand a strong, even when I feel weak. For I know that when I am weakest, You show Yourself strong.

I am grateful for YOUR salvation, deliverance, protection, goodness, and blessings in my life every day. I know that everything I have comes from YOU. Because of your great strength, I go from glory to glory and "strength to strength" no matter what happens in my life.

Thank you for your faithfulness to never leave me or forsake me in all seasons of life and giving me the faith to overcome just as you overcame and declared that nothing can separate me from your great love.

I desire to give you glory in all that I do despite the circumstances so that others can see that nothing is impossible for you, my LORD, my GOD, and my KING, for there is no fear in your great love. For your perfect love casts away all fear.

In Jesus, Name, Amen.

“Though the mountains be shaken, and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken, nor my covenant of peace be removed," says the LORD, who has compassion on you.”
Isaiah 54:10

“That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
Corinthians 12:10

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.”
Corinthians 12:10

“For nothing will be impossible with God.”
Luke 1:37

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[a] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 8:38-39

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. John 1 John 4:18

Called to Forgive

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 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.

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 us petition The Lord of hosts to remove the power of offenses in our lives; surrender to Him any bitterness we harbor in our hearts. Let us pray for forgiveness of others and self...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.

A God Who Completes!

Father God,

I pray that today and every day we will be more fully persuaded and have a renewed confidence in this truth: You are a God who completes!

Lord, You lack nothing and we know that You do not not abandon ANY work You have ordained. For, You are The All Sufficient One and You are only capable of complete perfection!

Father, thank You for beginning the work of Grace within us and for comforting us with Your Truth. You alone will see through to completion Your work in us...according to Your Will...in order to accomplish Your Perfect Plan!

Thank You, Lord, that Your Promises include for us an everlasting life. We humbly praise and thank You for the atoning sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus, so that we may dwell with You for eternity.

Father, we pray for strength of endurance as we set our eyes on Your Kingdom and we give You all the Glory!

In the name of our holy and righteous Savior, Jesus Christ,

Amen!

Irrevocable

Praise God that His grace, mercy, promises, love, forgiveness, redemption and salvation are never ending and unchanging.

Take heart that no matter what circumstances you find yourself in today, our God is mightier. He knows all about yesterday, today and tomorrow. He has gone before you and prepared a way, according to His predestined purpose, because He loves you.

His love for you is pure, passionate, promised and predestined. And, there is absolutely nothing that you can do to alter His love for you. For His gifts and His call are irrevocable...

Romans 8:30
And those He predestined He also called, those He called He also justified, those He justified He also glorified.

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.

Ephesians 1:4
For He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in His presence. In love...

2 Timothy 1:9
He has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not because of our own works, but by His own purpose and by the grace He granted us in Christ Jesus before time eternal.

Titus 1:2
...in the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began.

Ephesians 3:18
...may have power, together with all the saints, to comprehend the length and width and height and depth of His love...

Romans 8:39
...neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord...

Encountering God

To this point in Job’s story, he has defended himself to his friends. When they hinted that perhaps there was something shady in his background, Job denied it. “I have been honest and fair. I have contributed to my community and maintained my integrity. “ When he looked he looked at himself in the light of others, Job came out looking pretty good.

We like comparing ourselves with others. When we make others the standard for righteousness, we often come out looking good. “ I am not perfect, but I am a lot better that he is.” But in the end, we won’t be judged by the standards of others. The standard by which we will be judged is Jesus Christ.

When Job turned his eyes toward God, his view of himself changed. He said, “I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” He who had maintained his integrity suddenly saw himself in the light of God’s holiness and purity. Seeing his own filth, he repented.

You may pride yourself in your accomplishments or successes. But mark this, when you see a proud man, You see a man who has not yet encountered God.

Because once you truly see God, there is no place for pride – even if you are a minister, a president, or the Pope. Once a person truly sees God, the result is deep contrition and humility. The result is a repentant heart – a heart that cries out, “God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”

by Pastor Chuck Smith
Wisdom for Today

Truth and Mercy

May our hearts be softened to receive and reciprocate the truth and mercy of The Gospel of Christ.

For, when we allow this to be written in our hearts - truly receiving what He has so freely given to us - we will extend this same mercy, kindness, forgiveness, hope, help, compassion and love to others.

When we cling to and walk sincerely and diligently in His truth and love, our lamps burn bright as a beacon to God's hurting children, that they might also be led to His truth and find comfort in the arms of our Father.

It is, after all, the way of Christ...for He is steadfast in His love, grace and mercy to us us...forevermore.

John 1:17
For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

Psalm 89:33
Nevertheless my lovingkindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail.

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

Lamentations 3:22-23
Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

Iron Sharpens Iron

Let our hearts be united in The Holy Spirit and bear the image of our Heavenly Father...

Let us support and encourage one another in our supernatural union...strengthening and spurring each other on to good deeds...carrying our brethren's burdens in brotherly love and with mutual edification...as true imitators of Christ and in fulfillment of His Law.

Hebrews 3:13
But exhort one another daily, as long as it is called today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.

Hebrews 13:1
Continue in brotherly love.

1 Peter 1:22
Since you have purified your souls by obedience to the truth, so that you have a genuine love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from a pure heart.

Romans 12:10
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Outdo yourselves in honoring one another.

Galatians 6:2
Carry one another's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the Law of Christ.

Philippians 2:4
Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

1 Thessalonians 5:14
And we urge you, brothers, to admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, and be patient with everyone.

Hebrews 10:24
And let us consider how to spur one another on to love and good deeds.

Ecclesiastes 4:10
For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up.

Ecclesiastes 4:12
And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart.

John 15:12
This is My commandment, that you love one another as I loved you.

Delivered

Unfortunately, none of us has an automatic detour to prevent us from encountering valleys in our human journey. We live in a sin-stained world and there is no perfection on this side of Eternity. However, as believers, we have a choice not to wander in the wilderness. If we are walking with Jesus, we are never lost!

In these seasons that try our souls and test our faith, we must have hope and fix our gaze on the eternal prize that awaits us. Our faithful God of unlimited resources will enable us to navigate in perfect peace if we place unwavering faith in Him. God is ever-present and always offers us spiritual and emotional protection. God alone is our means of overcoming every temptation placed before us. He is our anchor, hope and comfort when we are faced with uncertainty, adversity and heartache.

And if we do get momentarily derailed, our Heavenly Father is waiting with welcoming arms for His prodigal children. He alone holds the power to remove bondage and restore us to the path of righteousness. Deliverance is just a prayer away, and we are never beyond the reach of our Shepherd.

Lord, we pray for Your deliverance in the wilderness of our momentary troubles, and that You will enable us to maintain the eternal compass of Jesus Christ. We trust You to stretch and bend us according to Your will, and lead us to Your peaceful and living waters. Our hope, faith, peace and rest is in You alone.

In The Name of Jesus, our Refuge, Redeemer and Deliverer,

Amen.

Psalm 23:4
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

1 Peter 2:25
For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Luke 15:20
So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still in the distance, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.

Isaiah 53:6
All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him.

John 10:11
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.

Ezekiel 34:15
"I will feed My flock and I will lead them to rest," declares the Lord GOD.

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

Zechariah 9:12
Return to the stronghold, O prisoners who have the hope; This very day I am declaring that I will restore double to you.

Hebrews 6:19
We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and steadfast. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain,

Romans 8:18
I consider that our present sufferings are not comparable to the glory that will be revealed in us.

2 Corinthians 4:17
For our light and temporary affliction is producing for us an eternal glory that far outweighs our troubles.

Revelation 7:17
For the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd. He will lead them to fountains of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.