Sadness to Rejoicing
Category: Scripture
Trust and Peace
I have talked about different verses on peace. This verse reminds us that we need our mind “stayed” on God. According to Step Bible stayed means “to lean, lay, rest, support, put, uphold, lean upon”. I like the sound of that. Life can be hard. We need a lot of help. We gain much of that support through our Heavenly Father – through reading and studying His Word, praying and spending time with other believers.
We need a lot of help to keep our minds fixed on God. There are so many distractions. However, the more we work on keeping our focus on God, the more peace we will have.
Dear Heavenly Father, please help us to keep our minds fixed on You. We need Your strength to fight the distractions. Thank You that we can trust You.
I pray this in Jesus’ name.
God is so good.
Where to Find Truth
We live in a day and age where lies are perpetuated. Romans 1 tells us that the wicked “exchange the truth of God for a lie.” I know we are seeing that today.
As a child of God, I have the Holy Spirit dwelling in me to guide me to the truth. I know the concept of the ministry of the Spirit can seem nebulous. However, God has given us various verses in His Word to help us understand. In this verse we learn that the Holy Spirit is under the authority of Jesus (this verse are the words of Christ when He lived on earth).
I can take comfort in the ministry of truth from the Holy Spirit. As I read and study God’s Word as well as spend time in prayer I will know I have the truth.
Dear Heavenly Father, please help me to seek the truth and share that with others. Please guide me through Your Spirit as You have promised. Thank You for providing the means to the truth through Your Word and Spirit.
I pray this in Jesus’ name.
God is so good.
Where is Peace?
We live in a world where peace seems illusive. I know it can be challenging. There are so many problems in the world (John 16) and then there are the struggles within (Romans 7). Today’s verse talks about the only way to obtain real peace. Through our Savior, Jesus Christ. God is the only way to survive the challenges of life. We do not need to be troubled or fear.
That is easy to say, but challenging to live. I’m thankful God gave us His Word and the Holy Spirit to help us along the way.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the peace You give. Please help us to study Your Word and submit to the ministry of the Holy Spirit as we seek the peace You have promised.
I pray this in Jesus’ name.
God is so good.
Ability through Grace
Part of our identity as believers of Jesus Christ is good works. Doing good works on our own is exhausting and frankly, not possible for long. God gives us the means to “abound in every good work.” That is only possible through His grace. As I study God’s Word and seek to live it, I learn more about how God’s grace works. This is a life long pursuit.
Dear Heavenly Father, please help me to focus on Your grace. I want to live the sufficiency that brings. Thank You for providing.
I pray this in Jesus’ name.
God is so good.
How to Hold Fast
19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
Hebrews 10:19-25
I love this passage of Scripture. It reminds children of God that we have confidence in going to our Heavenly Father. Verse 23 is my favorite part – I need to hold fast and God is faithful. I know there are many times I don’t feel as though I can hold without wavering. Yet my loving, heavenly Father is faithful – unwavering.
One help God has provided is other believers. Verses 24-25 tell us what we are to do for each other. God knows we cannot be faithful without other believers. We need to be a network of strength for each other. The end of verse 25 tells us that we need to encourage one another more as time goes on. We need to read and study God’s Word and encourage each other with what we have learned. The more difficult life gets, the more we need to band together – holding each other up.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for Your faithfulness. Thank You for giving us instruction in Your Word. Please help us to hold fast and encourage each other to do the same. Please draw us nearer to You each day.
I pray this in Jesus name.
God is so good.
Vigilance for Life
Our hearts are considered the seat of our emotions, intellect and will. Proverbs tells us to “keep our heart with all vigilance”. Emotions are powerful and can lead us astray without proper use of the intellect and will. Our society pushes allowing our emotions to lead. God knew this would happen and gave us guidance in His Word. The book of Proverbs is filled with wisdom to help us lead our emotions appropriately.
Managing our emotions is challenging, but a worthwhile pursuit. Living the way God tells us is always worth the effort.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the wisdom You give. Please guide us to be vigilant with our hearts. We need Your help to direct our emotions, intellect and will towards Your ways.
I pray this in Jesus’ name.
God is so good.
Take Refuge and Rejoice
Walking in Wisdom
I fear as believers we sometimes assume we are walking in wisdom when we are not. The apostle Paul reminded the Christians in Ephesus to walk as wise and to use time with that same wisdom. Clearly, we all need to hear it.
The best source of wisdom is God’s Word. We need to continue to read and study the Bible to make sure we are “making the best use of the time”. Please, friends, don’t assume you are walking in wisdom. Make sure by reading and studying the Bible, spending time in prayer and with believers who will encourage your spiritual growth.
Dear Heavenly Father, please guide me towards wisdom. Please help me to put the continued effort towards becoming like Your Son. Please direct my path to believers who can help me and whom I can help. I want more of You.
I pray this in Jesus’ name.
God is so good.
He Hears and I Watch
Pleading in Prayer 