Blessed – Page 13 – Praying Pint

Kicking and Screaming

“The LORD is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him. The LORD is the strength of his people; he is the saving refuge of his anointed.”

Psalms 86:16 Turn to me and be gracious to me; give your strength to your servant, and save the son of your maidservant. Show me a sign of your favor, that those who hate me may see and be put to shame because you, LORD, have helped me and comforted me.

Psalms 69:16 Answer me, O LORD, for your steadfast love is good; according to your abundant mercy, turn to me.

Psalms 90:13 Return, O LORD! How long? Have pity on your servants!

Psalms 119:132 Turn to me and be gracious to me, as is your way with those who love your name.

Psalms 84:5 Blessed are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion.

Psalms 138:3 On the day I called, you answered me; my strength of soul you increased.

Isaiah 40:29 He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

Zechariah 10:12 I will make them strong in the LORD, and they shall walk in his name,” declares the LORD.

Ephesians 3:16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being,

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Why is it important to have the right source for inner strength? Where does true inner strength come from? How does it appear in our life? Living this side of eternity will have it’s battles. Walking into these battles there are times we walk with God, times God carries us through them, and times when He drags us kicking and screaming through them. In Him alone will there be strength to face whatever comes our way. In Him we have no fear of tomorrow. In Him there is peace that passes all understanding. The times we walk with God to face head that which is before us are during times when His Holy Spirit fills us, we are listening and in tune with His leading, we walk fully trusting and relying on His power. The times He is carrying us are during those times when life hits us with a punch so hard it takes the wind from our sail and we can’t seem to move or find out way through it. He picks us up and carries us in His power, strength, might, and love. His arms wrap around us and we find comfort, refuge, and hope. The times He drags us is when we don’t listen, we shut Him from our life, we walk apart from Him and try to go our own way. We think we are in control and have no need for Him or His word of truth. It seems as though God drags us into a battle so big with so much uncertainty, where we truly can’t seem to find our way through it. Our own strength is drained to a point we quit kicking and screaming and seek Him for we have tried to handle it on our own. We find peace, hope, joy, and comfort. I don’t know where you are but the best place to be is humbly serving, honoring, following, and obeying God. Spend time in His word and build your faith in Him who can do all things. In Hi who can do more than we ask and much more than we can imagine.

They have not know my ways

“So they said to him, “Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform?”

“In spite of all this, they still sinned; despite his wonders, they did not believe.”

“They are a people who go astray in their heart, and they have not known my ways.”

“And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!”

John 20:24 Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.” Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

Psalms 78:11 They forgot his works and the wonders that he had shown them. In the sight of their fathers he performed wonders in the land of Egypt, in the fields of Zoan. He divided the sea and let them pass through it, and made the waters stand like a heap. In the daytime he led them with a cloud, and all the night with a fiery light. He split rocks in the wilderness and gave them drink abundantly as from the deep. He made streams come out of the rock and caused waters to flow down like rivers. Yet they sinned still more against him, rebelling against the Most High in the desert. They tested God in their heart by demanding the food they craved. They spoke against God, saying, “Can God spread a table in the wilderness? He struck the rock so that water gushed out and streams overflowed. Can he also give bread or provide meat for his people?” Therefore, when the LORD heard, he was full of wrath; a fire was kindled against Jacob; his anger rose against Israel, because they did not believe in God and did not trust his saving power.

Hebrews 3:12 Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God.

Hebrews 3:18 And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient? So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.

Hebrews 4:1 Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it. For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened.

Psalms 85:8 Let me hear what God the LORD will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, to his saints; but let them not turn back to folly.

2 Peter 2:19 They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved. For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them.

It is not uncommon for unbelief to enter our heart and mind. We have a sinful nature that does not want to believe in, trust in, cling to, or rely on God. Just look at our culture and how far it has fallen away from God. Pornography is viewed as adult entertainment. Child pornography is at an all time high. Domestic minor sex trafficking is climbing. Higher education explaining and teaching there is no God. People never being satisfied. That which was shameful and done in secret is now a normal way of life. It is as though people are living without a thought that there will be a day of judgement coming. We choose to live for God, believing in Him, or we choose to deny Him. We choose if we commit all of our heart, mind, and soul to humbly serving, honoring, following, obeying, and loving Him and His plan and purpose for our lives. There is no middle ground. We serve Him fully or not at all. Our culture seems to have us believing the lie that it is possible to live in a middle place, somewhere between full commitment to God and living as though He has no place in our daily lives. This lie tells us that we are good enough or doing good enough to receive eternal life. The truth of his word says it is not by works or being good enough. It is by faith alone we are saved. The lie has us performing for that which cannot be obtained by performance. The lie has us pretending everything is ok when in fact our heart is far from Him. God is real. Jesus Christ death and resurrection is real. Salvation by faith through Him alone is real. God’s word is truth. A day of judgement coming is real. Eternity is real. Heaven is real. Hell is real. Saying and believing this is false does not make it false. Denying sin is sin does not make it right. Everything we do ought to be done in light of His word. Our culture and our sinful nature want us to deny God fully into our lives. Do you want purpose in your life? Believe in Him with all your heart, mind and soul. Trust in Him alone. Live for Him alone. Stay in His word. Study His word. Ask Him to make His word alive in you.

Take heart

“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way.”

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,”

John 16:33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Acts 14:22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.

Hebrews 11:25 choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.

1 Peter 5:9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.

2 Timothy 3:12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,

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 hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

Psalms 85:8 Let me hear what God the LORD will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, to his saints; but let them not turn back to folly. Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him, that glory may dwell in our land. Steadfast love and faithfulness meet; righteousness and peace kiss each other. Faithfulness springs up from the ground, and righteousness looks down from the sky.

Ephesians 2:14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near.

Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Hebrews 13:20 Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

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

Note the times reference is made to: “tribulation, hostility, sin, broken down, persecuted, more than conquerors, strengthening, guarding your heart, resisting, peace that passes all understanding and not being afraid”. Why would we think this world give us any hope of peace when God’s world indicates, that this side of eternity, our world is far from peace apart from Him. If we are active in our pursuit of humbly serving Him we will see the world as it is – apart from God. The world we live in is not at peace with God. Man has gone on his own path which does not serve God. If we are at peace with what is going on in the world I think we are blind and deaf. Staying in God’s word, with a bright light, the Holiness of God and the sinfulness of mankind is very clear. We choose paths that give no peace, and when issues and troubles of this life pounce on us our strength to handle them is depleted very quickly. In our own strength we can do very little, and even less things of God. His purpose and plan for us is found in His word. Do not go through life complacent and neglecting Him and His word. There will always be things of this world battling for your time, effort, thoughts, and actions. Give time to His word and the Holy Spirit will lead you in paths of peace and comfort.

Tell you plainly

John 16:25 “I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father. In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father.”

Acts 1:9 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

Luke 24:51 While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven.

Hebrews 1:1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

Zephaniah 3:17 The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.

Can you imagine what it would have been like to have been there with Christ at the time of His ascension . Many scriptures come to my mind when I think about His last minutes on earth; “I have come to give you life more abundantly, I have come to set the captive free, I have come to give sight to the blind and hearing to the deaf, I have come to give light unto the world, I am the way the truth and the life, I do what the Father tells me, I free the demon possessed, I love you, I give my life freely, I forgive you, I am the spring of living water, I go prepare a place for you so that where I am there you will be also, I am coming again, You have believed in the Father believe also in me, Father forgive them they know not what they do, I will send a helper to you….. Being mindful of His death, and resurrection for salvation to all who trust in this redemptive sacrifice but, there is more to life than salvation. Salvation is the corner stone of our faith and from this we grow (or at least we should. Our purpose on earth is to humbly serve, honor, follow, and obey Him. Growing needs the flow of living water found in His word. Apart from it we are prone to wonder and follow diluted truth. Our culture tries to pull and direct our efforts towards things of this world that certainly do not last. The only thing that lasts is that which is given and done in honor and glory of Him alone. There is not room for complacency and neglect in our walk with God. His word is a light to our soul and a beacon to lead our way through this life. Leave no room for Satans lies to filter in and essentially make your life meaningless in God’s work this side of eternity. There is not much spoken of anymore about sin and a Holy God. God’s word is able to divide our thoughts and intents. It convicts us of sin and leads us into His arms. It gives us peace, strength, power, courage, hope, joy, and assurance of eternal life. Commit to spending time in His word and growing in understanding and knowledge of Him and His plan and purposes. He speaks whispers of guidance through it. Give time each day into His word and speak of His work in your life. Bring Hope to the lost and dark world. Be a light shinning in the darkness. He is coming again.

Keep you from falling

“And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true;”

John 16:1 “I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away. They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. And they will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor me.

Matthew 11:6 And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”

Matthew 13:21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away.

Matthew 24:10 And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another.

1 Peter 2:8 and “A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.

Romans 9:32 Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were based on works. They have stumbled over the stumbling stone, as it is written, “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense; and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”

“They stumble because they disobey the word” !!! – “And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true“. What is it that gives rise to the reason we stumble and disobey? There seems to be a pattern throughout scripture where man sees the work of God’s hand and tastes the blessings of His grace, mercy, and love, but the rooting of this into their life does not hold. Their life is consumed by the cares of this world and they become blind and deaf to God and His purpose and plan. No one is immune to this happening. Yet this is no excuse. We are to be mindful of our sinful nature and it’s desire to reject things of God and place self and self interests first. The path to this state is wide, inviting and enticing. If we do not know of it’s path how are we to keep from going down it? What are the signs of being on it? We can not assume this is recognized on our own. the human lens we look through cannot focus on things of God. It is only through the Holy Spirit, our helper!!!!!!! that we see clearly things of God. His word is critical in being able to be led by the Holy Spirit. With out His word being active in our life and being the light on the path to serving, honoring and glorifying Him we are in the dark on the wide path that leads away from Him. Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the way that leads to life, and only a few find it. Beware of complacency and neglecting God’s word. Spend time in His word and know the way, truth and life.

I go prepare a place

“Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.”

John 14:1 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.”

John 14:18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.”

Matthew 25:32-34 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

2 Corinthians 5:6 So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.

1 John 3:2 Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.

Revelation 22:3 No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.

We will see Him. He will be our light. We will be with Him forever. We will be like Him. We are His children. We are blessed and have a kingdom to look forward to. God loves us. He will not leave us. He will come to us. He will prepare a place for us. He will take us to Himself. Our home will be with Him. Faith is the substance of things hoped for and evidence of things not seen. We walk by faith and have courage because of this faith. Our faith is built on Jesus Christ and through Him these promises are ours. Through these promises we have reason to live and can face whatever troubles come our way. We have peace that passes worldly understanding because He lives and is coming again to take us to Himself. Will He find us waiting and looking forward to His return? Set your mind on humbly serving, honoring, following, and obeying Him until we see Him again and live with Him forever and ever.

Do no be deceived

“Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brother”

John 13:27 Then after he had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly.”

John 13:2 During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him,

Matthew 12:45 Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there, and the last state of that person is worse than the first. So also will it be with this evil generation.”

Luke 22:3 Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve.

Proverbs 1:16 for their feet run to evil,

Ecclesiastes 9:3 This is an evil in all that is done under the sun, that the same event happens to all. Also, the hearts of the children of man are full of evil, and madness is in their hearts while they live, and after that they go to the dead.

James 1:13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

James 1:12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

If we are born with a sinful nature and this is the natural mindset and heart of man how are we to know what is sin in our life? How do we know the difference between good and bad? Our natural mind would conclude that if it benefits society and the culture identifies it as good, then it must be pleasing to God. Viewing this from this standpoint gives a very strong illusion of being right with God and serving Him. However nothing could be worse for our soul. Trying to be and do good is not serving God. It is nothing more than trying to earn and work way to be right with God. Performing acts of goodness and kindness apart from humbly seeking, serving, honoring, following and obeying God are man’s unworthy attempts and used by Satan to blind us into thinking we are right with God. this mindset leads us down paths of complacency and neglecting God’s word in favor of doing what we think is right. They mindset tells us we are doing what God wants. This is a lie. It is false. True servants of God desire and seek His purpose and plan. They continue in reading scripture and are fully aware of their sinful nature. They seek God to expose their sin and lead them in paths that honor Him. They do not try to please God apart from seeking His purpose and plan. They choose to be lead and their heart, mind, eyes and ears are open to His leading. Be mindful of your sinful nature and it’s desires, and Satan’s deceits.

Thankful – God will supply all our needs

“Do not my words do good to him who walks uprightly?”

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

“Whoever walks in integrity will be delivered”

Psalms 84:4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house, ever singing your praise! Blessed are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion. As they go through the Valley of Baca they make it a place of springs; the early rain also covers it with pools. They go from strength to strength; each one appears before God in Zion. O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer; give ear, O God of Jacob! Behold our shield, O God; look on the face of your anointed! 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. For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly. O LORD of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you!

Philippians 4:19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Psalms 34:9 Oh, fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack! The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.

Proverbs 2:7 he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity,

Proverbs 28:6 Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity than a rich man who is crooked in his ways.

Have you ever thought of what it is that hinders walking with God? Lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh, greed, and pride all lead down a path of ever wanting and never finding. These are all temporary satisfactions that have no end and will never satisfy the heart, soul and mind. Satisfaction the world offers is tied to that which cannot satisfy the heart and soul. Searching for satisfaction outside of God is like chasing the wind – (never caught – only a temporary sensory feeling – always changing direction). Those who desire and seek God choose to be humbly serving, honoring, following, and obeying Him. Their eyes are on Him and eternity promised. Holiness, purity, genuine love, kindness, faith, hope, generosity, obedience, service, and humbleness replace complacency, neglect, lust, greed, and worldly satisfaction. Their hope is in the Lord. Their trust is in the Lord. Their strength is in Him. Their peace is in Him. Their want is to honor Him. Their desire is to serve, follow and obey Him. Their wisdom and food for life this side of eternity is found in His word and promises.

Trials and Trouble

“If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.”

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

Psalms 81:7 In distress you called, and I delivered you; I answered you in the secret place of thunder; I tested you at the waters of Meribah

Psalms 50:15 and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.”

Psalms 91:14 “Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name. When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him.

Exodus 2:23 During those many days the king of Egypt died, and the people of Israel groaned because of their slavery and cried out for help. Their cry for rescue from slavery came up to God.

Exodus 14:10 When Pharaoh drew near, the people of Israel lifted up their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them, and they feared greatly. And the people of Israel cried out to the LORD.

Exodus 14:30 Thus the LORD saved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. Israel saw the great power that the LORD used against the Egyptians, so the people feared the LORD, and they believed in the LORD and in his servant Moses.

Exodus 20:18 Now when all the people saw the thunder and the flashes of lightning and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking, the people were afraid and trembled, and they stood far off and said to Moses, “You speak to us, and we will listen; but do not let God speak to us, lest we die.” Moses said to the people, “Do not fear, for God has come to test you, that the fear of him may be before you, that you may not sin.” The people stood far off, while Moses drew near to the thick darkness where God was.

James 1:12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

Troubles and trials come to all man. None of us are immune to this. We like to think it is not going to come into our life but it does. So, when it comes how do we do? How do we respond? Do we have a place of refuge, hope, and comfort to where we can run and find peace and KNOW without a doubt we are protected? I am sure if we knew the hour at which it was to come we would prepare for it. Yet the moment is unknown and never is. The response can very. Some may shrink back in despair. Others may get mad, try to handle it on their own, or blame others, become vindictive, and retaliate. We have seen many of these responses and some of them we have even had ourselves. I think the response is closely related to how close we are to God. If we are living complacent to humbly serving Him, and if we are neglecting reading His word, and if our desire is more self centered than honoring, following and obeying Him there is a good chance we will find very little peace, hope, and refuge. Yet if we purpose and desire to stay close to Him, humbly bow to His sovereign hand, acknowledge He is in control and will protect, comfort and lead us through the valley of the shadow of death our response will have a totally different beginning and journey through it. Stay in His word. Study it. stay close to Him in prayer. Commit each day to Him. Ask Him to guide your path in a way that honors Him. Ask Him to open your ears to hear His whispers. Seek to follow and obey Him. Trials and troubles will surely be part of our live this side of eternity. Let them find you in His ever loving arms of comfort, refuge, peace, hope, strength, and love.

Gentle and lowly of heart

“Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

John 13:13 You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.

Romans 15:5 May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus,

Ephesians 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

1 Peter 2:21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.

1 Peter 3:17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.

1 John 2:6 whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.

Psalms 119:1 Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the LORD! Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart, who also do no wrong, but walk in his ways! You have commanded your precepts to be kept diligently. Oh that my ways may be steadfast in keeping your statutes!

What does it take to live in harmony? We are encouraged and given endurance from God to imitate the example of Jesus Christ, being lowly of heart and gentle in spirit. We ought to walk in His ways being diligent to know, understand, follow and obey His precepts. Because of our sinful nature, this is a battle everyday and culture tries to convince us that being good is good enough, being better than most is good enough, that we are not doing what is legally wrong so we are good enough…… It is not about being good enough but rather being in Christ. Needless to say our battle is not on the outside but on the inside within our souls. Feeding our souls with His word and having a heart deep desire to humbly serve honor, follow and obey Him will have a positive affect against our sinful nature and influence of our culture. Be an example of Christ and a reflective light of His grace, mercy, and love.