Tag: Path

The Light of God’s word

Psalms 119:105   Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.  I have sworn an oath and confirmed it, to keep your righteous rules.  I am severely afflicted; give me life, O LORD, according to your word!  Accept my freewill offerings of praise, O LORD, and teach me your rules.  I hold my life in my hand continually, but I do not forget your law.  The wicked have laid a snare for me, but I do not stray from your precepts.  Your testimonies are my heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart.  I incline my heart to perform your statutes forever, to the end.

Proverbs 6:23    For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light, and the reproofs of discipline are the way of life,

Ephesians 5:13    But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible,

2 Peter 1:19     And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts,

Psalms 19:8     the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes;

Psalms 43:3     Send out your light and your truth; let them lead me;

Psalms 18:28     For it is you who light my lamp; the LORD my God lightens my darkness.

Job 29:3    when his lamp shone upon my head, and by his light I walked through darkness,

We can know, as we walk the road of life, the word of God will make our steps clear.We would not know where to step without the guidance of God’s word. It is possible to walk the path of life not knowing where our steps fall.  We don’t know if our foot will step on good ground or dangerous ground; we are not self-aware. God’s word will be a lamp to our feet. Simply said, the Bible should help us walk the way God wants us to walk. Think of all the different words we use to describe how a person walks: stroll, saunter, amble, trudge, plod, dawdle, hike, tramp, tromp, slog, stomp, march, stride, sashay, glide, troop, patrol, wander, ramble, tread, prowl, promenade, roam, traipse, mosey, and perambulate. Just as different words show that there are many different ways to walk, God’s word has many different ways to light our paths.

How are we to walk? “walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love” – “they rest in their beds who walk in their uprightness” – “and to walk humbly with your God” – “walk in the light as He is in the light”.  None of these are possible without the light of God’s word lighting our way.

“Thus is our passage in a dark and perilous way irradiated by the lamp and light of the word. But except the lamp be lighted – except the teaching of the Spirit accompany the word, all is darkness – thick darkness. Let us not be content to read the word without obtaining some light from it in our understanding.” (Bridges)

“One of the most practical benefits of God’s word is guidance in the acts of daily life; it is not sent to astound us with its brilliance, but to guide us by its instruction.” (Spurgeon)

The word of God is light and brings light; it doesn’t make things darker or harder to understand. It is a book of LIGHT.

Psalms 97:11  Light is sown for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart.

Psalms 18:28     For it is you who light my lamp; the LORD my God lightens my darkness.

Psalms 112:4    Light dawns in the darkness for the upright; he is gracious, merciful, and righteous.

Job 22:28     You will decide on a matter, and it will be established for you, and light will shine on your ways.

Proverbs 4:18     But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day.

Isaiah 60:1-2     Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.  For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the LORD will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you.

Micah 7:9    I will bear the indignation of the LORD because I have sinned against him, until he pleads my cause and executes judgment for me. He will bring me out to the light; I shall look upon his vindication.

John 12:46     I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.

Revelation 21:23    And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb.

Revelation 22:5     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.

James 5:7-11     Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains.  You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.  Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door.  As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.  Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.

Lost without hope and understanding

“For this is a people without discernment; therefore he who made them will not have compassion on them; he who formed them will show them no favor.”

“They are both stupid and foolish; the instruction of idols is but wood!”

“If they were wise, they would understand this; they would discern their latter end!”

Psalms 94:8  Understand, O dullest of the people! Fools, when will you be wise?  He who planted the ear, does he not hear? He who formed the eye, does he not see?  He who disciplines the nations, does he not rebuke? He who teaches man knowledge—  the LORD—knows the thoughts of man, that they are but a breath.

Jeremiah 8:6-8    I have paid attention and listened, but they have not spoken rightly; no man relents of his evil, saying, ‘What have I done?’ Everyone turns to his own course, like a horse plunging headlong into battle.  Even the stork in the heavens knows her times, and the turtledove, swallow, and crane keep the time of their coming, but my people know not the rules of the LORD.  “How can you say, ‘We are wise, and the law of the LORD is with us’? But behold, the lying pen of the scribes has made it into a lie.

Proverbs 12:1    Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid.

Psalms 49:10    For he sees that even the wise die; the fool and the stupid alike must perish and leave their wealth to others.  Their graves are their homes forever, their dwelling places to all generations, though they called lands by their own names  Man in his pomp will not remain; he is like the beasts that perish.  This is the path of those who have foolish confidence; yet after them people approve of their boasts. Selah

Proverbs 1:22    “How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge?

Proverbs 8:5    O simple ones, learn prudence; O fools, learn sense.

Romans 1:21-22    For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.  Claiming to be wise, they became fools,

Titus 3:3    For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.

The end is clear for those who choose to walk their own path in this world.  We hear it said “they did it their way” or “he is self made” and give head nod to their accomplishment.  This is the way of the world- proud, boasting, always seeking and wanting more, taking paths in life that seem right but do not include God, seeking approval of man rather than God, believing lies to condone their actions, greedy. Scripture says these people are foolish and stupid.  Scripture also says  For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.  We were no different but somehow through God’s grace, mercy, and opening our heart and mind to the truth through Jesus Christ we were made new.  We were forgiven.  We were changed.  No longer having the passions and seeking pleasures of this world we found purpose, safety, hope, love, joy, peace, and comfort through Jesus Christ. We were lost but now we are found in Him.  Never forget the path from which you were saved.  That path of destruction and eternal hell.  Never forget that we too were once foolish and disobedient.  Keep speaking Christ into the lives of both the lost and saved.  God’s word does not return void – it will accomplish what He has planned.  What does it matter if a person rejects the message of Christ 100 times.  Might they not receive Him on 101?

Chosen, Planted, Rooted, Living Water

“Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”

“But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God. I trust in the steadfast love of God forever and ever.”

Psalms 92:12  The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. They are planted in the house of the LORD; they flourish in the courts of our God.  They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green, to declare that the LORD is upright; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.

Isaiah 65:22     They shall not build and another inhabit; they shall not plant and another eat; for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be, and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands.

Romans 11:17     But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree,

Isaiah 61:3    to grant to those who mourn in Zion— to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he may be glorified.

2 Peter 3:18    But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Psalms 71:18    So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come.

Job 17:9    Yet the righteous holds to his way, and he who has clean hands grows stronger and stronger

Proverbs 4:18     But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day.

Isaiah 46:4    even to your old age I am he, and to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save.

Jeremiah 17:8    He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.”

Psalms 1:3    He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.

Galatians 5:22-23     But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness  gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Philippians 1:11    filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

Chosen by God and planted and rooted by living water bearing fruit into an old age.  Being planted and rooted by living water does not secure us.  Scripture also says that the axe is laid to the root of the trees that does not bear fruit. God has planted but how do we get watered?  Through His word.  If there is little to no fruit there is a very good chance there is little to no Living Water.  Notice, in the scripture above, all of that which is an outcome of being planted, rooted and supplied living water for growth.  Fruit in our lives.  We see purpose in our lives.  This living water gives us hope, joy, patience, gladness, kindness, peace and gentleness.   This living water still nourishes us during times of heat and drought.  When Christ met and spoke with the Samaritan woman by the well he said “I will give you living water from which you will never thirst again”.  We need to be mindful of the fact that when eyes to heart and mind thirst for things of this world more than this living water we will always be thirsty for more.  Drink daily from the Living Water.

Imitators of God

“For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.”

Psalms 85:13  Righteousness will go before him and make his footsteps a way.

Psalms 89:14     Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before you.

Isaiah 58:8     Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.

Psalms 119:35     Lead me in the path of your commandments, for I delight in it.

John 13:14     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.

Ephesians 5:1    Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.  And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Hebrews 12:1    Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

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

Righteousness and Justice are the foundation of the throne of God.  Steadfast love and faithfulness shine  a light on the path our live should follow.  Jesus walked this side of heaven teaching with His word and also as an example of humbly serving, honoring, following, and obeying God the heavenly Father.  Paul said we ought to imitators of God, walking in love and setting aside every sin that clings so closely to us.  We are to live like this with a heart desire and endurance.  In Psalms David requested to be led on a path that followed God’s statues and commands.  There is a choice required in our heart, mind and soul to seek and know God.  This same choice desires to be led on paths that honor and glorify Him.  Each day we have a choice to commit to following Him or be complacent.  We have a choice to know Him more and more each day or neglect His word.  To be imitators of God and be a light in the darkness, time in His word with desire to humbly serve, honor, follow and obey Him are essential.

Out of Darkness

“And I said: Hear, you heads of Jacob and rulers of the house of Israel! Is it not for you to know justice?”

Psalms 82:4  Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.” They have neither knowledge nor understanding, they walk about in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken.

Psalms 53:3  They have all fallen away; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one. Have those who work evil no knowledge, who eat up my people as they eat bread, and do not call upon God?

Romans 1:28     And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done

Proverbs 1:29  Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the LORD,  would have none of my counsel and despised all my reproof, therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way, and have their fill of their own devices.

Proverbs 4:19   The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know over what they stumble.

Ecclesiastes 2:14    The wise person has his eyes in his head, but the fool walks in darkness. And yet I perceived that the same event happens to all of them.

1 John 2:11    But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

Proverbs 2:5  then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.  For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;  he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity,  guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of his saints.  Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, every good path;  for wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul;  discretion will watch over you, understanding will guard you,  delivering you from the way of evil, from men of perverted speech,  who forsake the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness,

How sad would it be for God to leave a person to their own devices. Imagine God offering a place of refuge, peace, hope, and strength  with eternal life upon death. He communicated resurrection to a place that He has created for those who are called by Him.  The fact is, all have been called but few listen and take the offer of His gift of life.  A void in their heart that at one time was open to know God but over time it became hard and a choice was made to have nothing to do with Him.   Choosing to believe the liar of this world rather than the Creator.  We  never know when a person’s heart, mind and soul have fully hardened to God so our responsibility is to continually speak hope of Christ into their life.  Bring a reflection of His light into the darkness that surrounds us.   All of us were once lost and without hope, living as though there was no eternal consequences.  Someone, being led by God, spoke Christ to us and God softened our heart and opened our ears to hear the need and forgiveness of our sin. Stay in His word, look and listen for opportunities to be used by Him to bring hope to the lost.

Become brighter

“Whoever does not love me does not keep my words”

“But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day.”

John 3:9  Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?”  Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things?  Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things?

Isaiah 50:2     Why, when I came, was there no man; why, when I called, was there no one to answer? Is my hand shortened, that it cannot redeem? Or have I no power to deliver?

Isaiah 42:16    And I will lead the blind in a way that they do not know, in paths that they have not known I will guide them. I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground. These are the things I do, and I do not forsake them.

Isaiah 65:2    I spread out my hands all the day to a rebellious people, who walk in a way that is not good, following their own devices;

Acts 28:27    “‘Go to this people, and say, “You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive.”  For this people’s heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed; lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.’

Scripture from God states many hearts are dull and eyes and ears shut to the word of God.  They can not perceive Him, or see His hand at work, or hear His whispers of guidance and leading.  I do not know what is worse; to have rejected Him and live apart from Him, or to have tasted the love of God and live a life apart from Him.  One says I don’t want to know You.  The other says I want to know You but only for the benefit of myself and  stay at arms length but be ready when I need you.  We must choose to humbly serve, honor, follow and obey.  This choice is between do we serve self or do we serve God.  If the choice is to serve God we have to ask what does a life look like that is being lived out with this choice.  Does it keep God at arms length or does it reach out seeking, pleading, wanting, willing, needing to have communion and leading with and from God each day?  If we want to stay close to God we must have hearts that are open willing, ears that are open and seeking whispers of God, and eyes that are open and wanting to see the hand of God working.  Stay in His word each day, live to honor and glorify Him, follow, serve, obey.

They did not Listen

“Give glory to the LORD your God before he brings darkness, before your feet stumble on the twilight mountains, and while you look for light he turns it into gloom and makes it deep darkness.”

“But my people did not listen to my voice; Israel would not submit to me.  So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts, to follow their own counsels.”

Malachi 2:1  “And now, O priests, this command is for you,  If you will not listen, if you will not take it to heart to give honor to my name, says the LORD of hosts, then I will send the curse upon you and I will curse your blessings. Indeed, I have already cursed them, because you do not lay it to heart. Behold, I will rebuke your offspring, and spread dung on your faces, the dung of your offerings, and you shall be taken away with it. So shall you know that I have sent this command to you, that my covenant with Levi may stand, says the LORD of hosts.

Deuteronomy 28:15  “But if you will not obey the voice of the LORD your God or be careful to do all his commandments and his statutes that I command you today, then all these curses shall come upon you and overtake you.

“All these curses shall come upon you and pursue you and overtake you till you are destroyed, because you did not obey the voice of the LORD your God, to keep his commandments and his statutes that he commanded you.  They shall be a sign and a wonder against you and your offspring forever.  Because you did not serve the LORD your God with joyfulness and gladness of heart, because of the abundance of all things,

Your life shall hang in doubt before you. Night and day you shall be in dread and have no assurance of your life.  In the morning you shall say, ‘If only it were evening!’ and at evening you shall say, ‘If only it were morning!’ because of the dread that your heart shall feel, and the sights that your eyes shall see.

Isaiah 30:8  And now, go, write it before them on a tablet and inscribe it in a book, that it may be for the time to come as a witness forever.  For they are a rebellious people, lying children, children unwilling to hear the instruction of the LORD;  who say to the seers, “Do not see,” and to the prophets, “Do not prophesy to us what is right; speak to us smooth things, prophesy illusions,  leave the way, turn aside from the path, let us hear no more about the Holy One of Israel.”  Therefore thus says the Holy One of Israel, “Because you despise this word and trust in oppression and perverseness and rely on them,  therefore this iniquity shall be to you like a breach in a high wall, bulging out and about to collapse, whose breaking comes suddenly, in an instant;

With all of the promises in God’s word for blessings I wonder if we overlook the warnings.  Notice “if you do not listen”, if you do not take to heart”, and “because they did not listen” make known the warning and actions taken by God.  God is not mocked – what a man sows so shall he reap.  With God in our lives we have peace, hope, joy, comfort, and rest.  He is our rock, refuge, strength and power.  In Him we can do all things and endure all things.  Desire to know Him.  Commit to humbly serving Him.   Honor, follow, and obey Him.  Listen for the whispers of guidance as you read His word and contemplate it. Our purpose this side of eternity is to serve Him fully.

Walk in the Light

“let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins”

Psalms 56:13  For you have delivered my soul from death, yes, my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of life.

Psalms 86:12  I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forevever.  For great is your steadfast love toward me; you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.

Psalms 116:8   For you have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling;

2 Corinthians 1:10    He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again.

1 Thessalonians 1:10   and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.

Psalms 17:5    My steps have held fast to your paths; my feet have not slipped.

Psalms 94:18    When I thought, “My foot slips,” your steadfast love, O LORD, held me up.

1 Samuel 2:9  “He will guard the feet of his faithful ones, but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness, for not by might shall a man prevail.

Psalms 116:9    I will walk before the LORD in the land of the living.

Genesis 17:1   When Abram was ninety-nine years old the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless,

Isaiah 38:3    and said, “Please, O LORD, remember how I have walked before you in faithfulness and with a whole heart, and have done what is good in your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly.

John 8:12   Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

John 12:35  So Jesus said to them, “The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going.  While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” When Jesus had said these things, he departed and hid himself from them.

Ephesians 5:8  for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light  (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true),  and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.  Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead exposed.  For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret.  But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible,  for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

This chapter in Psalms speaks of those who walked in a way that demonstrated their whole heart wanting to please God in all they thought, did, and said.  Ephesians brings us into remembrance of when our heart was enlightened. “for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light  (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true),  and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.”  Yes, in the past we did live in darkness and walked a path that was apart from God.  But we are to now walk in a way that is good, right and true continually discerning what is pleasing to God.  How do we know what is good, right and true?  How do we discern what is pleasing to Him?  I fear we allow the culture we live in to dictate what is good, right, and true.  I fear we do not give thought to the love God demonstrated for us through redemption in and through His son. Can you imagine what it would feel like to give your son’s life for the redemption of another and in addition to this grace you also write a book filled with knowledge about you, your statutes, your commandments, you promises, your warnings and the person you redeemed has now lasting thankfulness for what you have done. I fear we neglect God’s word.  We don’t spend time in it.  We don’t think about it so how can it speak into our heart, mind and soul.  We don’t have anything to apply into our lives because of this neglect.  We are lukewarm at best.  We convince ourselves that we are better than most, give when we can, read His word when we have time, and believe in Him.  We need to be careful with this thinking.  Even Satan believes.  Belief is nothing without faith.  Faith is nothing without action.  Action means nothing if it is not with discernment and according to God’s word.  Scripture is clear that we are to live in light of His word, meditate on it, seek His word and act on it.  We do this because it honors and glorifies God.  We do it because of who He is, what He has done, and what He has promised.  There is nothing done in secret.  God knows all the thoughts and actions of every single person.  We fall into satan’s trap of being good enough rather than being all we can in Him.  Do you want to glorify God – spend time in His word with a prayer request of Him leading you on a path that glorifies Him.  I recently was told of a friend who found out he has a serious medical issue for which there is little that can be done.  His time will end far to early.  Yet what he realizes now is all the time he spent on things that don’t amount to much at all.  He has many regrets.  We never know when our time will end and we enter eternity.  Don’t allow one more day to go by being fooled into thinking you can serve God lukewarm.  This is not serving Him it is only leading you down a path further from God.  Choose now to commit to being in His word, humbly serving, following and obeying Him.  When tears come it will be for the reason of joy meeting God rather than of regret.

Strengthened Himself

“Therefore my spirit faints within me; my heart within me is appalled.”

“But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God.“

Psalms 42:5  Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.

Psalms 27:13-14    I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living!  Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!

Psalms 43:5   Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.

Psalms 55:4  My heart is in anguish within me; the terrors of death have fallen upon me.  Fear and trembling come upon me, and horror overwhelms me.

Psalms 61:2    from the end of the earth I call to you when my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I,

Psalms 142:2  I pour out my complaint before him; I tell my trouble before him.  When my spirit faints within me, you know my way! In the path where I walk they have hidden a trap for me.

Psalms 56:3    When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.

Psalms 56:11   in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me?

Isaiah 50:10    Who among you fears the LORD and obeys the voice of his servant? Let him who walks in darkness and has no light trust in the name of the LORD and rely on his God.

Lamentations 3:24  “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.”  The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.  It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.

Romans 4:20 No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God,

Psalms 91:15  When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him.  With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”

There times we all hit a wall of despair, worry, and our heart is troubled.  Life this side of eternity will throw this at us when we least expect it.  We have God’s promise that when we call to Him He will answer. When we are in trouble He is with us.  He will rescue us.  Do not allow unbelief to sink in.  Hold firm, trust God, and wait for His steadfast love to lift you up.  Not everyone is going to be able to strengthen themselves.  We each have opportunity to be used by God to help lift up those who are in times of trials.  Keep your ears open to His leading and be willing to listen and obey. Being used by God to encourage others in times of trial is what our walk with God should include.  Knowing His word and rightly applying it helps us to encourage and support others with His honor and glory in focus.