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Romans 12:12

rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer;

Personal Challenge…

In this passage Paul gives us some very valuable instructions on how to live our lives. In this verse there are three very vivid reminders. We have such a wonderful hope in Christ for a future that will be filled with God’s grace and glory; we are to rejoice in this. We will encounter tribulation in our lives; by the hope that we have in Christ we must be patient through this tribulation. All of this is made possible by continuing through our lives being steadfast in prayer. Glory be to God!

Matthew 9:24

He said to them, “Make room, for the girl is not dead, but sleeping.” And they ridiculed Him.

Encouraging Words…

Okay…here we have Jesus, the Son of God, who has been healing people of all forms of diseases, casting out demons, and raising people from the dead being ridiculed by those around Him. Should I expect any less when I stand up for Him and profess Him to those around me?

Matthew 13:45

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.

Personal Challenge…

The kingdom of heaven, God’s gift, is of such great value that I must be willing to sell all, give up all that I have, in this kingdom in order to acquire it. Have I done this? Am I ready to do this every day? Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner!

1 Corinthians 3:18

Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise.

Personal Challenge…

There is a fine line between earthly wisdom and godly wisdom and we must constantly be putting to death our earthly focus and desires in order to gain that which is godly. To the world this looks foolish. But this foolishness becomes our starting place to receive God’s blessings of true wisdom. All too often I see in today’s workplace God’s wisdom being abandoned and man’s wisdom prevailing. This, however, is producing an environment that is bound to fail, bound to treat people as commodities as opposed to images of God. Man’s wisdom will lead to ruin and despair. God’s wisdom, even though it looks foolish to the world, will lead to peace, joy, and eternal blessings.

Hosea 6:3

Let us know, let us pursue
That we might know the Lord.
We shall find Him ready as the daybreak,
And He will come to us
As the early and latter rain to the earth.

Encouraging Words…

Our Lord need not be a stranger in our lives. Just as the Genesis account of the beginnings of mankind shows that God walked in the garden of Eden with Adam and Eve and even called out to them after they sinned, God is ready to walk through life with us today. He is standing ready for us to come to Him. He is always coming to us in the midst of our trials and tribulations. He is dependable even when we are not. Glory be to God.

Psalm 118:24 (117:24 LXX)

This is the day the Lord made;Let us greatly rejoice, and be glad therein.

Encouraging Words…

Every day that I am able to get up, breath, and move around is truly a blessing. I seldom, if ever, go through a day where the hunger pains gnaw at my belly…and yet millions do this every day of their lives. I always wake up with a roof over my head, clean clothes to wear for the day, a job to go to, and loved ones that encourage me through life. So many people have none of this. So yes, these are encouraging words and I do have so much to be thankful for because my Lord, my Salvation, my Comforter, my Friend has made this day and given it to me. The real question is what will I do with this precious gift? Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

Psalm 94:19 (93:19 LXX)

O Lord, according to the abundance of grief in my heart,Your encouragements consoled my soul.

Encouraging Words…

We cannot grieve more than God can encourage and console us. I know that when we are in the midst of our grief that we may not be able to see God’s encouragement, but nonetheless it is there and in abundance. Jesus had to die and go into the deepest depths of hell in order to break the bondage that death held on us. He set us free. And He goes into the depths of our despair with us to break its hold on us and to set us free. Glory be to God!

Psalm 27:1 (26:1 LXX)

The Lord is my light and my savior; whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the defender of my life; whom shall I dread?

Encouraging Words…

When you have the Almighty God, the Creator of all, as your Lord, your Light, your salvation, your defender…and you truly believe this, then who or what can ever cause you fear or dread? Nothing! No one!

Romans 8:14-15

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”

Encouraging Words…

I have heard it said that the term, “Abba, Father!” would be equivalent to a little child calling out, “Daddy! Daddy!” Through the Holy Spirit I can run to my Daddy and cuddle in His loving arms because I am His son. Glory be to God!

Psalm 18:1-3 (17:2-4 LXX)

I will love You, O Lord, my strength.The Lord is my foundation, my refuge, my deliverer;
My God is my helper, on Him I will hope,
My champion, the horn of my salvation, and my protector.
I will call upon the Lord and praise Him,
And I shall be saved from my enemies.

Encouraging Words…

Oh how I desire to have a relationship with my God as intimate as the psalmist did. He is my all, my provider, my friend and on Him I can put all of my trust and hope. Glory be to God!