Luke 1:50 NIV
His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.

Words of Encouragement…
It is so wonderful, so freeing, to know that we serve a merciful God.

Psalm 40:4-5 NLT
Oh, the joys of those who trust the LORD, who have no confidence in the proud, or in those who worship idols. O LORD my God, you have done many miracles for us. Your plans for us are too numerous to list. If I tried to recite all your wonderful deeds, I would never come to the end of them.

Job 1:21 NASB
He said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked I shall return there. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD.”

‎1 John 3:18 NIV
Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.

Personal Challenge…
It is so easy to talk about loving others, whether it be our family and dear ones, strangers, or even our enemies. It is an entirely different thing to love them with our actions. It is even more of a challenge to love them in truth, to truly love them and not do it because I think it makes me look good in God’s (and everyone around us) eyes. This is not an option if I profess that I am a child of God, it is a command.

Galatians 2:20 NASB
“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.”

Words of Encouragement…
Jesus loved us enough to give Himself up for us. But He did not stop there, as His child my life has been crucified with Him and He now lives within me. This is a mystery and I am okay with that. Through Him I can be transformed into the person that He desires me to be.

Matthew 26:41 NLT (Jesus speaking)
“Keep alert and pray. Otherwise temptation will overpower you. For though the spirit is willing enough, the body is weak!”

Personal Challenge…
Temptation, that terrible thing that creeps up on us and surprises us…leading us to do something that we really don’t want to do. But here Jesus tells us how to defeat temptation. Keep alert and be constantly in prayer. Isn’t one of the best defenses a good offense? I cannot be lazy in my life, I cannot let acedia (check out this old word) stake it’s claim in my life, if I want to overpower temptation in my life.

Proverbs 9:9-12 NLT
Teach the wise, and they will be wiser. Teach the righteous, and they will learn more. Fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in understanding. Wisdom will multiply your days and add years to your life. If you become wise, you will be the one to benefit. If you scorn wisdom, you will be the one to suffer.

Personal Challenge…
I love reading through the Proverbs. There are so many tidbits of great wisdom there. Not the kind of wisdom that the world tries to impress upon us, but the wisdom that comes from the God of eternity. Oh that I would be a good pupil and soak it all in, then most importantly…live it out in my life.

Nehemiah 6:16 NASB
When all our enemies heard of it, and all the nations surrounding us saw it, they lost their confidence; for they recognized that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God.

Words of Encouragement…
The book of Nehemiah captures the story of the exiled children of God returning to Jerusalem to rebuild their city. While they are doing this all of the people and kings around them kept taunting them and trying to frighten them into stopping the work. However, under Nehemiah’s guidance, and his commitment to listen to, and follow his God’s leading, they completed the task in 52 days.

This story offers a powerful reminder to us who follow Jesus even today…listen to the leading of God, stay true to His teachings, do not listen to the taunts of those around us (sometimes from those whom sound like they might be representing God), and keep doing the tasks that He has given you. And the results…our enemies will loose their confidence, not because of anything that we have done, but because of what God has done through us.

‎1 Chronicles 28:9 NASB
As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a whole heart and a willing mind; for the LORD searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever.

Encouraging Words…
As David passed his kingship on to his son Solomon he admonished him to know God, to serve Him with a whole heart and a willing mind. He reminded him that God searches our hearts and knows our every thought and intent. This admonition works for us as well today…we are to seek our Lord with a whole heart and a willing mind and He will reveal Himself to us.

1 Peter 3:13-16 NASB
And who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. AND DO NOT FEAR THEIR INTIMIDATION, AND DO NOT BE TROUBLED, but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong.

Personal Challenge…
Wow! There is so much that can be unpacked from this passage as well as the other ones that surround it. In essence we are being commanded to be willing to suffer for doing what is right, for what good is there in suffering for doing what is wrong. We are being commanded to be ready to stand and defend our faith, our hope, but not as we define defense in today’s society (aggressive, mean spirited, underhanded, with the intent to eviscerate), but with gentleness and reverence and with a good conscience…again by doing what is right in the eyes of God. Once again it comes back to doing all that we do in love!