Prayers Are Important

 

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in

everything, by prayer and petition,

with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

Philippians 4:6

“Prayer is your conversation with God and how you can develop a personal, meaningful relationship with the God of the universe who loves you.  It’s how He can do miracles in your heart.  Through prayer, he can bring your life into alignment with His vision and plans.  

Starting your day in prayer will help to get your mind in the right place for a more joy-filled day.

Turn your daily frustrations into prayer prompts and call upon God to help you reset and restore peace to your heart.  Ask him to help you find joy, even in the struggle and mundane.

Praying about each decision will help you make better choices.  Ask God for help and guidance.

Daily prayer helps you tap into the full potential of your faith for a life filled with God’s peace, grace and joy all week long.”

~ prayerandpossibilities.com

The Holy Spirit Fills Our Hearts

 “And this hope will not lead to disappointment.  For we 

know how dearly God loves us, because he has given 

us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts.” Romans 5:5

Have you ever had someone in your life you loved so much that you wanted to be with them all the time? God feels that way about you. Not only does God love you and want a relationship with you, but He wants to be present in every moment of your life.

When you begin a relationship with God, the Holy Spirit comes into your life. He is with you through the good and the bad. You can choose to ignore the Holy Spirit’s influence, but He will never leave you. He is always waiting for you to turn back and seek His comfort, wisdom and guidance.

The Holy Spirit can help you experience and have a deeper understanding of God’s love for you. His presence in your life means you are never on your own.     ~ cru.org

The Lord Is Always Close

 “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted 

and saves those who are crushed in Spirit.”

Psalm 34:18

“We often wish we could escape troubles - the pain of grief, loss, sorrow and failure; or even the small daily frustrations that constantly wear us down.  God promises to be “close to the brokenhearted”, to be our source of power, courage and wisdom, helping us through our problems.  When trouble strikes, don’t get frustrated with God.  Instead, admit that you need God’s help and thank him for being by your side.”

~ Life Application Study Bible

God’s Goodness

 “Give thanks to the Lord for he is good;

his love endures forever.”

Psalm 107:1

“When you look back over your life, you can see the goodness of God. There were the times when He made a way when you didn’t see a way. You were at the right place at the right time. Your health didn’t look good, but somehow it turned around. You made mistakes that should have held you back, but God in His mercy covered you. He brought you out, and now you’re blessed and fulfilling your purpose. You didn’t get to where you are by yourself. It was the hand of God. He’s been working behind the scenes in your life, pushing back forces of darkness.

What has God done in your life? Are you recognizing it, are you living amazed, filled with gratitude? Take time every day to acknowledge how great His goodness has been in your life. If you’re going to continue to go further, you need to remember that the Lord your God has brought you this far, and the Lord your God is going to keep you going.”

~ Joel Osteen Devotional

Seek God

 “Seek the Lord and live…”

Amos 5:6

“There is a sure remedy for a world that is sick and dying in sin - “seek the Lord and live”.  Sin seeks to destroy, but hope is found seeking God.  In times of difficulty, seek God. In personal discomfort and struggle, seek God.  When others are struggling, encourage them to seek God too.”

~ Life Application Study Bible

Come To Me

 “Come to me, all of you who are 

weary and burdened and I will give you rest.”

Matthew 11:28

The first thing that Jesus says to us is, “Come to Me…” We are allowed to come to God personally; there is nothing between Him and us.

Second, He is inviting us to come. God wants you, in fact, He wants you so much that Jesus died on the Cross just to prove it. Jesus didn’t have to come to this earth and die, but God’s love is so great, and He wanted us so much that He chose to come.

Let that sink in for a few minutes. Take a moment to consider that. YOU ARE LOVED.

Third, God lets us know who needs rest: it is those who labour and are burdened, but what does that mean? In this context, those who labour means those who are striving to do it all on their own and failing.

I know that in my life when I try to do everything with my own strength alone it does not turn out well. When you are heavy-laden it is like your spirit, mind, will, and emotions can’t function because there is this weight on you that you try to lift by yourself. It causes you to feel down, depressed, anxious, all those negative things that we do not want in life.

So what does God say when we are weary? He will give us rest, and the best thing is He even tells us how and that is by taking His yoke upon us and learning from Him. What is this yoke? Rest for your soul (your mind, will and emotions).

~ faithisland.org By Kim Thompson - Pinder

The New Creation

 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, 

the new creation has come.

The old has gone, the new is here.”

2 Corinthians 5:17

It seems that in a world of prosperity and abundance, there would be great contentment, yet the opposite is true. Why are so many people unhappy, anxious, and unsettled?

The main reason is that most of the world doesn’t know Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, so they can’t have His peace and joy. But there are also Christians who are discontent because they’re wearing old “clothes” from their past. These garments might be emotions and attitudes left over from childhood, or it may be that these believers are trying to hold on to behaviors from their life before Christ. 

The solution is to change into the new clothes that Jesus secured for us (Isa. 61:10). We are to lay aside old habits and thought patterns the way we would a filthy garment. This means we’re no longer to remind ourselves about the wrongs done to us by others. Nor are we to cherish sinful habits, continue worldly practices, or think the way we formerly did. 

As new creations in Christ, we have no business wearing the dirty clothes of the flesh. Instead, we are to exercise our renewed mind and put on the new garments given to us by God. We will be satisfied only when we let go of the old and put on the new. 

~ Charles Stanley Devotional - In Touch

Finding Hope

 “May the God of Hope fill you with all

joy and peace as you trust in him,

so that you may overflow with hope by

the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Romans15:13

Hope means, "to desire something with confident expectation of its fulfillment." The state of Hopelessness has been aptly described as a type of "Hell on Earth," filled with endless despondency and despair.

Today, more and more people are finding themselves alone and depressed, and few of us have not at one time, or another felt the sting of despondency and despair.

But Good news! Help is available, not the kind the world has, wherein it wishes for the best. It is one thing to wish, and quite another to have hope based on the promises of God.

God is Our Source

Paul wrote that when you place your trust in God, He will fill you with peace, joy, and assurance, (Rom 15:13).

Throughout the Bible, God proves His faithfulness to His people by leading them safely through or delivering them from all their predicaments and troubles. He will never leave or forsake His people; His plans are to prosper, not to harm them (Jer 29:11).

People and things will always let us down. In Psa 33:17, the horse, often used as a symbol of power, is declared a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength, it cannot save. In Jer 17:5 God sternly warns against placing our dependency on man and calls it a curse.

God wants us to trust in Him. Psa 147:11 tells us that He is delighted when we put our trust in Him, and in Heb 10:23 we are told to rely on Him for He who promised it is faithful. 

Finding Help

To reap the benefits of the Christian life and to have protection, guidance, freedom from depression, and advice from the Holy Spirit one must first be born again and become a Child of God.

The born again Child of God has the unique privilege of talking to and hearing from God, but this, the greatest resource available, is often neglected.

Christians should always pray! Even in the darkest moments when you don't feel His presence and think you will never smile again, pray anyway because He is there. He is listening and is an "ever-present help in time of trouble," (Psa 46:1).

"He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us," (2 Cor 1:10).

When we place our faith in God and the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, we then trust Him to take us to Heaven. If we can trust Him with our eternity, surely we can trust Him for our earthly/daily cares.

Jesus said that as God clothes the grass of the field, so will He clothe us even more. He tells us not to worry about what we shall eat or drink or how we will be clothed. The "heavenly father knoweth that ye have need of all these things," (Matt 6:30-32).

"Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him," (1 Cor 2:9).

Hope in Difficult Times

Even if you reach what you consider to be your lowest point, God's Word says's He will never leave or forsake you, (Matt 28:20). 

He will give you peace and comfort even in the worst of circumstances, then lead you through, over or around the muck and mire of your situation, and again set your feet on solid ground.

Our God is the God of new beginnings, with Him, nothing is impossible. Whether you are very young or considered to be very old, trust in Him because with Him it is always just the beginning.

You may even find yourself in such a situation through divorce, death of a spouse, loss of health, finances, or whatever, that may force you to begin all over again, but is that so bad? Trusting God in difficult times forces us to seek His guidance, and to trust in Him.

Trusting God through these uncharted waters takes faith and courage, but is worth every effort. The path of His choosing is the only one that leads to true happiness,

Isn't this a wonderful promise "...those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint," (Is 40:31).

~ trusting-in-Jesus.com - Article by Samuel Mills

“God Is Our Only Hope!!!”

God of Comfort

 “Praise be to the God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

the Father of Compassion and God of all comfort,

who comforts us in all our troubles, so 

that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort

we ourselves receive from God.”

2 Corinthians 1:3-4

“Many think that when God comforts us our troubles should go away.  But if that were always so, people would only turn to God only out of desire to be relieved of pain and not of love for him.  We must understand that being comforted can also mean receiving strength, encouragement, hope to deal with our troubles.  If you are feeling overwhelmed, allow God to comfort you.  Remember that every trial you endure will help you comfort other people who are suffering similar problems.”

~ Life Application Study Bible

Guidance

“Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths.  

Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and

my hope is in you all day long.”

Psalm 25:4:5

“David expressed his desire fo guidance.  How do we receive God’s guidance?  The first step is to want to be guided and to realize that God’s primary guidance system is in his Word, the Bible.  Psalm 119 tells of endless knowledge found in God’s word.  By reading the Bible and constantly learning from it, we will gain the wisdom to perceive God’s direction for our lives.  We may be tempted to demand answers from God, but David asked for direction.  When we are willing to seek God, learn from his Word and obey his commands, then we will receive his specific guidance.”

~ Life Application Study Bible 

 

My Rock

 “The Lord is my rock, my fortress and

my deliverer; my God is 

my rock in whom I take refuge.”

Psalm 18:2

In a time of trouble, we have a shelter from the storms of life, a place where we are safe and sheltered from pursuit, danger, or stress.   God speaks that if the mountains fall into the sea – which would be more than alarming and frightening – God says, don’t be anxious, but be still.  Over 300 times in the Bible God says we should not be afraid.  God says it so many times because he knows we are repeatedly afraid and fearful. Thankfully, God is our rock, fortress, refuge, and deliverer as we put our trust in Him.  

God is our refuge and strength,
    an ever-present help in trouble. 

Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
    and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea.  

 Be still, and know that I am God (Psalm 46:1, 2 ,10).

God also provides a refuge from lies, mean and hurtful words or actions of others.  When we fix our mind on the Lord’s promises, we find that secret place of peace and refuge.

~ wordimpartation.com

Trust

 “Don’t be troubled. Trust in God.  Trust also in me”.

John 14:1

Although the stresses of daily life can quickly wear on you and make you feel overwhelmed, you're not alone in your struggles. For those who are religious, Bible verses about trusting the Lord can offer guidance, perspective, and a sense of peace at a time when you need it most. These comforting Bible verses can ease your worry, clear your mind, and help you feel better prepared for the days ahead — regardless of what they bring.

Though reading the Bible won’t automatically eliminate the challenges that occur in your life, it can provide the courage and motivation you need to keep going through difficult times. It may take a bit of time for you to become comfortable with giving all of your cares and troubles over to God, but with the right Bible verses — along with implementing other Christian activities in your daily life, such as joining a Bible study group, prayer, and listening to encouraging faith-based podcasts — letting go and giving them to God can become easier. Trusting God with everything, including the unfortunate and uncomfortable instances in our lives, may not appear to have a direct impact on your day-to-day life, but it may make you feel less alone in tough times.

~Woman’s Day

You Are Enough

 “... those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.”

Psalm 34:10

“It’s easy to go through life thinking we’re lacking in some area. “If I had a better personality, if I were more confident, if I were more attractive, I could reach my dreams.” But as long as you think you’re at a disadvantage, that you got shortchanged, that you’re not up to par, it’s going to keep you from rising higher. It’s going to limit your life. That’s a deficit mentality. 

Too often we’re looking around at others and comparing, but God is saying, “You don’t need what they have. If you needed it, I would have given it to you. Look inside. You have the talent. You have the confidence. You have the creativity. As long as you trust in Me, you will never lack any good thing.” You’re not at a deficit. You are good enough, you are talented enough, you are smart enough, and you are attractive enough. You have been fearfully and wonderfully made. You need to see yourself as a no-lack person.”

~ Joel Osteen Devotionals

God’s Plan For Us

 “For I know the plans I have you, “declares the Lord,”

plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Then you will call on me and I will listen to you.  You will seek

me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”

Jeremiah 29:11-13

“We’re all encouraged by a leader who stirs us to move ahead, someone who believes we can do the task he has given and who will be with us all the way.  God is that kind of leader.  He knows the future, and his plans for us are good and full of hope.  As long as God, who knows the future provides our agenda and goes with us as we fulfill his mission, we can have boundless hope.  This does not mean that we will be spared pain, suffering, or hardship, but that God will see us through to a glorious conclusion.”

~ Life Application Study Bible