Take Heart

 “Be strong and take heart, all who hope in theLord.”

Psalm 31:24

“... and wait on the Lord.”

Psalm 27:14

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.

In this world you will have trouble.

But take heart!  I have overcome the world.”

John 16:33

“With these words he told his disciples to take courage, in spite of the inevitable struggles they would face, they would not be alone.  Jesus does not abandon us to our struggles either.  If we remember that ultimate victory has already been won, we can claim the peace of Christ in the most troublesome times.”

~ Life Application Study Bible

Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit

“But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father

will send in my name will teach you all things

and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”

John 14:26

“Jesus promised the disciples that the Holy Spirit would help them remember what he had been teaching them.  This promise ensures the validity of the New Testament.  The disciples were eyewitnesses of Jesus’ life and teachings, and the Holy Spirit helped them remember without taking away their perspectives.  We can all be confident that the Gospels are accurate records of what Jesus taught and did.  The Holy Spirit can help us in the same way.  As we study the Bible, we can trust him to plant the truth in our mind, convince us of God’s will, and remind us when we stray from it.”

~ Life Application Study Bible

 

Gathering Together

 “For where two or three gather in my name,

there am I with them.”

Matthew 18:20

The Scripture says that when you’re plugged into a community of faith, there is a blessing on your life that will cause you to bloom, to blossom, and to flourish. You will reach levels that you couldn’t reach on your own. This is true because Jesus says, “Where two or three are gathered together in My Name, I am there in the midst of them.” How about when one hundred are gathered, or one thousand? We each bring God with us. In His presence is healing and the fullness of joy. Together, our faith and strength are multiplied.

Given so much trouble in the world today, more than ever we need to plant ourselves in the house of the Lord to draw strength and encouragement from one another. David says, “I love Your sanctuary, the place where Your glory shines.” As you gather together, God’s glory and favor will shine down on you. You have to make it a priority to be there. You were not created to do life on your own.

~ Joel Osteen Devotional 

God Refreshes Our Soul

 “The law of the Lord is perfect,

refreshing the soul.”

Psalm 19:7

Paul’s priority was to know Christ. The apostle spoke of counting all things as loss in comparison to His relationship with the Lord, and he was given spiritual blessings that surpassed anything the world had to offer. 

When we seek Christ through His Word, we too can expect the following spiritual blessings:  

• A Quiet Spirit. As we read and meditate on God’s Word, He restores our souls (Psalm 19:7). Then, instead of having stress and worry, we’ll experience peace of mind.  
• A Stronger Faith. Studying Scripture enlarges our view of God and gives us insight into His desires, ways, and will. The bigger the Lord becomes to us, the more we will trust Him in every circumstance.  
• A Purified Heart. God’s Word reveals our sins so we can repent and receive forgiveness and cleansing (1 John 1:9). 
• A Renewed Mind. When we read Scripture and apply its principles, our mind will be renewed to think biblically about God, ourselves, and the world.  

Because Christ was the pursuit of his life, Paul knew joy amidst trials and received the strength to face turmoil and difficulty. These blessings are ours as well when knowing Jesus is our highest goal. 

~ In Touch devotionals - Charles Stanley

Bless The Lord Oh My Soul

 

Psalms 103:1-5 NIV

Praise the LORD, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the LORD, my soul, and forget not all his benefits— who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

“Ten Thousand Reasons” song by Matt Redman

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=CtlkbISFv84

An Olive Tree

 “But I am like an olive tree,

flourishing in the house of God; I trust

in God’s unfailing love forever and forever.”

Psalm 52:8

“With God by his side, David compared himself to an olive tree nourishing in the house of God.  Not only is an olive tree one of the longest-living trees, but a flourishing tree even has even greater longevity.

We read about the Mount of Olives; is evergreen and durable, and it’s leaves and branches are a symbol of peace.  Olive trees are rooted in Christ.

Trusting in God brings joy and peace that the world cannot understand or take away.  This allows a person to really live and flourish like well planted olive tree producing lots of fruit in his life.

Allow yourself to be strengthen by His Holy Spirit so that you can live the life that He has blessed you with.  You can live the abundant life that Jesus promised, flourishing, growing and moving forward.”

~anonymous 

Love Never Gives Up

 “Love never gives up, never loses faith,

is always hopeful, and 

endures through every circumstance.”

1Corinthians 13:7

God’s faithful love endures forever is repeated 26 times in Psalm 136. Demonstrations of God’s Faithfulness and what should be our response. Daily. Continually. Forever. The next day and the next day of our life should be giving thanks to the Lord because He is good! His Faithful love endures our lack of commitment, lack of faith, and lack of hope. His Faithful Love endures our doubt, worry and anxiety produced by fear. His Faithful Love endures our whining, grumbling and complaining. His Faithful Love endures our wandering hearts and minds set on worthless things when He offers us His Kingdom and a permanent living space in His Presence. We must make the choice to live in His Love today, the next day and the next constantly choosing His Love over every other thing in our life. Why? Because this is love…

~ Ithomason.wordpress.com

God Is Our Refuge

 “He will cover you with his feathers,

and under his wings you will find refuge.”

Psalm 91

“God is a shelter, a refuge when we are afraid. The writer’s faith in the Almighty God as Protector would carry him through all dangers and fears of life.  This should be a picture of our trust - trading all our fears for faith in him, no matter how intense our fears.  To do this we must “dwell” and “rest” with him.”

~ Life Application Study Bible