Strong and Courageous

“Be strong and courageous.  Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”   Joshua 1:9

“Every new job or task is a challenge.  Without God it can be frightening.  With God it can be a great adventure.  Everyday we face tough situations, difficult people, and temptations.  God promises, however, that he will never abandon us or fail to help us.  By asking God to direct us we can conquer many life’s challenges.”  
~ Life Application Study Bible

As for me, when anxiety or depression wants to creep in I let go of God until I remind myself to go quickly to God!  He truly can help us not sink into that darkness, it takes work, but with God’s help, we can do it!!!

Reasons to Pray

Psalm 25:1-22

What motivates you to talk with God? Throughout the Scriptures, we are commanded to pray. In fact, Jesus—the Son of God—considered prayer so essential that He regularly left the crowds to seek time alone with His Father (Mark 1:35; Luke 5:16). Any relationship requires communication if it is to grow and flourish, and that includes our relationship with God. 

David was a man who knew the Lord intimately. Since he recorded many of his prayers in the psalms, we are able to catch a glimpse of his heart as he poured out his soul before the Lord. Today’s passage shows us five reasons that we, too, should come to God in prayer: 

1. Guidance (Psalm 25:4-5). If we ask, the Lord will lead and teach us.

2. Forgiveness (Psalm 25:7; Psalm 25:11). Each day we need God’s cleansing for sin and His power to repent and turn back to Him.

3. Decisions (Psalm 25:12). When we reverentially fear God, He instructs us in the way we should choose.

4. Trouble (Psalm 25:16-18). When we’re overwhelmed by difficulties, no one can comfort us like the Lord.

5. Protection (Psalm 25:19-20). God is the one who guards our soul and rescues us from the enemy’s attacks. 

When we seek the Lord, He becomes our refuge. God understands our weaknesses and invites us to come to Him with all our concerns. It’s in the intimacy of prayer that we learn to know His faithfulness, compassion, and love. Then we can say, as David did, “O my God, in You I trust” (Psalm 25:2).

~ Daily devotional from In Touch Ministries

Trust

As we mature spiritually, we become more solidly rooted in the confidence that God is faithful. But sometimes doubt will creep in and wither our trust. In order not to lose ground, we must act decisively to reduce misgivings. Here are three steps we should take:

1. Recall God’s past faithfulness, and remember His promises. When we devote time to thanking the Lord for His intervention in prior situations, we are reminded of His love and provision. Meditating on promises from Scripture also reassures us that He will continue to meet every need. For example, Psalm 41:12 says that the Father is always present with His children, and His Holy Spirit was given to us for strength and direction (John 16:13;  Eph. 3:16).

2. Water your growing faith with God’s Word. When you ask for scriptural guidance, the Lord will direct you to passages that relate to your situation and offer needed emotional and spiritual assurance. Spend time meditating on these verses, prayerfully considering how to apply them to your circumstances.

3. Choose to believe God and His promises. He has proven Himself faithful from the first moment of creation to the present. We are wise to place our confidence in Him.

Developing a sturdy, well-rooted faith requires that we cooperate with the heavenly Father. Our human nature complicates matters by making us vulnerable to doubt. But when we choose to trust God, uncertainty cannot shrink our faith.

~ Today’s blog from In Touch Ministries

Dance for Jesus

Dance for Jesus!!!  He wants you to feel great!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUtYQrbCkMo

Rest Assured

"When we are feeling breathless with anxiety, we can rest assured in Jesus' power.  Whether He calms our waves or strengthens us to face them, He will give us the gift of peace that "transcends all understanding."(Philippians 4:7).  And as He releases us from our fears, our spirits and our bodies can return to a state of rest."
~ Our Daily Bread

Have Faith

“He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Ouiet!  Be still!”  Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.”   Mark 4:39

“Problems occur in every area of life.  The Christian life may have more stormy weather than calm seas.  As Christ’s follower, be prepared for storms that will surely come.  Do not surrender to the stress, but remain resilient and recover from setbacks.  With faith in Christ, you can pray, trust, and move ahead.  When a squall approaches, lean into the wind and trust God.”

~ Life Application Study Bible

True Joy

“I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”

John 15:11

“True joy transcends the rolling waves of circumstances.  Joy comes from a consistent relationship with Jesus Christ.  The joy of living with Jesus Christ daily will keep us level headed, no matter how high or low our circumstances.”

~ Life Application Study Bible