God's Word on That

  • We Have Our Part To Do

    Lord, I have come with weeping; I have prayed as You brought me back. You will lead me beside streams of water on a level path where I will not stumble, because You are my loving Father (Jeremiah 31:9) and You have promised.

    God can direct our paths if we will but let Him

    My Merciful God I have learned the hard way that nothing good lives in me — that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do good but cannot carry it out (Romans 7:18). But in You I have the power I need.

    Father God, Almighty One, You have warned me for my own good not to trust anything about my heart unless it is fully surrendered to You. My heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. I will never be able to understand it. Yet You, the Lord God, search the heart and examine the mind (Jeremiah 17:9-10). Please help me to recognize that the primary target of deception is my heart. In other words, I must be careful not to trust feelings and emotions on their own. I must wear the breastplate of righteousness so I will do the right thing even when I don’t feel like doing the right thing. In the meantime, Lord Jesus, I ask You, please, to knead the right kind of feelings into my heart until I can become strong in this.

    Father, please work in me to understand that sometimes You lead me also on certain paths to humble me and to see what is in my heart (Deuteronomy 8:2). Not that You don’t know already, but You want to show me. Purify my heart, Lord, so You will take joy in what we find.

    Loving God, Father, I am now one of Your chosen people. O God, I acknowledge and accept as fact that I am wholly and dearly loved. In response, teach me how to clothe myself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. “To put on the nature that is mercy in action, kindly in heart, and humble in spirit… and above everything else to be truly loving” (Colossians 3:12 Phillips).

    Father, I desperately need Your Spirit to rid myself of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like a newborn baby, lead me to crave pure spiritual milk, so by it I may grow in my salvation (1 Peter 2:12).

    O Mighty God, please help me to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate and to show true humility toward all men (Titus 3:2).

    Father, You have said fear of the Lord is to hate evil. You hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior, and perverse speech (Proverbs 8:13). Edify me to have a healthy fear of You that abolishes pride, arrogance, and perverse speech.

    Dearest God, as one of Your own children, please direct me to flee from sin and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness (1 Timothy 6:11).

    Father, help me to remember in my impatience that the end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride (Ecclesiastes 7:8).

    Father, You are teaching me that pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice (Proverbs 13:10). Please help me to discern the pride that is involved when I am quarrelsome.

    Lord God, please tutor me gently to listen to advice and accept instruction, so that in the end I will be wise (Proverbs 19:20).

    Lord God, You have told me that in the last days many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate one another (Matthew 24:10). O Father, please keep me from ever turning away or turning cold.

  • God Will Help Us Overcome

    Lord God, surely You desire integrity in the inner self, and You teach me wisdom deep within (Psalm 51:6). Please expose to me the deeply embedded lies I’ve believed and replace them with permanently engraved truth.

    God is always supporting His own.

    Do not withhold Your mercy from me, O my Lord God. May Your love and Your truth always protect me (Psalm 40:11). Father, please help me learn how much Your truth protects me. Without it, I am vulnerable to the enemy and to my own flesh nature.

    Father, help my soul to find rest in You alone; my hope comes from You. You alone are my rock and my salvation. With You as my fortress I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor depend on You; You, dearest God, are my mighty rock, my refuge. Help me to trust in You at all times. Remind me to pour out my heart to You, for You are my refuge. (Psalm 62:5-8)

    God Father, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of anything but one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which You have called me heavenward in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:13-14). Help me to forget all past failures, or even achievements, and to focus on pressing forward with You now.

    Lord, please help me not to be like ancient Israel whom You taught to walk and then forgot You. Help me to realize without a doubt that You are the one who heals me. You have led me with cords of human kindness, with ties of love; You lifted my yoke from my neck and bent down to feed me (Hosea 11:3-4). Help me acknowledge You daily, and never to forget who teaches me how to walk.

    Lord God, I acknowledge to You that, like the ancient Israelites, I eat but am often not satisfied (Leviticus 26:26). Help me not to confuse the hunger of my soul with the hunger of my body. If I eat physical food and am still not satisfied, help me discern a far greater need and bring it to You. O loving Lord, You are the only one who can truly satisfy the hungry soul.

    Father, according to Your Word, he who is full loathes honey, but to the hungry man even what is bitter tastes sweet (Proverbs 27:7). I am asking You in Jesus’ mighty name to make even the thought of any harmful substance [or harmful word] on my tongue bitter. Restore in me a taste for what is good and wholesome. Please.

    Lord, I belong to Christ Jesus. Therefore I have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires (Galatians 5:24). O Lord Jesus, help me to live in the reality of this liberating crucifixion! For I know that my old self was crucified with You, my Savior, so that this body of sin might be done away with, that I should no longer be a slave to sin, for anyone who has died has been freed from sin (Romans 6:6-7).

    I will not lose heart, for inwardly I am being renewed day by day (2 Corinthians 4:16).

  • To Overcome Addiction

    Addiction is a yoke that convinces us we must wear it to survive. It is one of the cruelest of all yokes because it deceives us unmercifully and ruthlessly. It comes to us like a friend, promising to bring comfort, but no ungodly master is a more unyielding dictator. Nothing makes us feel more powerless. The accuser of the brethren chides us constantly with his tally of failures, and convinces us that we are unable to derail the miserable cycle of self-loathing.

    But no matter whether your addictions are to substance or behaviors, God can set you free. What He requires from you is time, trust, and cooperation. Be tenacious and patient, child of God! If you fall, don’t listen to the accusations and jeers of the evil one. Get back up and walk with God again. How many times? Until you’re free.

    However long and unforeseeable the road, God will lead.

    Lord God, I praise You with my whole heart because You said that whenever the wicked man forsakes his ways and the evil man his thoughts and turns to You, You will have mercy on him, for You will freely pardon (Isaiah 55:7). Thank You, my God, that no matter how I’ve been enslaved, You can set me free (Romans 6:19).

    Help me, Lord, to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that in all things You work for the good to those who love You, who have been called according to Your purpose (Romans 8:28). Please help me see the condition in that promise! You are not obligated to work all things together for good for those who neither love You nor are called according to Your purpose. You obligate Yourself to that awesome promise only when I offer You my aching heart and commit myself and my suffering to Your good purposes. If I do, You promise to do more with my life than I could ever conceive. And I know that strongholds are not exempt from this list. As hard as it may be to comprehend, You can and will work this terrible challenge for good – if I will cooperate with You and see myself as one called according to Your purpose.

    Lord God, lift me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire. Set my feet on a rock and give me a firm place to stand. Put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to my God! “Blessed is the one who makes the Lord his trust.” (Psalm 40:2-4) O Lord, like David, help me to rejoice in Your strength and say to You, “How great is my joy in the victories You give!” Father, please grant me the desire of my heart — to be free from this addiction — and do not withhold the request of my lips (Psalm 21:1-2, 5). Through the victories You give, may Christ Jesus’ glory be great!

    Dearest God, no matter what I once was, I have been washed, I have been justified, and I have been sanctified in the mighty name of the Lord Jesus and by the Holy Spirit of my God (1 Corinthians 6:11). For this I thank You. I am so thankful that there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life has set me from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, You did by sending Your own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering for me (Romans 8:1-3). And since You do not condemn me, I have no right or place to condemn myself. Please keep me and not let me get caught up in a defeating cycle of self-condemnation.

    O Lord God, please forgive me for my self-loathing. Help me to praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful; I know this full well (Psalm 139:14).

    Lord God, help me not to give the devil any opportunity to control me. I have too long given the devil a foothold (Ephesians 4:27). Please help me to stop offering him so many opportunities to bring defeat into my life. Your plan for me is victory. I will trust in You.

    I confess to You, my God and Father, that I am overwhelmed by the task ahead, But I am thankful that You have authority over all things. Heaven is Your throne and earth is Your footstool (Matthew 5:34-35). Therefore anything over my head is under Your feet.

  • A Few More Verses Against Worry and Fear

    Lord God, You assure me that though a mother could maybe forget her child, You will absolutely never forget me. You have engraved my name on the palms of Your hands (Isaiah 49:15-16). How precious concerning me are Your thoughts, O God my Father! How vast the sum of them! (Psalm 139:17) A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows are You, O God, in Your holy dwelling. You, O my Lord, set the lonely in families (Psalm 68:5).

    The Lord will hold me in His hands for all to see — a splendid diadem in the hand of my God [for He gives me my worth] (Isaiah 62:3). “For I know the plans I have for you,” the Lord my God declares. “Plans for your welfare, not for disaster, and to give you a future and a hope. You will call to Me and come and pray to Me. And I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:11-13) This I will do, my Lord God!

    The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call upon Him sincerely and in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear Him. He also will hear their cry and save them (Psalm 145:18-19). As the Scriptures express it: “See, I am sending Christ to be the carefully chosen, precious cornerstone of My Church, and I will never disappoint those who trust in Him.” (1 Peter 2:6)

    Lord, work for us, for nothing restrains You from saving by many or by few (1 Samuel 14:6).  Lord, it is nothing for You to help, whether with many or with those who have no power; help us, O Lord our God, for we rest in You, and in Your name we go against this multitude (2 Chronicles 14:11).

    Show me the way I should go, O Lord God, for to You do I lift up my soul (Psalm 143:8). Make glad the soul of Your servant, O God, for to You , O Lord, I lift up my soul (Psalm 86:4). You will keep me in perfect peace as long as my mind is dependent on You, for I am trusting in You, my Lord and Savior (Isiah 26:3).

    Jesus has promised: “I will not leave you comfortless; I will come to you” (John 14:18). Jesus, Your banner over me is love — how fortunate I am! My Lover is mine and I am His (Song of Songs 2:4, 16).

    I am confident of this: He who began a good work in me will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus’ return (Philippians 1:6). For God the Father raised me from the dead along with Christ Jesus, and I am seated with Jesus in the heavenly realms — all because I believe in and am one with Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:6). I need neither to fear men’s threats nor worry about them; I simply need to concentrate on being completely devoted to Christ in my heart (1 Peter 3:14-15 Phillips).

    Father, help me to clothe myself with humility toward others, because You oppose the proud but give grace to the humble (1 Peter 5:5). I will never live a day that I am not in need of Your grace, so please help me maintain an attitude that welcomes it.

    Lord, You have said, “My grace is sufficient for you.” For Your strength is shown perfect in my weakness. So I will take pleasure gladly in my infirmities, pains, distresses — for Christ’s sake — so Christ’s power may rest on me (2 Corinthians 12:9). Therefore I count it all joy whenever I fall into various trials knowing that the testing of my faith produces patience. And I will let patience have its perfect work in me, so I may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing in my service to the Lord (James 1:2-4). Dear God, help me to remain faithful in tests that have been granted for my gain. For I know that when my faith is tested, my endurance has a chance to grow.

    I will be strong and of good courage and do the work; I will not fear nor be discouraged, for the Lord my God is with me. He won’t leave me or forsake me until all the work for His service is finished (1 Chronicles 28:20).

    Since Christ suffered and underwent pain, we must have the same attitude He did; I must be ready to suffer too. For I remember that when my body suffers, sin loses it power (1 Peter 4:1 Phillips). I take my share of suffering as a good soldier in Jesus (2 Timothy 2:3).

    You are the vine, I am the branch. As I remain in You, and You in me, I will bear much fruit. Apart from You I can do nothing (John 15:5). With You we can do all things!

  • To Combat Fear

    Since we have a kingdom nothing can destroy, let us please God by serving Him with thankful hearts and with holy fear and awe, for our God is a consuming fire (Hebrews 12:28). You are to regard only the Lord of Hosts as holy. Only He should be feared; only He should be held in awe (Isaiah 8:13)

    To be in awe of Him!

    “Remember what happened long ago, for I am God and there is no other” (Isaiah 46:9). “I will be the same until your old age, and I will bear you up when you turn gray. I have made you, and I will carry you; I will bear you up and save you” (Isaiah 46:4). “Remember this and be brave; take it to heart” (Isaiah 46:8).

    I will be sure to fear only my Lord God and serve Him faithfully with all my heart; I will trust the Lord my God and sincerely worship Him. I will think often of all the tremendous things He has done for me (1 Samuel 12:24). For You have been a stronghold for the poor, a stronghold for the humble person in his distress, a refuge from the rain, a shade from the heat (Isaiah 25:4).

    For the Lord my God has arrived to live among us! He is a mighty savior. He will rejoice over me with great gladness. With His love He will calm all my fears. He will exalt over me by singing a happy song (Zephaniah 3:17).

    Lord God, blessed am I when I take refuge in You, for the angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear the Lord God, and delivers them. Fear the Lord, you His saints, for those who fear Him lack nothing. Those who seek You, Gracious Lord, lack no good thing (Psalm 34:7-10).

    He delivers me from all my fears (Psalm 34:4). The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe (Proverbs 29:25).

    You, Lord God, promised to go before me; that You will be with me and not leave me or forsake me. Therefore I will not be afraid or discouraged (Deuteronomy 31:8).

    In righteousness I am established. Therefore tyranny and oppression will be far from me. I have nothing to fear; terror is far removed; it will not come near me… No weapon forged against me will prevail, and I will refute every tongue that accuses me. “This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and this is their vindication from Me,” declares the Lord of Hosts (Isaiah 54:14, 17).

    God, You are my refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore I will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, still I will not fear (Psalm 46:1-2). Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in God — in my God; I will praise You and Your name and Your Word. In God I have put my trust I will not fear. What can mortal man do to me? (Psalm 56:3-4).

    The Lord is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear? The Lord, holy and true, is the strength of my life. Of whom shall I be afraid? When evil men advance against me to devour my flesh, when my enemies and foes attack me, they will stumble and fall. Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear. Though war break out against me, even then will I be confident. One thing I ask of the Lord — this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His Holy Temple. For in the day of trouble, He will keep me safe in His dwelling place. He will hide me in the shelter of His Tabernacle, and set me high upon a rock. I place my trust in You, my Lord God. Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me. At Your Tabernacle, O Loving Lord, will I sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music [of thanksgiving] to You, my God (Psalm 27:1-6).

    I will have no fear of bad news, for my heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord. My heart is secure. I will have no fear. In the end I will look with triumph on my foe [the devil] (Psalm 112:7-8). I will go on my way in safety, and my foot will not stumble. When I lie down, I will not be afraid. When I lie down, my sleep will be sweet. I will have no fear of sudden disaster, nor of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, for the Lord will be my confidence and will keep my foot from being snared (Proverbs 3:23-26).

    He will make a covenant of peace with me and drive away the dangerous animals from my land. I am able to camp safely in the wildest places, and sleep in the woods without fear (Ezekiel 34:25). “My people will dwell in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places,” declares the Lord (Isaiah 32:18).

    Peace You leave with me, Lord Jesus; Your peace You give to me — and You do not give as the world gives. Therefore I will not let my heart be troubled or fearful (John 14:27).

    For my God has not given me a spirit of timidity that makes me a slave to fear, but a spirit of power, of love, and of self-discipline (2 Timothy 1:7). For the Holy Spirit, God’s gift, does not want me to be afraid of people, but to be wise and strong, and to love them and enjoy being with them (2 Timothy 1:7 Phillips). I have no fear, but I have His love flowing in me.

    Perfect love drives out fear (1 John 4:18).

  • To Combat Worry

    I desire to dwell in the shelter of the Most High. I will rest in the shadow of the Almighty [El Shaddai]. I will say of the Lord: “You are my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust.” Surely God will save me from the fowler’s snare, and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover me with His feathers, and under His wings I will find refuge. His faithfulness is my shield and rampart, my buckler wherever I go. I will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys in sunlight. A thousand may fall at my side, ten thousand at my right hand, but it will not come near me. I will only observe with my eyes and see the punishment of the wicked. Because I make the Most High my dwelling place — even the Lord, who is my refuge — no harm will befall me. No disaster will come near my dwelling. For the Lord will command His angels concerning me, to guard me in all my ways. They will lift me up in their hands so I will not strike my foot against a stone. I will tread upon the lion and the cobra; I will trample the great lion and the serpent. “Because [he/she] love Me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue [him/her]. I will set [him/her] securely on high, for [he/she] acknowledges My name. [He/She] will call upon Me and I will answer [him/her]. I will be with [him/her] in trouble. I will deliver [him/her] and honor [him/her]. With long life I will satisfy [him/her] and show [him/her] My salvation.” (Psalm 91:1-16)

    Our Rock is unmovable!

    I do not let my heart be troubled. I trust in God, I trust also in my Lord Jesus (John 14:1). God has put a hedge around me and my family, and my house, and everything I have and all I have inherited through His kindnesses. God blesses the work of my hands because I keep His commandments (Job 1:10). You are abundantly gracious to me, O Lord God, and I do humbly thank You. You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every good and upright thing (Psalm 145:16).

    I will lift up my eyes beyond the mountains; from whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord who made the mountains, the heavens and all the earth. He will not allow my foot to slip; He who keeps me will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps [the old and the new] Israel will never slumber nor sleep. The Lord God is my Keeper. The Lord is my shade on my right hand. The sun will not smite me by day, nor the moon or stars by night. The Lord God will protect me from all evil. He will keep my soul. The Lord will guard my going out and my coming in, both now and forever more. (Psalm 121:1-8) Because I stay at His right hand, I will not be moved!

    The peace that surpasses all understanding keeps my heart and mind through Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7). You keep me in perfect peace, for my mind is steadfast, because I trust in You (Isaiah 26:3). I will lie down and sleep in peace, for You alone, O Lord, make me to dwell in safety (Psalm 4:8). I will lie down and sleep; I will awake again because the Lord sustains me (Psalm 3:5). Lord God, help me to remember You when I go to bed (Psalm 63:6). Occupy my thoughts through the watched of the night, because when my mind is on You I don’t worry about other things.

    I am convinced nothing can separate me from God’s love: death can’t, life can’t; angels and demons can’t; fears for the day, worries about tomorrow… even the powers of hell can’t keep God’s love away from me. Whether I am high above the sky or in the deepest ocean, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate me from the love of God that is revealed through Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:38-39)

    So I will depart from evil and do good; I will seek peace and pursue it (Psalm 34:14). I will strive to keep my ways pleasing to the Lord, for then God will make even my enemies to be at peace with me (Proverbs 16:7). I will not repay anyone evil for evil. I will be careful to do what is right. As far as possible as it depends on me, I will live at peace with all men. I will not take revenge, but leave room for God’s wrath… I will not allow evil to overcome — I will overcome evil with good (Romans 12:17-21).

    Father, when all other things have passed away, three things will remain: faith, hope and love (1 Corinthians 13:13). Help me prioritize my day by the things that will always remain. And, dear Lord God, please help me not to allow the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth, or the desires for other things to come in and choke Your Word, making it unfruitful in my life (Mark 4:19).

  • Be Not Afraid

    Time and time again, God has told His people not to be afraid. Don’t let fear ruin your faith in your Almighty Father. He promised to be with you always. Trust Him for that.

    God is always there with you, even when you can’t feel Him

    Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield (Genesis 15:1). “Don’t be afraid, for God has heard…” (Genesis 21:17).

    Do not be afraid, for I am with you (Genesis 26:24). I am God… Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt… I will go down with you (Genesis 46:3-4).

    Don’t be afraid. Stand firm and see the Lord’s salvation (Exodus 14:13). Don’t be afraid, for God has come to test you (Exodus 20:20). The Lord is with us; don’t be afraid of them! (Numbers 14:9)

    Do not be afraid of any man (Deuteronomy 1:17). Do as the Lord… has told you. Do not be afraid or discouraged (Deuteronomy 1:21). Don’t be terrified or afraid of them! The Lord your God, who goes before you, will fight for you (Deuteronomy 1:29).

    Do not fear him, for I have handed him over to you (Deuteronomy 3:2). Don’t be afraid of them, for the Lord your God fights for you (Deuteronomy 3:22). Do not be afraid of them. [Instead] be sure to remember what the Lord your God did to Pharaoh and all Egypt (Deuteronomy 7:18).

    Do not be afraid of them, for the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, is with you (Deuteronomy 20:1). Do not be fainthearted. Do not be afraid, alarmed, or terrified because of them. For the Lord your God is the One who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory (Deuteronomy 20:3-4). Be strong and courageous, don’t be terrified or afraid of them. For it is the Lord your God who goes with you (Deuteronomy 31:6). The Lord is the One who will go before you… Do not be afraid or discouraged. (Deuteronomy 31:8).

    The Lord said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid or discouraged” (Joshua 8:1). Do not be afraid of them, for I have handed them over to you (Joshua 10:8). Then Joshua said to them, “Do not be afraid or discouraged. Be strong and courageous, for the Lord will do this to all the enemies you fight!” (Joshua 10:25). Do not be afraid of them (Joshua 11:6).

    Don’t be afraid, for you will not die (Judges 6:23). Don’t be afraid. Even though you have committed all [kinds of] evil, don’t turn away from following the Lord” (1 Samuel 12:20).

    The angel of the Lord said… Don’t be afraid of him (2 Kings 1:15). Don’t be afraid, for those who are with us out-number those who are with them (2 Kings 6:16). Don’t be afraid because of the words you have heard (2 Kings 19:6).

    Be strong and courageous. Don’t be afraid or discouraged (1 Chronicles 22:13). Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Don’t be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you (1 Chronicles 28:20).

    Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s… You do not have to fight this battle… Do not be afraid or discouraged… for the Lord is with you” (2 Chronicles 20:15, 17).

    Be strong and courageous! Don’t be afraid, or discouraged… for there are more with us than with him. He has only human strength, but we have the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles (2 Chronicles 32:7-8). Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the great and awe-inspiring Lord! (Nehemiah 4:14).

    Do not fear… I will help you (Isaiah 41:14). Do not fear, for I am with you (Isaiah 43:5). Do not fear (Isaiah 44:2). Do not be startled or afraid (Isaiah 44:8). Do not be afraid (Isaiah 54:4).

    Do not be afraid of anyone (Jeremiah 1:8). Don’t be afraid… don’t be afraid of him… I am with you to save you and deliver you from him. (Jeremiah 42:11). Don’t be afraid, you who are treasured by God (Daniel 10:19). Don’t be afraid; let your hands be strong… Don’t be afraid (Zechariah 8:13, 15)

    The Lord is my light and my salvation — whom should I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life — of whom should I be afraid? (Psalm 27:1) When I am afraid, I will trust in You. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not fear. What can man do to me? (Psalm 56: 3-4) The Lord is for me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? (Psalm 118:6) Indeed, God is my salvation. I will trust Him and not be afraid (Isaiah 12:2).

  • Worry Not

    Some say that to worry is to sin, since God told us not to worry. The fact is that worry doesn’t add any time to your lifespan, or boost your health, or increase your popularity. There really is no good that comes from worry. That being said, this author knows how hard it is to let go of the controls and not worry about any outcomes. We are told to sit back and enjoy the ride while God controls… easily said.

    God offers peace and rest for your soul, as well as you mind.

    Help me, Lord Jesus, to take Your yolk upon me and to learn from You; for You are gentle and humble in heart, and I will find rest for my soul in You (Matthew 11:29). Lord God, I have the assurance of Your Word that You, the Great God of All Grace, who called me to Your eternal glory in Christ Jesus, after I have suffered a little while, will Yourself restore me and make me strong, firm and steadfast (1 Peter 5:10). You, O Lord, love me with an everlasting love; You have drawn me with loving-kindness. You will build me up again, and I will be rebuilt. I will take up my tambourine and go out to dance with the joyful ones (Jeremiah 31:3-4).

    Father God, I ask You to lead me when I am blind along ways I have not known; along unfamiliar paths please guide me. Lord, turn the darkness into light before me and make the rough places smooth. I pray these are the things You will do; I know You will not forsake me (Isaiah 42:16). I will be still and know You are God. You, O Lord Almighty, are with me; You, O God of Jacob, are my Fortress (Psalm 46:10-11).

    By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and got up and went, even though he did not know where he was going (Hebrews 11:8). Lord, help me to be willing to follow You in obedience even when I’m not sure where we are heading.

    God Father, Your Word tells me to humble myself under Your mighty hand, that You may lift me up in due time. O Loving Father, I cast all my cares and anxieties and worries of the day on You because You care for me (1 Peter 5:6-7). I cast my cares on the Lord and He sustains me; He will never let the righteous be moved (Psalm 55:22).

    When I said, “my foot is slipping,” Your love, O Lord, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, Your consolation brought joy to my soul (Psalm 94:18-19). When I was in great need, You saved me. Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the Lord has been good to you (Psalm 116:6-7). I will rejoice and be glad in Your love, O my God, for You saw my affliction and knew the anguish of my soul. You have not handed me over to the enemy, but have set my feet in a spacious place (Psalm 31:7-8).

    Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You, O Lord, preserve my life. You stretch out Your hand against the anger of my foes; with Your right hand You save me. You, my Lord God, will fulfill Your purpose for me. Your Love, O Lord, endures forever — You will not abandon the work of Your hands (Psalm 138:7-8).

    I let the peace of Christ Jesus rule in my heart, since as a member of His body I was called to peace. And I am thankful / grateful / praiseful. I refuse to worry about anything. (Colossians 3:15).

  • Thank You, God

    I share with you what I found to be helpful in dealing with old hurts. This excerpt from Ruth Myers’ book, Thirty-One Days of Praise, says things better than I ever could.

    Thank You, my gracious and sovereign God, that You have been with me and carried me from the day of my birth until today (Isaiah 46:3, 9-10). That You have known my whole life, from beginning to end, since before I was born and that You wrote in Your book all the days that You ordained for me before one of them came to be (Psalm 139:16). You knew my whole life before I was even born.

    Thank You that in Your gracious plan to bless and use me, You’ve allowed me to go through hard times, through trials that many people go through in this fallen world (1 Corinthians 10:13; 1 Peter 5:9). How glad I am that You’re so good at reaching down and making something beautiful out of even the worst situations! How encouraged I am when I think how You did this for Joseph (Genesis 37)… how his brothers hated and abused and betrayed him, and how You worked these things out for blessings, both for Joseph and his family, and for countless others as well (Genesis 50:19-20).

    I praise You that the things that happened in my past, both enjoyable and painful, are raw materials for blessings, both in my life and in the lives of others (1 Thessalonians 5:18). So I thank You for the specific family (or lack of family) into which I was born and the opportunities You did or did not provide. And thank You for the things in my past that appear to be limitations, hindrances, bad breaks… the wounds of old hurts, the unmet emotional needs, the mistakes or neglect of other people — even their cruelty to me, their abuse.

    How comforting to know that in all my distresses You are distressed (Isaiah 63:9). And how I thank You, Lord Jesus, that on the cross You bore my griefs and carried my sorrows, as well as my sins (Isaiah 53:4)… that I can kneel at the cross and worship You as the One who took on Yourself all my pain and experienced it to the full. And how comforting to know that in the present, day by day, You feel with me any pain, confusion, inner bondage, or struggles that stem from my past. Thank You that all these seeming disadvantages are a backdrop for the special, unfolding plan You have in mind for me… and if my past still handicaps me, You are able to lead me to the kind of help I need.

    I’m so grateful that all my past circumstances were permitted by You to make me see my need for You and prepare my heart for Your Word (Deuteronomy 8:3)… to draw me to Yourself, and to work out Your good purposes for my life (Psalm 66:10-12). I rejoice that You are the Blessed Controller of all things (1 Timothy 6:15 Phillips)– You are now, You will be throughout the future, and You always were. All my days had Your touch of love and wisdom, whether or not I can yet fully see it.

    And Lord, I choose to look beyond my past and present troubles in this life — this temporary life — and fix my eyes on the unseen things that will last forever (2 Corinthians 4:17-18). I praise You for the eternal glory these things are piling up for me as I choose to trust You.

    (Ruth Myers, Thirty-One Days of Praise)

  • God Our Champion

    Fear is faith in the enemy’s abilities! Just in case anyone is still clinging to a few doubts, let me assure you, the devil is real. We live our lives not simply according to what we know, but what we really believe. Genuine belief is life-altering conviction. How we walk with our feet of clay on the hot pavement of life evidences what we truly believe.

    No matter the difficulty, God always wins.

    The Lord is (1) good, (2) a refuge in times of trouble, and (3) He cares for those who trust in Him (Nahum 1:7).

    Please swell my soul with belief and help me trust emphatically in Your deliverance, O God my Savior (Psalm 78:18-22). Do not be far from me, O Lord my Champion, for trouble is near and there is no one to help… I feel like roaring lions are waiting to tear their prey open — their mouths wide against me! (Psalm 22:11, 13). I sometimes feel others conspire against me and the enemy plots to take my life. But I trust in You, O Lord; I say, “You are my God.” My times are in Your hands (Psalm 31:13-16).

    To You, O my Lord, I lift up my soul; in You, O my God, I trust. Do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemy triumph over me (Psalm 25:1-2). Guard my life and rescue me, O Lord my God. Let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in You. May integrity and uprightness protect me, because all my hope is in You alone (Psalm 25:20-21).

    How great is Your goodness, O Lord, which You have stored up for those who fear You; which You bestow in the sight of all men on those who take refuge in You. In the shelter of Your presence You hide us from the intrigues of men; in Your dwelling You keep us safe from accusing tongues (Psalm 31: 19-20).

    The Lord is my shepherd; I have everything I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; He leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to His name. Even when I walk through the dark valley of death, I will not be afraid, for You are close beside me. Your rod and Your staff protect and comfort me. You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You welcome me as a guest, anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings. Surely Your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever (Psalm 23:1-6).

    The Lord has come to rescue me from the hand of my enemy, and to enable me to serve my Lord without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him all my days (Luke 1:74-75). Now, just as I trusted Christ Jesus to save me, I can trust Him also for each day’s problems; I choose to live in vital union with Him. I can let my roots grow down into Him and draw up nourishment from Him.

    Help me and teach me, Lord Jesus, to take Your yolk upon me and to learn from You; for You are gentle and humble in heart, and I will find rest for my soul in You (Matthew 11:29).