Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6-7). Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? (Matthew 6:27) Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? (Luke 12:26)
Avoid all anxious care, vexation murmuring, and melancholy which darken the soul, and that renders you unfit for the friendship of God. He who complains, or thinks he has a right to complain, because he is called in God’s providence to suffer, has something within him which needs to be taken away.If we yield to a complaining and impatient spirit, we shall mar our peace without having the satisfaction of benefiting others.
Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels (2 Timothy 2:23). Avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless. (Titus 3:9). Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. (Philippians 1:27).
Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation. Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky (Philippians 2:14-15). Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. (1 Peter 4:9-10). Don’t grumble against one another, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door! (James 5:9).
When we complain, we look ugly. We are meant to show God’s beauty.
Just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ (2 Corinthians 1:5).
God’s grace abounds to us, especially when we suffer hurt.
I desire to dwell in the shelter of the Most High. I will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. 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 [deadly] harm will befall me. No [life-threatening] 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] loves 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)
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 You, Lord (James 1:2-4). Dear God, help me to remain faithful in tests that have been granted for my gain, because I know that when my faith is tested, my endurance has a chance to grow.
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).
Since Christ suffered and underwent pain, we must have the same attitude He did (1 Peter 4:1). 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 Christ Jesus (2 Timothy 2:3). Father, You are able to make all grace abound to me so that in all things at all times, having all that I need, I will abound in every good work (2 Corinthians 9:8).
You have allotted me grace (Ephesians 4:7). You have redeemed me with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment (Exodus 6:6). You have taken me as Your own, and You are my God (Psalm 31:14). You are a Father to me (Ephesians 1:5). You have delivered me from the past that has held me in bondage, and translated me into the kingdom of love, peace, joy and righteousness (Colossians 1:13).
Father, You Yourself have told me: “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I [the Almighty One] am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will uphold you with My righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10). So I will say of the Lord: “You are my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust.”
At the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up (Galatians 6:9).
It may take a while but no prayer goes unanswered, and no good deed fails to produce good fruit. God awaits His own good time – omnipotence can afford to wait for it is always sure of success.
“The Father sets those dates,” Jesus replied, “and they are not for you to know (Acts 1:7 TLB).
Spiritual maturity isn’t a matter of what we know, but Who we know.It is not what you look at that matters; it is what you see. When we look at the things around us we must learn to look for the unseen things that are behind the visible things.
We walk by faith, not by sight (1 Corinthians 5:7). For the righteous will live by their faith (Galatians 3:11).
If you ever take God seriously, you are going to live life as it was meant to be lived! Whatever God orders, He pays for. Like the rays of the sun, a blessing always has an effect. His presence makes all things smile! In His world all things prosper – this satisfies me!
God is always working. His grace is always flowing. Trust He knows the proper timing.
Failures are only temporary tests to prepare us for more permanent triumphs. Failure cannot happen in your life without your permission. “Success” and “failure” are both impostors and should be treated alike. Winston Churchill said: Success is never final; failure is never fatal… it’s courage that counts. If you learn from a defeat, you haven’t really lost.
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my spirit and my portion forever (Psalm 73:26). Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail (Lamentations 3:22).
Ancient Proverb: He who is born in the fire will not fade in the sun. If you are beginning to encounter some hard bumps, be glad for at least you are out of the pit. There is little you can learn from doing nothing. Take what you have and use it and your talent will increase.
Do you have eyes that fail to see and ears that fail to hear? (Mark 8:18). [For we should say] far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you, and I will teach the way that is good and right (1 Samuel 12:23).
Failures are not detrimental, for they make us see things differently.
If God could grow weary of me, He would have been tired of putting up with me long before now! All Scripture testifies to the importance of each individual to God.
God will give to each person according to what he has done (Romans 2:6). The Lord has assigned to each his task (1 Corinthians 3:5) and each will be rewarded according to his own labor (1 Corinthians 3:8). For the Son of Man is going to come in His Father’s glory with His angels, and then He will reward each person according to what he has done (Matthew 16:27). At that time each will receive his praise from God Himself (1 Corinthians 4:5)!
The unique, one-of-a-kind canvas of our existence is meant to be an inspiration to others, a true joy to behold and a heaven-sent blessing to those we meet in a day. Each of us has abilities which God wants us to pursue to give Him glory and to give us enjoyment of life.
To each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it (Ephesians 4:7). Each should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms (1 Peter 4:10).
Jesus has heaped up gifts and supplied you with favor, spiritual blessings, and grace out of His abundance… Take it!
Adorable and Suffering Body, in and with which we are forever united, give me please, together with Your cross, Your Spirit of love and self-denial. Teach me to think of the privilege of suffering with You, rather than of the pangs of that suffering. What can I suffer that You have not endured? Or indeed, how do I dare to presume to speak of suffering when I remember what You bore for me? Weak mortal, be silent! See your Mater and be silent. Lord, God, my Lord, my God, teach me to love You and I will not be afraid of any cross. Then, whatever grievous and bitter pangs may come, I will never have more to bear than I am glad and willing to bear.
We rejoice in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance (Romans 5:3), seeing that we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him (Romans 8:17). So share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus (2 Timothy 2:3).
Do not be afraid of anything on your way. God will lead you by the hand, if only you are filled with love for Him rather than fear for yourself.
We may not see it from our standpoint, but suffering enriches us.
The happiest people don’t necessarily have the best of everything, they just make the best of everything they have. The present (now) is a gift from God. Why not unwrap it in the morning with great expectation and curiosity, and give thanks to God for it? For when you have thanked God for every blessing sent, what time will then remain for murmurs and lament?
When you are one of the few people who can do something to fix a problem, just how responsible does that make you for it? (It is how you choose to answer this question that defines you.) It is a commandment at every moment and in every condition of life to do the duty of that moment, and to abstain from doing the wrong. So do the duty that is nearest you — that first, and that well. The world has yet to see what God can do with and for and through and in a man who is fully and wholly consecrated to Him.
O Lord, I pray please bless all I do this day. Accept it as an act of worship and give me grace to find You in every task and duty, however small or dull it may seem to be.
Enjoy where He has placed you today. Tomorrow will be different.
God's Word on That 