22010.350 Week 50: Review and Reflect

This week’s devotionals were focused on the death and resurrection of Jesus!

What thoughts and ideas did you have as you reflected on Jesus’ sacrifice for you?

What emotions did you have as you read about his resurrection and power over death!

If necessary, go back and read anything you received this past week that you want to reconsider … or that you missed!

Quick Links

Jesus Prays for Us

Jesus Is Not in the Grave!

The Great Cover Up

Singular Focus

Do Not Be Afraid!

The Presence of Jesus

Reflection

The lesson this week focused on how Jesus prays for us. What difference does knowing this make in your life?

Which of the devotionals this week was most meaningful to you?

Which one of the devotionals this week encouraged you most?

In “Jesus Is Not in the Grave!” Beth Yoe included this quote by John Piper: “As humans, we have heads, and therefore must be given facts and evidences and arguments in order to make reasonable commitments. And we have hearts with longings and yearnings and hopes and fears and desires. Therefore, if someone urges me to commit myself to a certain goal, he must persuade my head that the goal is really there as he says it is; and he must move my heart to feel the value of attaining it.”

Is your faith most influenced by your head or by your heart? What impact does that have?

In what ways do you need to strengthen your head response to Jesus?

In what ways do you need to strengthen you heart response to Jesus?

How does the right balance of a head response and a heart response to Jesus affect your love for Him and for others?

In “Do Not Be Afraid,” Beth wrote: “The busyness of life, the cares of this world, the demands of a job, a home, a family, all keep us from a closer intimacy with the God of all creation.”

What most often interferes with your intimacy with God?

What steps can you take to balance out your responsibilities with your desire to be closer to your heavenly Father?

When do you typically experience the presence of Jesus?

Write It on Your Heart

Take a few minutes to memorize this verse:

“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” —Jeremiah 29:13

22010.357 Week 51: Review and Reflect

Time for some reflection. What have you learned about Jesus’ love over the past several weeks?

If necessary, go back and read anything you received this past week that you want to reconsider … or that you missed!

Quick Links

Jesus Surrenders to His Father’s Will

Go and Make Disciples!

Introduction to Highlights in the Gospel of Mark

Prepare the Way for the Lord!

John, the Nonconformist

God’s Love … To Us and Through Us

Reflection

The lesson this week was on Jesus’ surrender to His Father’s will.

What one new idea or concept was presented to you in this lesson?

What one idea or concept was difficult for you to integrate into your own life?

What one idea or concept was encouraging to you in this lesson?

This week we wrapped up the devotionals in the Gospel of Matthew?

What is one overarching lesson you have learned from reading all these passages in Matthew?

What is one way you have been encouraged in your faith over the past several weeks?

What is one way you have challenged to love in a new way over the past several weeks?

In “John, the Nonconformist” Beth Yoe wrote: “John came into the world for a special purpose and he was focused throughout his life on that purpose. John arrived on the scene living out the gospel. Many of us follow after the world and its futile pursuit of happiness simply because it’s the easier path and we want to blend in.”

In what ways are you currently “blending in”?

In what ways are you living the special purpose God has for your life?

Yesterday, in “God’s Love … to Us and through Us,” Beth included this quote by Oswald Chambers: “God loved me not because I was lovable, but because it was His nature to do so. Now He commands me to show the same love to others by saying, ‘love one another as I have loved you.’”

God loves you! Do you really believe it?

In what ways are you showing God’s love to others?

Write It on Your Heart

Take a few minutes to memorize this verse: “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. And teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” —Matthew 28:19–

22010.364 Week 52: Review and Reflect

Take a few moments to think about all that you have learned about God’s love! What difference is that knowledge making in your life? How is God’s love flowing through you to those around you?

If necessary, go back and read anything you received this past week that you want to reconsider … or that you missed!

Quick Links

Sabbath

Follow Me

True Authority

Healing

Prayer

Work to Do

Reflection

Our lesson this week was about celebrating the Sabbath

What thoughts have you had this week about incorporating a Sabbath into your life?

Which of the devotionals this week was most meaningful to you?

In what way are you currently following God’s plans and purposes for your life?

In “True Authority,” Beth Yoe wrote: “As disciples of Jesus we are to have a limitless confidence in our Lord’s authority. We are not to lean upon our own limited resources, abilities, and knowledge.”

In what areas of your life do you have limitless confidence in Christ’s authority?

In what ways do you lean on your own resources? Your own abilities? Your own knowledge?

What step of faith do you need to take to experience more confidence in Christ’s authority?

In “Healing,” Beth wrote: “Are we not all in that predicament—hurting, or weak, or failing? Do we not all need a healing touch from the Master’s hand? God’s healing covers all of our spiritual, emotional and physical needs!”

In what ways have you experienced God’s healing?

Is there something in your life right now that you need healing from? Ask God to intervene in your life, today!

In “Prayer,” Beth quoted William Mountford: “Let God do with me whatever He will.”

If you were really going to live out William Mountford’s words, what do you think it might mean for your life?

Are there parts of your life that you are keeping from God? Ask the Holy Spirit to give you the courage and strength to open up all of your life to Him.

Go a Step Beyond

God has so much He wants to give to you. And as you grow in your relationship with Him, you will be able to trust Him more and more. Take a few minutes to watch this video by Francis Chan: Stop and Think (the Movie)

Write It on Your Heart

Take a few minutes to memorize this verse:

“Come, follow me.” —Mark 1:17

22010.237 Parables in the Gospel of Luke

For the next eight weeks, the daily devotionals will be based on parables found in the Gospel of Luke. A parable is a simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson, as told by Jesus throughout the Gospels. Throughout the book of Luke, we see Jesus interacting with individuals, his small group of disciples, the religious leaders, and the huge crowds that followed Him. As a man, he fully experienced life here on earth, and it was from this experience that He was able to teach so effectively. As you read these devotionals, ask God to give you His wisdom to understand and apply the lessons of each parable to your own life.

As we begin this new series, consider and remember these perspectives over the next several months:

“By telling stories, Jesus isn’t somehow putting sugar in a spoon to make the medicine go down a bit easier. These stories are the medicine. These stories are an extension and explanation of Jesus’ revolutionary ministry. These stories show us that things are not as they appear. Our tidy, well-packaged ideas about spirituality, faith, and reality shatter when confronted by Christ and the God he represents.” ― Ronnie McBrayer, Leaving Religion, Following Jesus

“He [Jesus] speaks in parables, and though we have approached these parables reverentially all these many years and have heard them expounded as grave and reverent vehicles of holy truth, I suspect that many if not all of them were originally not grave at all but were antic, comic, often more than just a little shocking.” ― Frederick Buechner, Telling the Truth: The Gospel as Tragedy, Comedy, and Fairy Tale

Continue to grow in your relationship with Jesus! Read your Bible, pray, connect with other believers, serve; God is working in you and through you. 

22010.358 Sabbath

“The heavens and the earth were completed with everything that was in them. By the seventh day God finished the work that he had been doing, and he ceased on the seventh day all the work that he had been doing. God blessed the seventh day and made it holy because on it he ceased all the work that he had been doing in creation.” —Genesis 2:1–3

“Remember the Sabbath day to set it apart as holy. For six days you may labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God; on it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, or your male servant, or your female servant, or your cattle, or the resident foreigner who is in your gates. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth and the sea and all that is in them, and he rested on the seventh day; therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy.” —Exodus 20:8–11

The word Sabbath is related to the Hebrew word shavat, which means “to cease” or “to rest.”

Make It Holy

God blessed the seventh day and made it holy. To make something holy means to set it apart for God’s use. The idea is that we take our eyes off of our everyday living and turn our full attention to God. Often a Sabbath is observed on Sunday, but perhaps for you it is celebrated on the day of the week when you gather with other believers for corporate worship.

Take a few moments to reflect upon the following questions:

When or which day of the week, do you intentionally set aside to give your full attention to God?

In what ways does keeping a Sabbath affect your relationship with God?

What do you think it means to give full attention to God?

If you set apart one day out of a week for God, what would (or do) you do in that day? What would (or do) you not do? Why?

Rest

God finished his work in six days, and on the seventh day, he rested. If it is good for God to rest, it is important for us to rest! It is important to have margins in our life. We cannot be always “on” 24/7 and expect to live a whole and healthy life spiritually, physically, emotionally, and mentally.

“But I am too busy!”
“I would get fired if I tried to take a day off.”
“My farm needs me every day!”
“I cannot rest when my competitors are working non-stop!”
“I am a single parent! I cannot afford to take a day off!”

You may be thinking that you simply cannot afford to set time aside. God knows your life and your schedule. Rest is still what he desires for you.

When God gave the Ten Commandments on the stone tablets to Moses, the observance of the Sabbath was the fourth commandment, given even before honoring of your parents. It’s that important to God!

Why?

Observing the Sabbath is essential for our personal, spiritual, and societal wellbeing. God knows that because He created us. We can easily see that honoring our parents, or not murdering or not stealing is moral and good for us and for our society. Observing the Sabbath is harder to measure, but it is good for us as well! The goal of rest, like of sleep, is to restore and rejuvenate.

As with anything God asks, observing the Sabbath requires his grace and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.

Are there any changes you need to consider making in your life to better align yourself to the heart and will of God when it comes to observing the Sabbath?

How can you begin to incorporate some of these changes into your life?

32453.2 Abiding Room

Watch the video, “Abiding Room” (An Internet connection is required).

The 3 Levels of Life

As a believer, do you still struggle with anger or unforgiveness? Anxiety? Depression? Impatience? Envy or jealousy? Are you tired of trying to be a “good Christian” only to fall short?

Why is the divorce rate the same or higher among Christians compared to non-Christians? If believers are truly “a new creation” (2 Cor 5:17) shouldn’t it be less?

Why do believers not give more to charitable causes than unbelievers? Shouldn’t we have a more charitable nature once we “have the mind of Christ”? (1 Cor 2:16 )

In short, why doesn’t Christ’s Church look that much different from the rest of the world?

The solution to these problems, as taught in the Bible, is that although believers have received salvation, very few live their lives by the power of the Holy Spirit . Few Christians are aware of what it means to live by the Spirit; to be led by the Spirit in their daily lives as God intended. (Gal. 5:16-25)

JOL Abiding Room Diagram

As shown in the circles above, when you received Jesus Christ as your Savior, you crossed over the line from unbeliever to believer. You received the Holy Spirit forever (Eph 4:30 ). The one-way arrow representing salvation goes in only one direction, indicating that you can never lose your salvation; you can never go back from believer to unbeliever (John 3:36 , John 14:16 ).

However, this is where most believers stop and live their lives in the outer circle. They are saved but not surrendered to be filled and led by God’s Holy Spirit. God does not want His children to live relying on own human reasoning and self effort. He wants us to abandon fruitless trying and striving to be good enough to please Him. He wants us to be filled with the Holy Spirit and experience love, peace, joy and all the rest of the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) as you abide with Him in His Abiding Room.

Jesus modeled this for us when He chose 12 men for His inner circle. These men received special teaching and guidance from Jesus. They were the first group of men to be led and controlled moment-by-moment by the Holy Spirit. And God used them to change the world forever!

Note, however, that there are arrows going BOTH ways connecting the Outer Circle and the Abiding Room. These two arrows represent how we can quickly falter and go from being led by the Spirit (The Abiding Room, Romans 8:1-14) to being led by our sinful nature (Outer Circle, Romans 7:14-25). Only by surrendering continuously can we remain in Jesus’ Abiding Room and experience the life God intends for us.

I can tell you from personal experience that the power of the Holy Spirit can completely change you and your life if you are willing to let Him. (see Kevin’s Testimony).

32453.1 Kevin’s Testimony

Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs. -Jonah 2:8

I was born in Kansas and when I was five our family moved to Arizona. I grew up in a home that I would call a “Leave it to Beaver” type of home. My parents are wonderful people who made family their top priority and loved my brother and I unconditionally. We went to church regularly, but it was more of a religious training experience than a personal relationship with Christ.

At 21, I became acquainted with a guy who has become one of my best friends. He explained to me what it meant to have a personal relationship with God through the person of Jesus Christ. Although this made more sense than the unfulfilling traditional religion, which I had always been involved with, I still wanted to live my life my way. In my 20’s, I repeatedly rejected the gospel of Jesus Christ understanding fully that if I died, I would spend eternity in hell.

I figured that that these “Born Again” Christians were just using God as a crutch because they were too weak to handle life on their own. Arrogantly, I wanted any success I might have to be credited to me and not to God.

I got married at age 22, became a financial planner at age 24 and set extremely ambitious goals. I was full of selfish ambition. It was not uncommon for me to work 60 to 80 hour weeks, and everything in my career seemed to be falling into place.

But there was one major flaw: I left God entirely out of the equation. I had life’s road map, the Bible, all along, but was too prideful to stop and ask directions. You can go to Him the easy way or you can go to Him the hard way, but I was stubborn, so I had to do it the hard way. My way was a very painful divorce.

After the divorce, I sold virtually everything but a car, and moved back home with my parents at age 29. We got divorced and I was humbled in a way I that I had never experienced. At that low point I understood for the first time that I needed God. I accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Savior, and asked him to take control of my life.

I remarried in 1993 to a wonderful gal named Juli. However, although I was now “born again”, I was still operating under my own power, often focusing on filling my head with Biblical information without letting it penetrate my heart. I was frequently angry and critical of Juli. She tells me now that early in our marriage, she frequently cried herself to sleep at night. I was completely blind to my problem, and almost no one else saw it, because it was directed almost exclusively at Juli.

Each morning I generally spent some time reading the Bible. In 1999 God laid on my heart the desire to spend some of this time each morning asking Him to show me my blind spots.

For a couple of months I prayed daily, “Lord, help me to see me the way you see me”. I also frequently prayed Psalm 139: 23-24:

Search me, O God, and know my heart
Test me and know my anxious thoughts
See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting

One morning Juli and I began arguing. As I realized that she was not going to see things my way, I paused during the argument, and looked over to our living room and saw a ceramic dish, and did something I had never done before: I grabbed the dish and threw it down on the tile floor, smashing it into hundreds of pieces.

At the exact moment that my arm came down, our oldest son, Daniel, who at that time was four years old, walked around the corner. He saw me in a rage, smashing the dish on the ground, and became hysterical. He jumped up and down, crying and screaming and waving his arms.

Immediately, God answered my prayers and showed me how he saw me: a man still in bondage to pride, which was revealed by my anger. God showed me my sin in terms that I could understand through the eyes of my son. He showed me that if I continued with this sinful behavior I would not only damage another marriage, this time I was going to take my kids down with it.

I confessed the sin and repented of it. I didn’t feel just a little bit sorry for it; I hated it. I hated the sin because God hated it, and I wanted to get rid of it because He wanted me to get rid of it. But, honestly, I felt helpless in ever getting rid of it.

I started to earnestly seek what the Bible said about anger, and I read a couple of books on anger. But more than anything, I just simply gave up my right to be angry. I surrendered my right to be angry and God performed a miracle.

About three months later, Juli came up to me and said “Kevin, what has happened to your anger?” I was somewhat defensive, and said “What do you mean?”. She said, “Kevin, It’s not there anymore! Your face doesn’t get tense and you never explode at me and the kids anymore!”

I was completely unaware that anything had happened. I was not faking it or bottling it up inside; God had simply taken away my anger. We both knew God had changed me in a miraculous way!

As I look back now, I can see that I was not in an EMOTIONAL state where I needed A counselor, I was in a SPIRITUAL state of brokenness, humility and repentance where I could be healed by THE COUNSELOR-God’s Holy Spirit. As I humbled myself, the place in my heart once filled with pride, became filled with the Holy Spirit.

I was so overwhelmed by what God did, that I began asking Him what he wanted me to do next.

God began to show me things I needed to make right. I went to three people with whom I had strained relationships and apologized for my part in the strain and God restored the relationships. He led me to make financial restitution in a business deal I made many years before in which I was dishonest. He led me to return an item I had stolen from a friend when we were kids.

At age 40, after more than 10 years as a Christian, I began to see what it REALLY means to surrender to God.

This caused me to ask the question: What if I did something that, for me, would be completely radical? What if I began surrendering everything to him every day? Instead of saying, “This is my agenda; God please come over here and bless it”, what if I said, “Lord what is your agenda? Show it to me and I will follow you. Fill me with your Holy Spirit to enable me to do it.” And the changes He has been making in me and our lives over the past few years have been wonderful!

My pride and selfish ambition said we should be moving up occasionally to a bigger and better home. God said, surrender your plans to me, and I’ll make you content right where you are. And he has.

My pride and arrogance says there are a lot of tasks beneath me at home and work. God said, no, surrender to me and I will begin teaching you humility. Do some of those chores yourself, and I will show you how to enjoy serving Me. And recently He has begun that process, although there is still a long way to go.

My fear and anxiety said I needed to work long hours, evenings, and some Saturdays. God said, “No, surrender your career to me because it’s mine, not yours. Do not work weekends, plus, take a day off from work occasionally, relax and spend it in solitude with me.” And he has removed most of those fears and anxieties.

My selfishness said ‘two kids are enough’, while my wife wanted three. God said, “No, surrender this to me and I will decide.” He decided my wife was right–Again!–that three is the right number of kids for us. And I would not want it any other way.

I still mess up regularly, occasionally I get angry, and I’m still a work in process, but my wife says God has completely changed me, and that our home is a happier place to live as I have begun learning how to surrender to God’s will, abide in Jesus, and seek to be continuously filled with the Holy Spirit. And I am so grateful to Him!

23251 Hope in God’s Promises

See “Bible Promises for Hope” main menu

The Bible is full of promises from God that can help us find hope and strength when we need it most. By clinging to God’s promises, we demonstrate our faith in His trustworthiness and loving concern for us.

The author of the book of Hebrews writes, “Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.”  —Hebrews 10:23, NLT

We need hope during difficult times because hope is the promise of good in the future. Hope gives us the strength to face adversity. Hope energizes us to relentlessly expect a solution. This divine hope trusts God to give us his best even though we may not have any idea what that looks like.

 “We put our hope in the LORD. He is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. Let your unfailing love surround us, LORD, for our hope is in you alone.”  —Psalm 33:20-22, NLT

With our focus on God, we trust him to work out our future, confidently believing that he is able and will bring about all that he desires for us. Place your hope in God and his promises for you.

“Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him.”  —Psalm 62:5, NLT

“So do not throw away your confidence, because it has great reward. For you need endurance in order to do God’s will and so receive what is promised.”  —Hebrews 10:35–36

“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe in him, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”  —Romans 15:13, NIV

The Promise Maker

A promise is only as good as the character and capability of the promise maker. Think about who God is when you consider his promises to you.

God can do anything because he has limitless abilities. He is present everywhere, he sees everything and can intervene anywhere he wants. He knows everything, which means he has all the facts with which to make the right choices. And because he is all-powerful, he has the ability to accomplish whatever is necessary to fulfill those promises.

Fortunately, all those abilities reside within our God who is holy—and that means what he does will always be right and just. What he says is true and what he promises will be fulfilled.

The best news of all is that this amazing God cares about you. He is merciful and forgiving even when you disobey him. He is faithful to always look out for you and your best interests even though it might not appear that way at first. He is totally committed to your ultimate good and well-being. And he never changes!

Our God specializes in doing the impossible for his children and he wants us to marvel as we watch him work in our lives.

The Promise Keeper

God loves you. Fill your mind with his promises and your heart with the conviction of his faithfulness. Take a moment to read through the following promises in sequence.

• Trust God for His Perfect Plan

“‘For I know what I have planned for you,’ says the Lord. ‘I have plans to prosper you, not to harm you. I have plans to give you a future filled with hope. When you call out to me and come to me in prayer, I will hear your prayers.’”  —Jeremiah 29:11–12

“Now without faith it is impossible to please him, for the one who approaches God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”  —Hebrews 11:6

“… for we live by faith, not by sight.”  —2 Corinthians 5:7

‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”  —Proverbs 3:5–6

“A person plans his course, but the Lord directs his steps.”  —Proverbs 16:9

• Tell God Your Concerns

“Pray to me when you are in trouble. I will deliver you, and you will honor me.”  —Psalm 50:15

“And God will exalt you in due time, if you humble yourselves under his mighty hand by casting all your cares on him because he cares for you.”  —1 Peter 5:7

• Seek God’s Guidance

“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future.”  —John 16:13, NLT

“If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.”  —James 1:5, NLT

• Ask God for His Help

“Do not be anxious about anything. Instead, in every situation, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, tell your requests to God. And the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”  —Philippians 4:6-7

“Throw your burden upon the Lord, and he will sustain you. He will never allow the godly to be upended.”  —Psalm 55:22

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”  —Matthew 7:7–8

“If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you want, and it will be done for you.”  —John 15:7

• Believe God for His Deliverance

“The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.”  —Psalm 34:7

“The Lord is near the brokenhearted; he delivers those who are discouraged.”  —Psalm 34:18

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”  —Deuteronomy 31:6

“But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.”  —2 Thessalonians 3:3

• Thank God for the Victory

“And we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.”  —Romans 8:28

“For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.”  —Philippians 4:13

“Now to him who by the power that is working within us is able to do far beyond all that we ask or think, to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”  —Ephesians 3:20-21

Categories of Promises

There are thousands of promises in the Bible that relate to needs you might have. We have grouped Bible promises into categories based on your need. This is not an exhaustive list of God’s promises. As you read God’s word, you will find many more.

Promises for Your Situation

What are the circumstances that most occupy your thinking?

Promises for Your Feelings

What emotions trouble you?

Promises for Your Relationships

What assurances do you need for your relationship with God and family members?

Promises for Your Identity

How does God see you, and how should you alter your self-perception?

Promises for Your Future

What is God’s plan for your life?

Promises about God’s Character

What does God reveal about himself and the reliability of his promises? 

Explore the following categories in Promises Overview and discover the special promises God has made in the Bible for all your needs.

Download your copy of the PDF book, “God’s Promises for HopeHERE.

23253 Promises for Your Situation

What are the circumstances that most occupy your thinking?

Abandonment

“[God has promised), ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’”  —Hebrews 13:5, NIV

“Be strong and courageous! Do not fear or tremble before them, for the LORD your God is the one who is going with you. He will not fail you or abandon you!”  —Deuteronomy 31:6

“The Lord protects those residing outside their native land; he lifts up the fatherless and the widow, but he opposes the wicked.”  —Psalm 146:9

“I will not abandon you as orphans, I will come to you.”  —John 14:18

“But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love, …”  —Psalm 33:18, NLT

Adversity / Suffering

“Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will trouble, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we encounter death all day long; we were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we have complete victory through him who loved us!”  —Romans 8:35–37

“And we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose, …”  —Romans 8:28

“I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In the world you have trouble and suffering, but take courage—I have conquered the world.”  —John 16:33

“For our momentary, light suffering is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison because we are not looking at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen. For what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal.”  —2 Corinthians 4:17–18

“So if you are suffering according to God’s will, keep on doing what is right, and trust yourself to the God who made you, for He will never fail you.”  —1 Peter 4:19, NLT

“Consequently the Lord provides safety for the oppressed; he provides safety in times of trouble.”  —Psalms 9:9

“And, after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace who called you to his eternal glory in Christ will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.”  —1 Peter 5:10

“Not only this, but we also rejoice in sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance, character, and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”  —Romans 5:3-5

“And we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose, …”  —Romans 8:28

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to them.”  —Matthew 5:10:

“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.”  —Matthew 5:5

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”  —Matthew 5:4 

“The Lord works everything for its own ends—even the wicked for the day of disaster.”  —Proverbs 16:4

Awareness of God’s Presence

“Where can I go to escape your Spirit? Where can I flee to escape your presence? If I were to ascend to heaven, you would be there. If I were to sprawl out in Sheol, there you would be.”  —Psalm 139:7-8

“You lead me in the path of life; I experience absolute joy in your presence; you always give me sheer delight.”  —Psalm 16:11

“And the LORD said, ‘My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.’”  —Exodus 33:14

“But as for me, God’s presence is all I need. I have made the sovereign Lord my shelter, as I declare all the things you have done.”  —Psalm 73:28

“But I am continually with you; you hold my right hand. You guide me by your wise advice, and then you will lead me to a position of honor.”  —Psalm 73:23–24

“For where two or three are assembled in my name, I [Jesus] am there among them.”  —Matthew 18:20

“And remember, I [Jesus] am with you always, to the end of the age.”  —Matthew 28:20b

Condemnation / Accusations

“The one who believes in him is not condemned. The one who does not believe has been condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God.”  —John 3:18

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”  —Romans 8:1

“For the LORD vindicates his people, and has compassion on his servants.”  —Psalm 135:14

“’No weapon forged to be used against you will succeed; you will refute everyone who tries to accuse you. This is what the Lord will do for his servants—I will vindicate them,’ says the LORD.”  —Isaiah 54:17

“The LORD gives righteousness and justice to all who are treated unfairly.”  —Psalm 103:6, NLT

Decision-making / Guidance

“Call on me in prayer and I will answer you. I will show you great and mysterious things which you still do not know about.”  —Jeremiah 33:3

“A person plans his course, but the Lord directs his steps.”  —Proverbs 16:9

“For God, our God, is our defender forever. He guides us.”  —Psalm 48:14

“You chart the path ahead of me and tell me where to stop and rest. Every moment You know where I am. You know what I am going to say even before I say it, LORD. You both precede and follow me. You place Your hand of blessing on my head. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to know!”  —Psalm 139:3-6, NLT

“But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. For he will not speak on his own authority, but will speak whatever he hears, and will tell you what is to come.”  —John 16:13

“He stores up effective counsel for the upright, and is like a shield for those who live with integrity, …”  —Proverbs 2:7

“Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things that are freely given to us by God.”  —Corinthians 2:12

“Now as for you, the anointing that you received from him resides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things, it is true and is not a lie. Just as it has taught you, you reside in him.”  —1 John 2:27

“This is what the LORD, your protector, says, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the LORD your God, who teaches you how to succeed, who leads you in the way you should go.”  —Isaiah 48:17

“I will lead the blind along an unfamiliar way; I will guide them down paths they have never traveled. I will turn the darkness in front of them into light, and level out the rough ground. This is what I will do for them. I will not abandon them.”  —Isaiah 42:16

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding. Acknowledge him in all your ways, and he will make your paths straight.” —Proverbs 3:5–6

“Because of our God’s tender mercy the dawn will break upon us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”  —Luke 1:78–79

“I will instruct and teach you about how you should live. I will advise you as I look you in the eye.”  —Psalm 32:8

“When you walk about, they will guide you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; when you wake up, they will talk to you. For the commandments are like a lamp, instruction is like a light, and rebukes of discipline are like the road leading to life, …”  —Proverbs 6:22–23

“In the darkness a light shines for the godly, for each one who is merciful, compassionate, and just.”  —Psalm 112:4

Deliverance / Protection

“The LORD’s angel camps around the LORD’s loyal followers and delivers them.”  —Psalm 34:7

“Do not be afraid of sudden disaster, or when destruction overtakes the wicked; for the Lord will be the source of your confidence, and he will guard your foot from being caught in a trap.”  —Proverbs 3:25–26

“The Lord your God is in your midst; he is a warrior who can deliver. He takes great delight in you; he renews you by his love; he shouts for joy over you.”  —Zephaniah 3:17

“As for you, the one who lives in the shelter of the Most High and resides in the protective shadow of the Sovereign One—I say this about the LORD, my shelter and my stronghold, my God in whom I trust—he will certainly rescue you from the snare of the hunter and from the destructive plague.”  —Psalm 91:1–3

“Whoever presents a thank-offering honors me. To whoever obeys my commands, I will reveal my power to deliver.”  —Psalm 50:23

“The LORD says, ‘Because he is devoted to me, I will deliver him; I will protect him because he is loyal to me.’”  —Psalm 91:14

“You who love the Lord, hate evil! He protects the lives of his faithful followers; he delivers them from the power of the wicked.”  —Psalm 97:10

“Let me again experience the joy of your deliverance! Sustain me by giving me the desire to obey!”  —Psalm 51:12

“He delivered us from so great a risk of death, and he will deliver us. We have set our hope on him that he will deliver us yet again.”  —2 Corinthians 1:10

“How great is your favor, which you store up for your loyal followers! In plain sight of everyone you bestow it on those who take shelter in you. You hide them with you, where they are safe from the attacks of men; you conceal them in a shelter, where they are safe from slanderous attacks.”  —Psalm 31:19–20

“‘Do not be afraid of those to whom I send you, for I will be with you to protect you,’ says the LORD.”  —Jeremiah 1:8

“When you pass through the waters, I am with you; when you pass through the streams, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not harm you.”  —Isaiah 43:2

“The LORD is near all who cry out to him, all who cry out to him sincerely. He satisfies the desire of his loyal followers; he hears their cry for help and delivers them.”  —Psalm 145:18–19

“The Lord will deliver me from every evil deed and will bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever! Amen.”  —2 Timothy 4:18

“God is our strong refuge; he is truly our helper in times of trouble. For this reason we do not fear when the earth shakes, and the mountains tumble into the depths of the sea, …”  —Psalm 46:1–2

“I will lie down and sleep peacefully, for you, LORD, make me safe and secure.”  —Psalm 4:8

“Consequently the LORD provides safety for the oppressed; he provides safety in times of trouble.”  —Psalm 9:9

“He will surely give me shelter in the day of danger; he will hide me in his home; he will place me on an inaccessible rocky summit.”  —Psalm 27:5

“The Lord is good— indeed, he is a fortress in time of distress, and he protects those who seek refuge in him.”  —Nahum 1:7

“He frustrates the plans of the crafty so that their hands cannot accomplish what they had planned.”  —Job 5:12

“The Lord will fight for you, and you can be still.”  —Exodus 14:14

“The Lord will protect you from all harm; he will protect your life.”  —Psalm 121:7

The name of the Lord is like a strong tower; the righteous person runs to it and is set safely on high.”  —Proverbs 18:10

“For the LORD God is our sovereign protector. The LORD bestows favor and honor; he withholds no good thing from those who have integrity. O LORD of Heaven’s Armies, how blessed are those who trust in you!”  —Psalm 84:11–12

“He will rescue me and protect me from those who attack me, even though they greatly outnumber me.”  —Psalm 55:18

“The LORD keeps you from all evil and preserves your life. The LORD keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever.”  —Psalm 121:7-8, NLT

“You are my hiding place and my shield. I find hope in your word.”  —Psalm 119:114

“Into your hand I entrust my life; you will rescue me, O Lord, the faithful God.”  —Psalm 31:5

“Even when I must walk in the midst of danger, you revive me. You oppose my angry enemies, and your right hand delivers me.”  —Psalm 138:7

“For you have delivered me from death and my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of life.”  —Psalm 56:13

“I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but that you keep them safe from the evil one.”  —John 17:15

Dreams / Desires

“Humble yourselves before the Lord and he will exalt you.”  —James 4:10

“Commit your works to the Lord, and your plans will be established.”  —Proverbs 16:3

“This is what the Lord, your protector, says, the Holy One of Israel: ‘I am the Lord your God, who teaches you how to succeed, who leads you in the way you should go.’”  —Isaiah 48:17

“I will instruct and teach you about how you should live. I will advise you as I look you in the eye.”  —Psalm 32:8

“Trust in the LORD and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper. Take delight in the LORD, and He will give you your heart’s desires. Commit everything you do to the LORD. Trust Him, and He will help you…”  —Psalm 37:3-7, NLT

“The faithful person will be richly blessed, but the one who is eager to get rich will not go unpunished.”  —Proverbs 28:20

“The appetite of the sluggard craves but gets nothing, but the desire of the diligent will be abundantly satisfied.”  —Proverbs 13:4

“The LORD grants success to the one whose behavior he finds commendable. Even if he trips, he will not fall headlong, for the LORD holds his hand.”  —Psalm 37:23–24

“My blessing is on those people who trust in me, who put their confidence in me.”  —Jeremiah 17:7

“You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing.”  —Psalm 145:16, HCSB

“Commit your works to the Lord, and your plans will be established.”  —Proverbs 16:3

Finances / Provision

“He will listen to the prayers of the destitute. He will not reject their pleas.”  —Psalm 102:17, NLT

“And my God will supply your every need according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”  —Philippians 4:19

“All generous giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or the slightest hint of change.”  —James 1:17

“My blessing is on those people who trust in me, who put their confidence in me. They will be like a tree planted near a stream whose roots spread out toward the water. It has nothing to fear when the heat comes. Its leaves are always green. It has no need to be concerned in a year of drought. It does not stop bearing fruit.”  —Jeremiah 17:7–8

“The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He takes me to lush pastures; he leads me to refreshing water. He restores my strength. He leads me down the right paths for the sake of his reputation.”  —Psalm 23:1–3

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t there more to life than food and more to the body than clothing? Look at the birds in the sky: They do not sow, or reap, or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you more valuable than they are? And which of you by worrying can add even one hour to his life? Why do you worry about clothing? Think about how the flowers of the field grow; they do not work or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his glory was clothed like one of these! And if this is how God clothes the wild grass, which is here today and tomorrow is tossed into the fire to heat the oven, won’t he clothe you even more, you people of little faith? So then, don’t worry saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ For the unconverted pursue these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But above all pursue his kingdom and righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. So then, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Today has enough trouble of its own.”  —Matthew 6:25–34

“Throw your burden upon the Lord, and he will sustain you. He will never allow the godly to be upended.”  —Psalm 55:22

“Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me.”  —Psalm 54:4

“All eyes look to You for help; You give them their food as they need it. When You open Your hand, You satisfy the hunger and thirst of every living thing.”  —Psalm 145:15–16, NLT

“How blessed is every one of the Lord’s loyal followers, each one who keeps his commands! You will eat what you worked so hard to grow. You will be blessed and secure.”  —Psalm 128:1–2

“I am the Lord your God, who brought you up from the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it with good things.”  —Psalm 81:10

“Let them give thanks to the LORD for his loyal love, and for the amazing things he has done for people! For he has satisfied those who thirst, and those who hunger he has filled with food.”  —Psalm 107:8-9

“Even young lions sometimes lack food and are hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.”  —Psalm 34:10

“You open your hand, and fill every living thing with the food they desire…He satisfies the desire of his loyal followers; he hears their cry for help and delivers them.”  —Psalm 145:16, 19

 “The one true God acts in a faithful manner; the Lord’s promise is reliable; he is a shield to all who take shelter in him.”  —Psalm 18:30

“I will fully satisfy the needs of those who are weary and fully refresh the souls of those who are faint.”  —Jeremiah 31:25

Godly Living

“As we know Jesus better, his divine power gives us everything we need for living a godly life.”  —2 Peter 1:3, NLT

“Pray that you will begin to understand the incredible greatness of his power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms.”  —Ephesians 1:19–20, NLT

“But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and will cause you to remember everything I said to you.”  —John 14:26

“Then Jesus said to those Judeans who had believed him, ‘If you continue to follow my teaching, you are really my disciples.’”  —John 8:31

“For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”  —Luke 18:14B

“And he said to them, ‘Take care about what you hear. The measure you use will be the measure you receive, and more will be added to you.’”  —Mark 4:24

“Then Jesus spoke out again, ‘I am the light of the world. The one who follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’”  —John 8:12

“Rely on the Lord! Obey his commands! Then he will permit you to possess the land; you will see the demise of evil men.”  —Psalm 37:34

“Realize that the Lord shows the godly special favor; the Lord responds when I cry out to him.”  —Psalm 4:3

“The reward for humility and fearing the Lord is riches and honor and life.”  —Proverbs 22:4

“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.”  —Matthew 5:7

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.”  —Matthew 5:8

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God.”  —Matthew 5:9

Obedience

“So obey God because you are his children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of doing evil; you didn’t know any better then. But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God—who chose you to be his children—is holy. For he himself has said, ‘You must be holy because I am holy.’”  —1 Peter 1:14–16, NLT

“Jesus said, ‘Those who obey my commandments are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them, and I will love them. And I will reveal myself to each one of them.’”  —John 14:21, NLT

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.”  —Matthew 5:6

“I will give them one heart and I will put a new spirit within them; I will remove the hearts of stone from their bodies and I will give them tender hearts, so that they may follow my statutes and observe my regulations and carry them out. Then they will be my people, and I will be their God.”  —Ezekiel 11:19–20

“How blessed is every one of the Lord’s loyal followers, each one who keeps his commands. You will be blessed and secure.”  —Psalm 128:1–2

“Honor your father and mother just as the Lord your God has commanded you to do, so that your days may be extended and that it may go well with you in the land that he is about to give you.”  —Deuteronomy 5:16

“You are truly my disciples if you keep obeying my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”  —John 8:31–32, NLT

“Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with scoffers. But they delight in doing everything the LORD wants; day and night they think about his law. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season without fail. Their leaves never wither, and in all they do, they prosper. For the LORD watches over the path of the godly, but the path of the wicked leads to destruction.”  —Psalm 1:1–3,6, NLT

“But he replied, ‘Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it!’”  —Luke 11:28

“And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.”  —James 3:18, NLT

“Those who have done good will rise to eternal life, and those who have continued in evil will rise to judgment.”  —John 5:29, NLT

“I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.”  —Psalm 119:11, NLT

“I long to obey your commandments! Renew my life with your goodness.”  —Psalm 119:40, NLT

“And what you learned and received and heard and saw in me, do these things. And the God of peace will be with you.”  —Philippians 4:9

“Then at last everyone will say, ‘There truly is a reward for those who live for God; surely there is a God who judges justly here on earth.’”  —Psalm 58:11, NLT

Prayer Needs

“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that remains, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you.”  —John 15:16

But if anyone is deficient in wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without reprimand, and it will be given to him.”  —James 1:5

“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness, for we do not know how we should pray, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with inexpressible groanings. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes on behalf of the saints according to God’s will.”  —Romans 8:26–27

“If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you want, and it will be done for you.”  —John 15:7

“When you pray, do not babble repetitiously like the Gentiles, because they think that by their many words they will be heard. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”  —Matthew 6:7–8

“For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous and his ears are open to their prayer. But the Lord’s face is against those who do evil.”  —1 Peter 3:12

“Dear friends, if our conscience does not condemn us, we have confidence in the presence of God, and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do the things that are pleasing to him.”  —1 John 3:21–22

“So I tell you: Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you.”  —Luke 11:9

“Then you will take delight in the Lord, and he will answer your prayers.”  —Psalm 37:4

“And this is the confidence that we have before him: that whenever we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.”  —1 John 5:1

“And whatever you ask in prayer, if you believe, you will receive.”  —Matthew 21:22

Salvation / Justification

“For this is the way God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world should be saved through him. The one who believes in him is not condemned. The one who does not believe has been condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God.”  —John 3:16–18

“I tell you the solemn truth, the one who hears my message and believes the one who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned, but has crossed over from death to life.”  —John 5:24

“…because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and thus has righteousness and with the mouth one confesses and thus has salvation.”  —Romans 10: 9–10

“For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God; it is not from works, so that no one can boast.”  —Ephesians 2:8–9

“But they are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”  —Romans 3:24

“So he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.”  —Hebrews 7:25

“And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among people by which we must be saved.”  —Acts 4:12

“… he saved us, not by works of righteousness that we have done but on the basis of his mercy, through the washing of the new birth and the renewing of the Holy Spirit, …”  —Titus 3:5

“Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, …”  —Romans 5:1

“We are made right in God’s sight when we trust in Jesus Christ to take away our sins. And we all can be saved in this same way, no matter who we are or what we have done. For all have sinned; all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet now God in his gracious kindness declares us not guilty. He has done this through Christ Jesus, who has freed us by taking away our sins. For God sent Jesus to take the punishment for our sins and to satisfy God’s anger against us. We are made right with God when we believe that Jesus shed his blood, sacrificing his life for us.”  —Romans 3:22–25, NLT

“Much more then, because we have now been declared righteous by his blood, we will be saved through him from God’s wrath.”  —Romans 5:9

“… yet we know that no one is justified by the works of the law but by the faithfulness of Jesus Christ. And we have come to believe in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by the faithfulness of Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified.”  —Galatians 2:16

“He personally carried away our sins in his own body on the cross so we can be dead to sin and live for what is right.”  —1 Peter 2:24, NLT

“May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—those good things that are produced in your life by Jesus Christ—for this will bring much glory and praise to God.”  —Philippians 1:11, NLT

“For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God; it is not from works, so that no one can boast.”  —Ephesians 2:8–9

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he gave us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, …”  —1 Peter 1:3

Sanctification / Transformation

“For I am sure of this very thing, that the one who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.”  —Philippians 1:6

“And so we too constantly thank God that when you received God’s message that you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human message, but as it truly is, God’s message, which is at work among you who believe.”  —1 Thessalonians 2:13

“For I am sure of this very thing, that the one who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.”  —Philippians 1:6

“Throw off your old evil nature and your former way of life, which is rotten through and through, full of lust and deception. Instead, there must be a spiritual renewal of your thoughts and attitudes. You must display a new nature because you are a new person, created in God’s likeness—righteous, holy, and true.”  —Ephesians 4:22–24, NLT

Sickness / Disease

“Heal me, Lord, and I will be healed! Save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise!”  —Jeremiah 17:14

“Praise the Lord, O my soul! Do not forget all his kind deeds! He is the one who forgives all your sins, who heals all your diseases.”  —Psalm 103:2–3

“The Lord supports him on his sickbed; you completely heal him from his illness.”  —Psalm 41:3

“Sustain me as you promised, so that I will live. Do not disappoint me!”  —Psalm 119:116

“But he said to me, ‘My grace is enough for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ So then, I will boast most gladly about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may reside in me.”  —2 Corinthians 12:9

“A person’s spirit sustains him through sickness— but who can bear a crushed spirit?”  —Proverbs 18:14

“Do not be wise in your own estimation; fear the Lord and turn away from evil. This will bring healing to your body, and refreshment to your inner self.”  —Proverbs 3:7–8

“My child, pay attention to my words; listen attentively to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your sight, guard them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and healing to one’s entire body.”  —Proverbs 4:20–22

“O sovereign master, your decrees can give men life; may years of life be restored to me. Restore my health and preserve my life.”  —Isaiah 38:16

“Speaking recklessly is like the thrusts of a sword, but the words of the wise bring healing.”  —Proverbs 12:18

“But he lifted up our illnesses, he carried our pain; even though we thought he was being punished, attacked by God, and afflicted for something he had done. He was wounded because of our rebellious deeds, crushed because of our sins; he endured punishment that made us well; because of his wounds we have been healed.”  —Isaiah 53:4–5

“Look, I will bring it healing and cure. I will heal them and reveal to them the abundance of peace and faithfulness that I will provide.”  —Jeremiah 33:6

“Come on! Let’s return to the Lord! He himself has torn us to pieces, but he will heal us! He has injured us, but he will bandage our wounds!”  —Hosea 6:1

“But consider the joy of those corrected by God! Do not despise the discipline of the Almighty when you sin. For though he wounds, he also bandages. He strikes, but his hands also heal.”  —Job 5:17–18

“He said, ‘If you will diligently obey the Lord your God, and do what is right in his sight, and pay attention to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, then all the diseases that I brought on the Egyptians I will not bring on you, for I, the Lord, am your healer.’”  —Exodus 15:26

“Is anyone among you ill? He should summon the elders of the church, and they should pray for him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick and the Lord will raise him up—and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. So confess your sins to one another and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great effectiveness.”  —James 5:14–16

“O Lord my God, I cried out to you and you healed me. O Lord, you pulled me up from Sheol; you rescued me from among those descending into the grave.”  —Psalm 30:2–3

Sin / Disobedience

“For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.”  —Romans 8:13, NIV

“I was angry because of their sinful greed; I attacked them and angrily rejected them, yet they remained disobedient and stubborn. I have seen their behavior, but I will heal them. I will lead them, and I will provide comfort to them and those who mourn with them. I am the one who gives them reason to celebrate. Complete prosperity is available both to those who are far away and those who are nearby, says the Lord, and I will heal them.”  —Isaiah 57:17–19

“For we do not have a high priest incapable of sympathizing with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way just as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and find grace whenever we need help.”  —Hebrews 4:15–16

“If my people, who belong to me, humble themselves, pray, seek to please me, and repudiate their sinful practices, then I will respond from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.”  —2 Chronicles 7:14

“So confess your sins to one another and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great effectiveness.”  —James 5:16

“As we wait for the happy fulfillment of our hope in the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. He gave himself for us to set us free from every kind of lawlessness and to purify for himself a people who are truly his, who are eager to do good.”  —Titus 2:13–14

“My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous.”  —1 John 2:1, NLT

“But if we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous, forgiving us our sins and cleansing us from all unrighteousness.”  —1 John 1:9

“But now, freed from sin and enslaved to God, you have your benefit leading to sanctification, and the end is eternal life.”  —Romans 6:22

Speaking God’s Words

“Whenever they hand you over for trial, do not worry about how to speak or what to say, for what you should say will be given to you at that time. For it is not you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.”  —Matt 10:19–20

“For I will give you the words along with the wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict.”  —Luke 21:15

“So now go, and I will be with your mouth and will teach you what you must say.”  —Exodus 4:12

“The Sovereign LORD has given me the capacity to be his spokesman, so that I know how to help the weary. He wakes me up every morning; he makes me alert so I can listen attentively as disciples do.”  —Isaiah 50:4

Spiritual Warfare

“Clothe yourselves with the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens.”  —Ephesians 6:11–12

“For though we live as human beings, we do not wage war according to human standards, for the weapons of our warfare are not human weapons, but are made powerful by God for tearing down strongholds. We tear down arguments and every arrogant obstacle that is raised up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to make it obey Christ.”  —2 Corinthians 10:3–5

“No weapon forged to be used against you will succeed; you will refute everyone who tries to accuse you. This is what the Lord will do for his servants—I will vindicate them,” says the Lord.”  —Isaiah 54:17

“So submit to God. But resist the devil and he will flee from you.”  —James 4:7

“Look, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions and on the full force of the enemy, and nothing will hurt you.”  —Luke 10:19

“I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven, and whatever you release on earth will have been released in heaven. Again, I tell you the truth, if two of you on earth agree about whatever you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you. For where two or three are assembled in my name, I am there among them.”  —Matthew 18:18-20

“For this reason, take up the full armor of God so that you may be able to stand your ground on the evil day, and having done everything, to stand. Stand firm therefore, by fastening the belt of truth around your waist, by putting on the breastplate of righteousness, by fitting your feet with the preparation that comes from the good news of peace, and in all of this, by taking up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit (which is the word of God). With every prayer and petition, pray at all times in the Spirit, and to this end be alert, with all perseverance and petitions for all the saints.”  —Ephesians 6:13–18

“No, in all these things we have complete victory through him who loved us!”  —Romans 8:37

“… because everyone who has been fathered by God conquers the world. This is the conquering power that has conquered the world: our faith. Now who is the person who has conquered the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”  —1 John 5:4-5

The Poor and Oppressed

“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.”  —Matthew 5:7

“You must actively help the hungry and feed the oppressed. Then your light will dispel the darkness, and your darkness will be transformed into noonday.”  —Isaiah 58:10

“And whoever gives only a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple, I tell you the truth, he will never lose his reward.”  —Matthew 10:42

“For the LORD listens to the needy; he does not despise his captive people.”  —Psalm 69:33

“The Lord lifts up the oppressed, but knocks the wicked to the ground.”  —Psalm 147:6

Trials / Discipline

“Now all discipline seems painful at the time, not joyful. But later it produces the fruit of peace and righteousness for those trained by it.”  —Hebrews 12:11

“Happy is the one who endures testing, because when he has proven to be genuine, he will receive the crown of life that God promised to those who love him.”  —James 1:12

“No trial has overtaken you that is not faced by others. And God is faithful: He will not let you be tried beyond what you are able to bear, but with the trial will also provide a way out so that you may be able to endure it.”  —1 Corinthians 10:13

“My brothers and sisters, consider it nothing but joy when you fall into all sorts of trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance.”  —James 1:2–3

“Not only this, but we also rejoice in sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance, character, and character, hope.”  —Romans 5:3–4

“Even when I must walk through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for you are with me; your rod and your staff reassure me.”  —Psalm 23:4

“But he said to me, “My grace is enough for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” So then, I will boast most gladly about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may reside in me.”  —2 Corinthians 12:9

“This brings you great joy, although you may have to suffer for a short time in various trials. Such trials show the proven character of your faith, which is much more valuable than gold—gold that is tested by fire, even though it is passing away—and will bring praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.”  —1 Peter 1:6–7

“The righteous person faces many troubles, but the Lord comes to the rescue each time.”  —Psalm 34:19

“Always rejoice, constantly pray, in everything give thanks. For this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”  —1 Thessalonians 5:16–18

“Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles so that we may be able to comfort those experiencing any trouble with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”  —2 Corinthians 1:3-4

“Dear friends, do not be astonished that a trial by fire is occurring among you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice in the degree that you have shared in the sufferings of Christ, so that when his glory is revealed you may also rejoice and be glad.”  —1 Peter 4:12-13

“So the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from their trials, and to reserve the unrighteous for punishment at the day of judgment, …”  —2 Peter 2:9

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to them. Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you and say all kinds of evil things about you falsely on account of me. Rejoice and be glad because your reward is great in heaven, for they persecuted the prophets before you in the same way.”  —Matthew 5:10–12

Weakness / Weariness

“But he said to me, ‘My grace is enough for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ So then, I will boast most gladly about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may reside in me.”  —2 Corinthians 12:9

“Throw your burden upon the LORD, and he will sustain you. He will never allow the godly to be shaken.”  —Psalm 55:22

“I will fully satisfy the needs of those who are weary and fully refresh the souls of those who are faint.”  —Jeremiah 31:25

“Therefore we do not despair, but even if our physical body is wearing away, our inner person is being renewed day by day. For our momentary, light suffering is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison.”  —2 Corinthians 4:16–17

“Those who wait on the LORD will find new strength. They will fly high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.”  —Isaiah 40:31, NLT

“I will fully satisfy the needs of those who are weary and fully refresh the souls of those who are faint.”  —Jeremiah 31:25

“I am able to do all things through the one who strengthens me.”  —Philippians 4:13

“He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.”  —1 Corinthians 1:8

Worship

“Come, let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the LORD our maker, for he is our God. We are the people he watches over, the sheep under his care.”  —Psalm 95:6–7, NLT

“God is spirit, and the people who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”  —John 4:24

“He is the one you should praise; he is your God, the one who has done these great and awesome things for you that you have seen with your own eyes.”  —Deuteronomy 10:21

“O Lord, you are great, mighty, majestic, magnificent, glorious, and sovereign over all the sky and earth! You have dominion and exalt yourself as the ruler of all.”  —1 Chronicles 29:11

“O Lord, you are my God! I will exalt you in praise, I will extol your fame. For you have done extraordinary things, and executed plans made long ago exactly as you decreed.”  —Isaiah 25:1

“Sing to the Lord, for he has done magnificent things, let this be known throughout the earth!”  —Isaiah 12:5

“So since we are receiving an unshakable kingdom, let us give thanks, and through this let us offer worship pleasing to God in devotion and awe.”  —Hebrews 12:28

“Therefore I exhort you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a sacrifice—alive, holy, and pleasing to God—which is your reasonable service. Do not be conformed to this present world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may test and approve what is the will of God—what is good and well-pleasing and perfect.”  —Romans 12:1–2

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good and his loyal love endures!”  —1 Chronicles 16:34

“Because experiencing your loyal love is better than life itself, my lips will praise you. For this reason I will praise you while I live; in your name I will lift up my hands.”  —Psalm 63:3–4

“As a result God highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow—in heaven and on earth and under the earth.”  —Philippians 2:9–10

“Now to the eternal king, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever! Amen.”  —1 Timothy 1:17

“For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever! Amen.”  —Romans 11:36

“Now to him who by the power that is working within us is able to do far beyond all that we ask or think, to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”  —Ephesians 3:20–21

23254 Promises for Your Feelings

What emotions trouble you?

Afraid

“For all who are led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery leading again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’”  —Romans 8:14–15

“I am holding you by your right hand—I, the LORD your God. And I say to you, `Do not be afraid. I am here to help you.’”  —Isaiah 41:13, NLT

“Don’t be afraid, for you will not be put to shame! Don’t be intimidated, for you will not be humiliated! You will forget about the shame you experienced in your youth; you will no longer remember the disgrace of your abandonment. For your husband is the one who made you—the Lord of Heaven’s Armies is his name. He is your protector, the Holy One of Israel. He is called God of the entire earth.”  —Isaiah 54:4–5

“I know the LORD is always with me. I will not be shaken, for He is right beside me.”  —Psalm 16:8, NLT

“Do not be afraid of sudden disaster, or when destruction overtakes the wicked; for the Lord will be the source of your confidence, and he will guard your foot from being caught in a trap.”  —Proverbs 3:25–26

“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you! Don’t be frightened, for I am your God! I strengthen you—yes, I help you—yes, I uphold you with my saving right hand!”  —Isaiah 41:10

“You will be reestablished when I vindicate you. You will not experience oppression; indeed, you will not be afraid. You will not be terrified, for nothing frightening will come near you.”  —Isaiah 54:14

“So we can say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper, and I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?’”  —Hebrews 13:6

“Be strong and courageous! Do not fear or tremble before them, for the Lord your God is the one who is going with you. He will not fail you or abandon you!”  —Deuteronomy 31:6

“When you lie down you will not be filled with fear; when you lie down your sleep will be pleasant. You will not be afraid of sudden disaster, or when destruction overtakes the wicked.”  —Proverbs 3:24–25

“For the Lord God is our sovereign protector. The Lord bestows favor and honor; he withholds no good thing from those who have integrity.”  —Psalm 84:11

“I repeat, be strong and brave! Don’t be afraid and don’t panic, for I, the Lord your God, am with you in all you do.”  —Joshua 1:9

“Fearing the Lord leads to life, and one who does so will live satisfied; he will not be afflicted by calamity.”  —Proverbs 19:23

“Whatever you plot against the Lord, he will completely destroy! Distress will not arise a second time.”  —Nahum 1:9

“When the earth and all its inhabitants dissolve in fear, I make its pillars secure.”  —Psalm 75:3

“For God did not give us a Spirit of fear but of power and love and self-control.”  —2 Timothy 1:7

Burdened

“Throw your burden upon the LORD, and he will sustain you. He will never allow the godly to be shaken.”  —Psalm 55:22

“The Lord deserves praise! Day after day he carries our burden, the God who delivers us. (Selah)”  —Psalm 68:19

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke on you and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and my load is not hard to carry.”  —Matthew 11:28-30

“And God will exalt you in due time, if you humble yourselves under his mighty hand by casting all your cares on him because he cares for you.”  —1 Peter 5:6–7

Confused

“The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?”  —Jeremiah 17:9

“For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, …”  —1 Corinthians 14:33, KJV

“But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. For he will not speak on his own authority, but will speak whatever he hears, and will tell you what is to come. He will glorify me, because he will receive from me what is mine and will tell it to you.”  —John 16:13–14

“Your word is a lamp to walk by, and a light to illumine my path.”  —Psalm 119:105

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding. Acknowledge him in all your ways, and he will make your paths straight.”  —Proverbs 3:5–6

“‘For I know what I have planned for you,’ says the Lord. ‘I have plans to prosper you, not to harm you. I have plans to give you a future filled with hope.’”  —Jeremiah 29:11

Discouraged

“My goal is that their hearts, having been knit together in love, may be encouraged, and that they may have all the riches that assurance brings in their understanding of the knowledge of the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”  —Colossians 2:2–3

Distressed

“But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and will cause you to remember everything I said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; I do not give it to you as the world does. Do not let your hearts be distressed or lacking in courage.”  —John 14:26–27

“I will be happy and rejoice in your faithfulness, because you notice my pain and you are aware of how distressed I am.”  —Psalm 31:7

“In my distress I cried out to the LORD. The LORD answered me and put me in a wide open place.”  —Psalm 118:5

“Do not let your hearts be distressed. You believe in God; believe also in me.”  —John 14:1

Doubts

“For the Lord gives wisdom, and from his mouth comes knowledge and understanding.”  —Proverbs 2:6

“In the same way, the promise that I make does not return to me, having accomplished nothing. No, it is realized as I desire and is fulfilled as I intend.”  —Isaiah 55:11

“Rely on the LORD! Obey his commands! Then he will permit you to possess the land; you will see the demise of evil men.”  —Psalm 37:34

“I tell you the solemn truth, the person who believes in me will perform the miraculous deeds that I am doing, and will perform greater deeds than these, because I am going to the Father.”  —John 14:12

“I am able to do all things through the one who strengthens me.”  —Philippians 4:13

Guilt

“Certainly O Lord, you are kind and forgiving, and show great faithfulness to all who cry out to you.”  —Psalm 86:5

“Forgive the rebellious sins of my youth; look instead through the eyes of your unfailing love, for you are merciful, O LORD.”  —Psalm 25:7, NLT

“Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins. Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin. For I recognize my shameful deeds—they haunt me day and night. Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight… Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Oh, give me back my joy again; You have broken me—now let me rejoice. Don’t keep looking at my sins. Remove the stain of my guilt. Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me. Do not banish me from Your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me again the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you.”  —Psalm 51:1-13, NLT

“Oh, what joy for those whose rebellion is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight! Yes, what joy for those whose record the LORD has cleared of sin, whose lives are lived in complete honesty! Therefore, let all the godly confess their rebellion to you while there is time, that they may not drown in the floodwaters of judgment.”  —Psalm 32:1–2, 6, NLT

Hopeless

“And hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”  —Romans 5:5

“Happy are those who have the God of Israel as their helper, whose hope is in the LORD their God. He is the one who made heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them. He is the one who keeps every promise forever.”  —Psalm 146:5–6, NLT

Tempted

“But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.”  —2 Thessalonians 3:3

“No trial has overtaken you that is not faced by others. And God is faithful: He will not let you be tried beyond what you are able to bear, but with the trial will also provide a way out so that you may be able to endure it.”  —1 Corinthians 10:13

“Those who long to be rich, however, stumble into temptation and a trap and many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.”  —1 Timothy 6:9

“Stay awake and pray that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”  —Matthew 26:41

Troubled

“Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles so that we may be able to comfort those experiencing any trouble with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”  —2 Corinthians 1:3–4

“Though I am surrounded by troubles, you will protect me from the anger of my enemies. You reach out your hand, and the power of your right hand saves me.”  —Psalm 138:7, NLT

“Pray to me when you are in trouble! I will deliver you, and you will honor me!”  —Psalm 50:15

“I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In the world you have trouble and suffering, but take courage—I have conquered the world.”  —John 16:33

“I am leaving you with a gift (peace of mind and heart). And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.”  —John 14:27, NLT

Unhappy

“Happy are people of integrity, who follow the law of the LORD. Happy are those who obey His decrees and search for Him with all their hearts. They do not compromise with evil, and they walk only in His paths. You have charged us to keep Your commandments carefully. Oh, that my actions would consistently reflect Your principles! Then I will not be disgraced when I compare my life with Your commands. When I learn Your righteous laws, I will thank You by living as I should! I will obey Your principles.”  —Psalm 119:1–8, NLT

“If you obey my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you these things so that my joy may be in you, and your joy may be complete.”  —John 15:10–11

“All who seek the LORD will praise him. Their hearts will rejoice with everlasting joy.”  —Psalm 22:26, NLT

“Praise the LORD! Happy are those who fear the LORD. Yes, happy are those who delight in doing what he commands.”  —Psalm 112:1, NLT

Unloved

“May your roots go down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it. Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God.”  —Ephesians 3:17–19, NLT

“For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor heavenly rulers, nor things that are present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  —Romans 8:38–39

“If we love each other, God lives in us, and his love has been brought to full expression through us.”  —1 John 4:12, NLT

Worried

“Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.”  —1 Peter 5:7, NLT

“If I say, ‘My foot is slipping,’ your loyal love, O LORD, supports me. When worries threaten to overwhelm me, your soothing touch makes me happy.”  —Psalm 94:18–19

“I know the one in whom I trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until the day of his return.”  —2 Timothy 1:12, NLT

“So then, don’t worry saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ For the unconverted pursue these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But above all pursue his kingdom and righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. So then, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Today has enough trouble of its own.”  —Matthew 6:31–34

“Fear the Lord, you chosen people of his! For those who fear him lack nothing.”  —Psalm 34:9