Ephesians 1:17 ” I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better.”

We should all be asking for these…Divine knowledge, moral insight, and Holy inspiration.  Praying daily, we should be desiring  not only of more awareness of the Lord, but to have divine understanding and discernment of that newly illuminated perception of Him.

Zechariah 7:13 ” When I called, they did not listen; so when they called, I would not listen, says the Lord Almighty.”

Listening doesn’t go just one way.  When God speaks, we need to be listening…hearing His voice, and understanding clearly His message for us…and then heeding it.  We can’t choose to keep ignoring His promptings, and then assume He’ll be there when we get ourselves in trouble.

Isaiah 8:13 ” The Lord Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy, He is the one you are to fear, He is the one you are to dread.”

There is only one all-powerful King…one Mightiest Warrior.  The Lord God is His name.  Acknowledge His holiness…stand in awe of His power…for there is no other like Him.  The Lord requires all honor and reverence before Him, for He is our God.

Galatians 5:24 ” Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.”

We are no longer slaves to sin…we have put to death the flesh with all its lusts and cravings through our faith and trust in Jesus.  Our corrupt nature has been nailed to the Cross… once, for all…and we’re set free.

II Peter 1:21 ” For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”

The difference between a prophet and a false prophet is where their word come from. If it’s based on selfish wants and desires…that’s a false prophet.  But if the person is attentively listening to the prompting of the Holy Spirit…inspired and motivated only by His voice…that is true prophecy.

Psalm 92: 14-15 ” They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming, ‘ The Lord is upright; He is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in Him.’ “

I see it everyday…dear elderly saints of the faith, out and about working for the Lord.   Still having  passion and purpose in their lives, they untiringly  reach out to help others.  But I also sadly see the opposite…bitter old people, alone and  resentful, complaining that the Lord has left them.  The problem is not God, He hasn’t gone anywhere. The problem is their self-absorbed, sullenness…refusing to take their eyes off themselves to look at others.

Galatians 3:22 ” But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe.”

We are all bound up by this corrupt, wicked world…every one of us under the influence of sin daily.  But the good news is , while we still must be  of this world, we don’t necessarily have to be in it.  For we have these precious promises of Christ that assure us that our faith and trust in Him will never fail.

Job 2:12 ” When they saw him from a distance, they could hardly recognize him…”

Job’s three friends – Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar had come to be with their friend who was going through tough times.  But as they approached, they barely  knew him.  Granted, the horrible sores on Job’s body may have disfigured him greatly…but grief also played a major role in his appearance.  Job’s countenance was changed by the profound sorrow he was going through… of losing all his children…his livelihood…and finally grappling with the stark question… why Lord?  It’s almost impossible to hide those innermost private emotions and struggles  from showing on our face.

Acts 16:30 ” He brought them out and asked, ‘ Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’ “

Paul and Silas had been thrown into prison, and were holding a prayer and hymn fest for their fellow prisoners.  When suddenly,  a violent earthquake shook the doors open and broke off everyone’s  chains.  The Jailor came running in, fearing all  had escaped, when Paul shouted, ” We’re all here!”  There was then an abrupt role reversal as the Jailor then addressed Paul and Silas with respect and urgency as he asked how he might receive this  salvation they had spoken of.

Lamentations 3:21 ” Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope.”

Jeremiah sits observing the destruction of his beloved city of Jerusalem.  All around is utter chaos, death, and carnage.  It’s at that very lowest point that he forces himself to remember…to recall all the Lord has done for him.  He ponders God’s loving mercy, His trustworthiness, and  faithfulness…and in doing so, lays hold again of his confidence and trust in the Lord.