John 16:33 ” But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Jesus proclaimed this not only to those He was speaking to at the time, but to us now, today.  Jesus has already done the work…the devil has been defeated…we don’t have to allow fear, doubt, and hopelessness to govern our lives.  So the next time doubt and fear hits…take a deep breath, and in the space of that breath…pray,  ” Lord, I know You’re here, and I know we can face this together.  Give me courage to move forward  and to not give up. Amen.”       For I know with God  we are more than a overcomers.

Matthew 9:2 ” Jesus said to the paralytic, ‘Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.’ “

Hopelessness can take on many faces, and be caused by many different reasons.  But regardless, that bitterly piercing anguish of losing hope takes our  spirit to the very depths of despair with seemingly no way out.   The paralytic had lost all hope…there was nothing left for him to do but die…but then Jesus spoke hope back into him.  You too may be facing hopelessness today…allow Jesus to speak hope back into your life right now…and believe.

Hebrews 13: 20-21 ” May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing His will, and may He work in us what is pleasing to Him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. “

Everything you need to live a victorious, righteous life…every detail, every means of accomplishment, every plan and procedure,  the Lord has not only prepared, but  also provided for you.  He is constantly working in our lives to bring out the very best in us.  The Lord desires you to  succeed…and He equips you  with everything to do so.

Romans 3:20 ” Therefore no one will be declared righteous in His sight by observing the Law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.”

The writer of Romans, Paul, reasoned that obedience to the Law cannot justify one before God – because no one can keep the Law perfectly.  For the very nature of the Law was to prove to us that we’re sinful…and the purpose of the Law was to lead us from our futile attempts at keeping it to putting our trust in Jesus instead.

Hebrews 1:3 ” The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being…”

We look like our parents…we possess characteristics  from both of them.  Our DNA is a family history from generations past.  Jesus was that perfect expression of His Heavenly Father.   Jesus Himself said in John 14:9, ” Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father.”  God’s divine glory and splendor took on flesh and came down here to earth to live among us…and His name was Jesus Christ.

Matthew 2:11 ” On coming to the house, they saw the child with His mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.”

The Magi came seeking the Messiah, and bringing with them, gifts…but very special gifts.  These gifts were expensive luxuries of the day…fit for royal presents.  But beyond that, they were also very symbolic in their meanings.   The burning of frankincense symbolized prayers rising to heaven like the fragrant  smoke it gave off… the prayers of Jesus interceding for us at the right hand of the Father.  The myrrh was used for burials and symbolized death…Jesus’s death on the Cross for us.  Finally, the gold was given to symbolize His royal status…and also for the very practical reason –  His parents would soon need finances as they escaped to Egypt to flee from King Herod.

Genesis 1:26 ” Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, in our likeness’…”

We are the only creatures on earth that the Lord created  like Him.  When someone looks at you…they should see the Father. When they look in your eyes, they should see Jesus smiling back.   The old adage is so true here –  a apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.  You are like your Father, and your Father is in you.

I Chronicles 16: 31 ” Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let them say among the nations, ‘The Lord reigns! “

All authority, dominion and power belongs to God. His throne is established from everlasting to everlasting… His glory displayed for all.   Let the heavens  and earth shout for joy, for the Lord reigns!

John 9: 35-38 ” Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when He found him, He said, ‘Do you believe in the Son Of Man?’ ‘Who is He, Sir?’ the man asked. ‘Tell me so that I may believe in Him!’ Jesus said, ‘You have now seen Him; in fact He is the one speaking with you.’ Then the man said, ‘Lord, I believe.’ And he worshiped Him. “

The beggar had been born blind, but Jesus had healed him of his physical blindness.  But now we find Jesus seeking out the beggar again to offer him something far more important… something with eternal consequences.  Jesus was asking the man to put his faith and trust in Him, and thus to be then healed of his spiritual blindness.

Proverbs 21: 23 ” He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from calamity.”

You may know someone…it might even be yourself that’s developed this fateful disease know as Foot in Mouth.  Some people are so affected,  that the only time their foot comes out of their mouth – is to change socks!  It takes wisdom and discipline not to just blurt out anything that comes to mind.  It takes us thinking before we speak…is this appropriate?…is this kind?…will I regret saying this tomorrow?  So much trouble and misery could be avoided if we’d just learn to think before we opened our mouth.