II Samuel 1:26 ” I grieve for you, Jonathan my brother, you were very dear to me. Your love for me was wonderful, more wonderful than that of women.”

In your life time,  you’ll only be able to count on one hand the same kind of friendship that David and Jonathan had.  Their relationship was extraordinary, amazing and unique…and much closer than being biological brothers.  When you have such an intimate friendship with someone, it doesn’t matter the space of time or distance, the friendship still endures . If you haven’t connected recently with this friend…don’t you think it would be a wonderful time to do so?

Deuteronomy 4:32 ” Ask now about the former days, long before your time, from the day God created man on the earth; ask from one end of the heavens to the other. Has anything so great as this ever happened, or has anything like it ever been heard of? “

The Lord is God.  Over the ages we have heard and seen His awesome signs and wonders.  We have been privy to these in order that we might “know” beyond a shadow of doubt  that the Lord is God of all.  There is no other above Him…the Lord is God.

Galatians 2:5 ” We did not give in to them for a moment…”

Last night our Bible Study was discussing how easily we compromise to the world’s standards.  How one small concession only leads to another, and another, until we suddenly find ourselves far from God and the path He has chosen for us.  A wonderful analogy was shared by our friend who is employed with a co-worker in a large,  cavernous warehouse with many, many fluorescent lights…of which slowly over time, were going out one by one.  Neither lady realized it until one day they both exclaimed how dark it was inside!  As they toured the building, they discovered there were 18 fluorescent lights out…no wonder it was so murky!  Compromise is just as insidious…happening slowly…one acquiescence at a time…until suddenly we too find ourselves in the dark.

Ephesians 1:11 ” In Him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will…”

You are not a mistake.  No matter what people tell you, God’s divine Will included you as an important part in this world.  He has a unique purpose for your life here on earth…your birth was foreordained by Him…He knew you before you were even conceived.  You are not a mistake, but a valuable part of God’s plan.

II Chronicles 20:17 ” You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you…”

You don’t need to fight those battles alone.  You don’t have to stand unaided in front of the enemy of this world defenseless and vulnerable.  The Lord tells us very specifically in this scripture what our role should be in battle.  We are to stand our ground and commit ourselves to trusting God.  We are to hold our ground, not wavering in our belief that God is in control and fighting on our behalf.  Finally, we are to watch as the Lord works… giving us the victory.

Psalm 80:3 ” Restore us O God; make Your face shine upon us, that we may be saved.”

Turn us around Lord.  Return us to our first love and enable us to know again the joy of our salvation.  As it says in Psalm 71:20, “Though You have made me see troubles many and bitter, You will restore my life again.”  Refresh us  O Lord that we may restore others around us.

Isaiah 57: 14-15 ” And it will be said: ‘Build up, build up, prepare the road! Remove the obstacles out of the way of My people.’ For this is what the high and lofty One says – He who lives forever, whose name is holy: ‘I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.’ “

A refreshing is coming.  A time of spiritual edification and uplifting for all Believers.  God will send a new wind of change…to restore and strengthen the broken and discouraged.  He will breathe new life into old places…and fresh vision into tired and apathetic souls.  As Oswald Chambers once said, ” Beware of paying attention or going back to what you once were, when God wants you to be something that you have never been .”  A new wind is coming…a time of refreshing is upon us.

I John 4:4 ” You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.”

Just imagine what Godly power and boldness you could possess if the significance of this verse could sink deeply into your soul.  There would be no limit to your trust and faith in the Lord.  You would speak to  mountains and they would throw themselves into the sea.  You would pray for people and they would be instantaneously be healed. Grasp this scripture and the importance of its meaning…ponder it…receive it…walk in it.

I Corinthians 1: 27-29 ” But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things – and the things that are not – to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before Him.”

God is in control…His choices explicitly and precisely are done to direct the course of redemptive history.  He takes the simple-minded, the humble, the frail,  and transforms them by the Holy Spirit into mighty men and women of God.  For it is not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord Almighty in Zechariah 4:6.   Under His anointing, the powerless become strong…the lowly and scorned become bold.  Never underestimate what the Lord can do through you…never underrate the glory and honor  you can give Him  by simple obedience.

Isaiah 25:9 ” Surely this is our God; we trusted in Him, and He saved us. This is the Lord, we trusted in Him; let us rejoice and be glad in His salvation.”

Where and in whom does your hope lie today?  Do you trust only yourself and your sheer determination to make your dreams reality?  Or maybe you trust the world around you to give you everything you desire.  Unfortunately, there is no one or thing here on earth that has the ability to deliver you from damnation… for there is only one person that can give you victory over guilt and eternal punishment of your sins.  Jesus is that only person that can save your soul.