Ephesians 6: 10-11 ” Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.”

Satan is out there  trying to trick and mislead us everyday with false and slanted truths.  It’s hard to filter out what’s true…what’s a lie, and what’s just drivel .  That’s why it’s so important to put on the entire protection of God.  No part of us can be left vulnerable…all must be covered by God’s presence and strength…for it’s then that we can stand strong.

Psalm 116: 8-9 ” For You O Lord, have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before the Lord in the land of the living.”

Living according to the Will of God brings life, peace, and harmony within our soul.  Even when the tough times come, we can run and hide in His sanctuary  until the storm passes over.  Thank You Lord for rescuing me and giving me new life.  Thank You for that haven of hope and safety I can rest in  during those times of turmoil and strife.

Genesis 8:22 ” As long as the earth endures, seed time and harvest, summer and winter, day and night will never cease.”

Just as we have biological rhythms…the earth has its cycles.  Day circles into night, which circles back to day.  The bitter cold of Winter gives way to Spring, which moves into the heat of Summer, which beautifully makes it way into Fall, and  then back to Winter again.  The Lord is saying that as  long as the earth continues to rotate in the universe, these cycles will not end.

Acts 19: 11-12 ” God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them.”

Who do you think had more faith in this verse?  The Apostle Paul, who laying  hands on that handkerchief, believed for a miracle?  Or was it the family member, who seeing Paul perform  miracles, believed that they could take that same healing power to their bed-bound loved one via that handkerchief?  Or was  the one with the most  faith the gravely ill  person holding tightly to that anointed handkerchief… believing for a miracle?

I Kings 8:27 ” But will God really dwell on earth? The heavens, even the highest heaven, cannot contain You. How much less this temple I have built! “

This verse is part of King Solomon’s Prayer of Dedication for the temple he had built for the Lord.  He doubted that the Most High would live in something made by mortal men…for God’s magnificence  can’t be limited by time and space.  While the Lord may not be able to fit inside a building…you’ll find  He fits just perfectly inside your heart.

Matthew 11:28 ” Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

Do you find yourself burned-out and apathetic with life …”Come to Me.”  He says.  Do problems have you laden down and broken in spirit…”Come to Me.” He’s saying to you.  The Lord is there to lift those burdens off your weakened shoulders and allow you to settle in to rest.  He wants to support and sustain you through those  tough times…He doesn’t want you to go it alone.  The Lord is calling your name…”Come to Me.”

Psalm 107: 10-11 ” Some sat in darkness and deepest gloom, prisoners suffering in iron chains, for they had rebelled against the words of God and despised the counsel of the Most High.”

I want, what I want ,when I want it!  That sentence pretty much sums up the human mindset.  And if you add to that  our penchant  towards arrogance and rebellion…no wonder we find ourselves living with the circumstances of really bad decisions we’ve made.  So we sit…bound up in chains of addiction, deep in the blackness of depression and self-loathing, wondering how we got there.  We got there because we wouldn’t listen to authority…we defied and resisted God’s plan for our life, and instead ran ahead with no regard for anyone else but ourselves.   If you find yourself in this type of self-made prison today…there’s only one way out, and only one person with the keys…and His name is Jesus.

James 5:14 ” Is anyone of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord.”

The early Church was a hospital, in the sense that the duties of the elders included caring for the sick among the congregation.  Ancient medicine used what was readily available…olive oil, wine, balms, and salves for cleansing, soothing, and treating the body.  The Lord wants the modern Church to incorporate the same” hospital concept” today.  Every Sunday hurting people come through the doors needing healing of mind, body, and spirit…and it’s up to us to minister to those needs.

James 2: 18 ” But someone will say, ‘ You have faith; I have deeds.’ Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.”

As Jesus said in Matthew 7:16-17, ” By their fruit you will recognize them.”  It’s not good enough to just talk the talk…we must also walk the walk.  We can preach all day to our friends, neighbors, or co-workers, but it’s how we act and the things we do…or don’t do, that they’re really watching.  Our faith…our obedience, is  shown by who we are, and our actions towards others.

II Corinthians 4:4 ” The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”

Satan is a liar and the author of all corrupted half-truths.  So it’s no wonder that today’s world system has been conditioned by his lies.  For the unbeliever, hearing the Gospel message is foreign…with farfetched concepts, and ideas that are just too bizarre to be taken seriously.  Their minds have been made dull by the world’s perception of truth, and they feel no need for the Gospel in their life.  It’s only when the penetrating light of God’s truth breaks through, that the blind can then see.