Nehemiah 8: 10 “…for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Gladness of heart in the Lord is your support…it’s your anchor  in times of trouble…it’s the strong tower you can run to in the middle of the storm.  Delight and happiness in knowing Him will be your mainstay and comfort  forever.

John 16:23 ” In that day you will no longer ask Me anything.”

The longer our journey with the Lord, the fewer the questions we have.  The more and more we trust Him, the less we query His Will in our lives.  There will come a day, when faith and peace become such an attitude of your heart… that there’s no more questions to be asked.

Isaiah 64:1 ” Oh, that You would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains would tremble before You! “

Almost everyday we learn of earthquakes around the world…or we hear about volcanoes erupting and spewing smoke far up into the atmosphere.  But these  all pale in comparison to the Lord’s mighty power…when the heavens will be torn apart as He descends to earth…” the mountains melting beneath Him.”  (Micah 1:3)

I Timothy 6:17 ” Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.”

If the Lord has prospered you here on earth, your trust cannot be in your wealth, but rather in the One who has given it to you.  Riches are fleeting…here today and gone tomorrow, but the Lord’s loving kindness is the only unchanging  constant you can truly trust in.

II Kings 4:3 ” Elisha said, Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don’t ask for just a few.”

When I bring my requests before the Lord,  am I truly  believing He will grant them?  Or am I just going through the motions of asking, not really expecting the Lord to come through.  Have my  low expectations limited God to what He can accomplish?  This verse just reminds me again not to put limits on God.  I may be praying this tiny, feeble prayer,  while God’s  ready to do a HUGE work… despite me and my pitiful faith.

Psalm 84:11 ” For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does He withhold from those whose walk is blameless.”

The glory of the Lord is our light.  Our path is ever illuminated by His majestic power.  We never need to fear the darkness, for Isaiah said it best…” The sun will no more be your light by day, nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you, for the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory.” (Isaiah 60:19)

I Thessalonians 1:3 ” We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Your good deeds for others, demonstrated  in tangible ways, showing your trust in God – that’s  Faith.      When weariness  covers you like a cloak, it’s for the sake of others, not yourself, that you continue to toil on –  that’s Love.   When  it’s that deep confidence that makes you  persevere, not willing to surrender when times are tough – that’s  Hope.         Faith, Love, and Hope…you being Jesus to a broken world.

Romans 6: 13 “…but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life…”

I really didn’t want to do it… initially I even said no.  But the Lord had other plans for me telling my story to a group of ladies yesterday.  You see people everyday with  their smiley faces on never knowing the struggles and trials in their past.  And so I took off my smiley face, became very vulnerable, and yielded myself to His Will. .. Surrendering my  façade of a strong Christian woman to show the broken, crushed spirit that I once was.  In that simple act of obedience I was able to show how God miraculously saved, restored, and healed me inside out.

Hosea 10:13 ” But you have planted wickedness, you have reaped evil, you have eaten the fruit of deception. Because you have depended on your own strength…”

We’re on a very slippery slope anytime we put our trust and confidence in ourselves rather than the Lord.  It’s that prideful nature that will get us in trouble every time.  The problem with relying on any other type of security other than God is the sad end result…eternal punishment apart from God.

Matthew 7:11 ” If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him!”

Have you asked Him?  Yes, God knows your needs better than you can…but have you asked Him for things on your heart?  What keeps you from asking…is it fear, doubt, or indecision?  God wants you to ask, for in James 1:17 it says, ” Every good and perfect gift is from above…”  He’s wanting to give you gifts that are over and above what is necessary or expected…all given graciously and freely from your loving heavenly Father.  All you need to do is ask.