Psalm 41:12 ” In my integrity You uphold me and set me in Your presence forever.”

If you’ve asked Jesus Christ into your life…if you call yourself a Believer…if you love the Lord with all your heart, soul, and mind – nothing can or will ever take you from Him.  Your destiny and eternal life is securely established in Him forever.

Daniel 1:6-7 “Among these were some from Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. The chief official gave them new names: to Daniel, the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego.”

Daniel’s Hebrew name meant – God is judge, while Hananiah’s meant – the Lord is gracious.  For Azariah his name meant – the Lord is my help, and Mishael’s was – who is like God?  Their new names  incorporated Babylonian foreign gods and thus contradicted and maligned who they really were.  We all get labeled by the world…we’re fat, or old, ugly, or dumb.   But that’s not who we are inside, and any negative label doesn’t have to define us. For the Lord has given you a special name…precious child of God.  So anytime the world hits you with a cruel label…remember your name.

Mark 11:23 ” I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him.”

What makes a person a prayer warrior that people think of first in times of trouble?  The simple explanation is exercise.  They exercise their faith and trust of God’s promises…and like exercising any other muscle group when you go to the gym everyday, their faith strengthens with use also.  Each time we pray and exercise our faith with confidence, we are built up…each time uncertainty is less because each time we’re standing stronger to start.

Jeremiah 9:8 ” Their tongue is a deadly arrow; it speaks with deceit. With his mouth each speaks cordially to his neighbor, but in his heart he sets a trap for him.”

A person who speaks out of both sides of their mouth can’t be trusted.  You may think the two of you have a good relationship, when suddenly you hear false accusations coming from your so called friend.  The deceitful tongue can shoot out lies just as well as compliments.

Luke 21:34 ” Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap.”

Dissipation…such an interesting word to be used here.  It’s disgust and self-loathing, not to mention the hang-over from too much alcohol consumption.  When our lives revolve around partying …it starts to take a toll on us physically and emotionally.  We think we’re having fun…but are we?  None us know the day we will die, and thinking that we’ll get right with God when we’re older and have sown our wild oats may never happen.

I Corinthians 1:10 ” I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.”

There is nothing sadder than a Church that is divided and then splits…it’s a no win situation for everyone.  Family and friends are forced to take sides they don’t want to…words are taken out of context…feelings get hurt.  The very first thing we must do when Church gossip and problems are getting out of hand is to recognize it as a ploy of the enemy. A divided Church is a weakened Church, is a dying Church.  We need to agree in a Spirit of unity to work through conflicts and attitudes in an open, respectful fashion.  The Church Body can become healthy again when it is united in mind and sentiment.

Daniel 6: 19-20 ” At the first light of dawn, the King got up and hurried to the lions’ den. When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, ‘Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God , whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?’ “

King Darius had spent a sleepless night after being tricked by his administrators and satraps into throwing Daniel into the lions’ den.  The King had tried to rescue Daniel, but his decree stood and couldn’t be repealed.  So here he was at first light, yelling for a response from Daniel.  Did the King really imagine that Daniel had survived the night…was he hoping beyond hope…or had Daniel’s trust in God been so very evident that King Darius actually  believed it was possible?

Revelation 19:6 ” Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like peals of thunder, shouting: ‘Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns.’ “

If you’ve ever been to a huge stadium cheering your team on you can recall the deafening  roar  of the crowd.  Now imagine multiplying that noise by thousands upon thousands.  That’s what it sounds like  in Heaven.  A tremendous throng of saints,  all singing Hallelujah and praising God together…and all on the winning team!

Romans 1:17 ” For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: ‘The righteous will live by faith.’ “

Our Christianity  hinges on one little word…faith.  We believe what we can not see.  We put our trust in someone we’ve never physically  met.  We have confidence that when we die we’ll have eternal life.  Our spiritual walk from beginning to end is entirely based on  assurances we’ve  read in an ancient book.  Yes, Christians are a curious lot…a group of people who stand on faith alone and live by it daily.

I Corinthians 1:5 ” For in Him you have been enriched in every way – in all your speaking and in all your knowledge.”

Take a moment to remember yourself as a brand new Christian…now look at yourself today.  From the beginning, the Lord has been pouring into you  divine revelation and understanding.  He’s been improving, refining, and endowing you in all aspects in order that you might  fight the good fight.  And today you stand, having been  built up in Christ…strong, and full of Godly wisdom.