Proverbs 3: 1-2 ” My son, do not forget My teaching, but keep My commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity.”

Sure, there’s eternal benefits to obeying the Word of God and His commands.  But there are many practical benefits and blessings we may not always think of…things like health, peace, and security, which eludes the world, but for Believers… are just a wonderful part of living our life for the Lord.

Jeremiah 29:12 ” ‘Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.’ “

When we seek the Lord…He will be found, and He will listen.  When we summon His aid…He’s right there to help.  When we plead for mercy…He hears and moves on our behalf.  You have God’s undivided attention anytime you call to Him…for He wants to  shoulder the burdens you’re carrying.

Philippians 2: 3-4 ” Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

What would this world be like if everyone honored and sought the good of others before themselves?  If there was only humility and kindness rather than conceit and selfishness in all our interactions?  What would the world be like if our focus was on becoming more like Jesus and less like the world?

Proverbs 15:28 ” The heart of the righteous weighs its answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil.”

Elsewhere in Proverbs it says that the prudent give thought to their ways…and taking a moment to meditate before speaking is probably the most telling distinction between a righteous and unrighteous person.  For you’ll find that the mouth is the external manifestation of a man’s inner character and integrity.

Galatians 1:10 ” Am I now trying to win approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.”

We can only serve one Master.  We can have only one allegiance.  We either serve man or God.  For all our time will be either spent soliciting man’s approval…or  solely  looking to the Lord for His blessings.

Mark 10:48 ” Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, ‘ Son of David, have mercy on me!’ “

Blind Bartimaeus was begging by the roadside near Jericho, when from all the commotion, he realized Jesus was walking his way.  He started shouting at the top of his lungs trying  get the attention of  Jesus who he heard healed people. And  he continued to yell…and yell –  to the point the gathering crowd reprimanded him sharply.  But Bartimaeus was undeterred…for he just knew that Jesus could heal him…so he kept calling out, ” Jesus, heal me!”  Don’t ever allow other people’s  disapproval or doubt stop you from reaching out to Jesus and receiving your healing…just keep on yelling!

Hebrews 2:1 ” We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.”

Slipping off the right path can happen so slowly and insidiously that we aren’t really aware of it until something drastic happens.  We compromise a little here…we give in a little there…and before we know it – we’ve wandered far from where the Lord wants us.  That’s why it’s so important to be ever vigilant…ever on guard for things that will cause us to jeopardize  our faith.

Daniel 9:18 ” We do not make requests of You because we are righteous, but because of Your great mercy.”

We are unfaithful…but He is ever faithful to us.  We are mean-spirited and unfair to others…but He is always compassionate and gracious towards us.  We are judgmental and unmerciful…but He is ever full of grace and loving kindness.

Proverbs 22:6 ” Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.”

As Job mused in Chapter 12:12, “Is not wisdom found among the aged?”  Sometimes it will take until a child has matured to adulthood that they finally grasp all the Godly instruction they’ve received at home.  From early on, we try to impress on our children the importance of living a life for Jesus…but many times it seems like it falls on deaf ears.  But don’t give up, for this is a scripture with a promise for all parents.  Keep pouring good into your children…and good will come out.

I Samuel 1:10 ” In bitterness of soul Hannah wept much and prayed to the Lord.”

Hannah wasn’t just upset…she wasn’t just sad.  Hannah  was totally heartbroken  and in  anguish for  what she saw as insurmountable odds.  From  deep within her being she poured out her soul…pleading for God’s mercy.  And the Lord heard her and moved.  You may be feeling as hopeless as Hannah today, but remember,  God is listening to your prayer and He will move.