Romans 8: 26-27 ” In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.”

There have been times when mere words could not express the anguish and pain I felt…when fear and dread were overwhelming, and all I could do was weep.  Those were the times that the Holy Spirit interceded on my behalf…pleading when I had no words…serving as a go-between when I had no idea what even to pray for.  For when the Holy Spirit intercedes…it’s in agreement with the will of God, thus the perfect prayer on my behalf.

II Timothy 2:22 ” Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”

When it comes to your walk with the Lord, it makes a huge difference what kind of people you associate with.  If the crowd you hang around with are wild, crazy people who love to look for trouble…you’ll probably end up on the wrong side of the law…or at least bailing them out of messes.  But if your friends are Believers, on fire for the Lord, and wanting to do His Will…your adventures will be every bit as fun, but much less dramatic.

Psalm 68:6 ” God sets the lonely in families…”

Among us you’ll find the isolated and lonely…or maybe you might be the one far away from close family and relatives.  As the Family of God, we are called to be brothers and sisters to our fellow Believers.  Look around you, the Lord will show you hurting, lonely people who just want to feel part of a family…a home.  In extending hospitality, you will be the hands and feet of our Lord… and those lonely ones will feel they belong.

Acts 9:18 ” Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again…”

When the world gets very hectic, I’m seeing but not perceiving. I’m doing things automatically, but not listening for the Holy Spirit.  That’s when I need to slow down, take a deep breath, and ask the Lord for fresh vision.    The scales of distraction and commotion  need to fall from my eyes,  so I can then see clearly God’s path and plan.

Proverbs 11:12 ” A man who lacks judgment derides his neighbors, but a man of understanding holds his tongue.”

Who is my neighbor?  Is it the family living next to us…or the couple down the street…or the lady working with me everyday?  It really doesn’t matter to the Lord who exactly I think my neighbor is…what matters to Him is how I treat them.  God wants me to be kind to those I have contact with daily – not ridiculing and mocking – but displaying wisdom and discretion.

II Corinthians 1:9 ” Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.”

Our confidence can’t be in ourselves.  For to paraphrase Jeremiah 17:5-7, ” Cursed is the one who trusts in man and his own strength.”  Our reliance and trust can only be in the Lord…  who can overcome what we are unable to.

Jonah 4:4 ” But the Lord replied, ‘ Have you any right to be angry?’ “

My indignation towards God is never justified.  My view on the situation is never complete…my opinion, never unbiased.  Only God can see from beginning to end, and every detail in between.  Only He can “see around the corner”.  I am so very limited in my scope of reality, that I really have no right to be angry at God.

II Samuel 22:2-3 ” The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior – from violent men you save me.”

What do you put your trust in?  If it’s your nation’s economy…it may fall tomorrow.  If it’s in other men…you’ll be sadly disappointed when they become untrustworthy and turn on you.  No, there’s only one that you can put your wholehearted trust and confidence in…for God will never betray that trust – He will never fail you.

I John 2:17 ” The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the Will of God lives forever.”

Besides the eternal benefit of living a Godly life, we tend to forget all the advantages we gain mentally, physically, and emotionally.  If our body isn’t bombarded with drugs, alcohol, and cigarettes, we’ll live a much longer, healthier life.  If we don’t become involved in risky choices and life styles, we won’t have to suffer the consequences that come along with them, and thus our emotional and mental well-being will be left intact.  Living a righteous life certainly has its perks.

I John 2:16 ” For everything in the world – the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does – comes not from the Father but from the world.”

To paraphrase Proverbs 27:20, “The eyes of man are never satisfied.”  From the moment in the Garden of Eden when Eve’s selfish desire outweighed her rational thinking, we’ve been battling our own corrupt habits and appetites.  We are never content with what we have…never happy until we have more.  And sadly, this cycle just repeats itself over and over again.