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?

Proverbs 29:11 ” A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control.”

Any blockhead can work themselves up into a frenzy of rage and anger when things don’t go their way.  But it takes real Herculean restraint to remain in control of your emotions when things get heated around you. What spills out when you’re jostled by someone else’s anger or when you don’t get your way?   Violent fury or restraint?

II Timothy 2:15 ” Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”

The word of truth – the Gospel Message – is the saving truth in which we must believe in order to obtain forgiveness of sin and eternal life.  The word of truth is a light and guide for our journey in this world…making our path illuminated and straight.  Our responsibly is to heed and  obey that word of truth.

Romans 15:13 ” May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may over flow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

That deep inner psychological sense of hope, confidence and expectation can only be reached and fully satisfied when we allow the Lord to fill that “God shaped” void inside us.  And that wonderful transformation then allows us to “spill over”….for the God of all hope fills us to over flowing so that we might give that hope  to others.

Matthew 14: 26-27 ” When the disciples saw Him walking on the lake, they were terrified. ‘It’s a ghost!’, they said, and cried in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: ‘Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.’ “

Fear will throw us into confusion…but the calm reassuring voice of the Lord can penetrate any chaos and be heard above any thunderous storm in our lives.  But just listening to His voice is not enough…we need to then activate our faith.  Because  for a moment we might have lost our courage, but with the Lord’s encouraging words, we can find it again.

Hebrews 6:19 ” We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.”

The  verse before this one says that we need to “take hold of hope”…to hold fast to our faith and confidence especially when times get tough.  This confidence we have is the foundation that we can rely on.  This ” soul certainty” will not waver when darkness falls around us…it is unmovable…unshakable… it’s that unfailing trust in God that will see us through anything.

Hebrews 1:3 ” The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being…”

We look like our parents…we possess characteristics  from both of them.  Our DNA is a family history from generations past.  Jesus was that perfect expression of His Heavenly Father.   Jesus Himself said in John 14:9, ” Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father.”  God’s divine glory and splendor took on flesh and came down here to earth to live among us…and His name was Jesus Christ.

Jeremiah 23: 28 ” Let the (false) prophet who has a dream tell his dream, but let the one who has My word speak it faithfully. For what has straw to do with grain? “

This Scripture speaks to what is truth, and what is false…it speaks to God’s divinely ordained Word, and the corrupted half-truths that come from the pit of hell.  The bottom line for us is…do we want to be filled with the “fruit” of His Word, or the useless stubble left behind?

Romans 1:8 ” First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world.”

Every time you share your faith with someone…every time you openly declare your trust and belief in Jesus Christ…God’s word reaches farther into the world.  Little did I know when I started this Daily Devotional a little over three years ago that it would now be reaching over 100 countries around the world.  As it states in Romans 10:17, “Faith comes from hearing the message and the message is heard through the word of Christ.”  Our faith and belief in the Gospel message, when shared with others, catapults His Word to the far-flung reaches  of this world.

Psalm 94:11 ” The Lord knows the thoughts of man; He knows that they are futile.”

The Lord knows them all…every ill-intended, evil thought.  He sees every vain and worthless plan, and will  listen to every ridiculous scheme when we’re trying to impress Him with our wisdom. To paraphrase I Corinth. 3:20,  The wisdom of the world is utterly absurd and ridiculous to God is so very true.  Every time we think we know it all…we need to remember that we know nothing.