Proverbs 3:7 ” Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil.”

We think that we’re far too intelligent to fall for the schemes of the devil…or that we’re too clever to be pulled into a compromising situation.  We blithely  go so far as to dabble in the gray areas of sin, thinking we have the good judgment to stop any time we want.  Being too wise in our own eyes can show just how foolish we really are.

Matthew 26: 39 “…Yet not as I will, but as You will.”

I had a very insightful conversation with someone concerning a life decision .  What they thought they were going to do with their life was suddenly turned upside down when God very emphatically said “No!”   Wisely they sought out counsel, and this was the question posed to them…Was this something you, yourself wanted to do, and you were  simply asking the Lord to bless it, rather than asking God for His Will in your life and what He wanted?  Not my will, but Yours should be a important part of  our prayers.

Exodus 23:20 ” See, I am sending an angel ahead of you to guard you along the way and to bring you to a place I have prepared.”

The Lord will go before you, directing your path, making ready and providing all that you need along the way.  And as He guides you through this journey, He will always be watchful and protective of you…until you reach the final destination that He has lovely planned for you before the beginning of time.

Isaiah 50:10 ” Who among you fears the Lord and obeys the word of His servant? Let him who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name of the Lord and rely on his God.”

The Lord can bring us out of darkness into the light of His truth.  He will break off the chains that have bound us, and release us from the devil’s power.  No more will we have to walk in darkness and fear, for our trust will now be in Him.

I Thessalonians 5:11 ” Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just in fact you are doing.”

The world is waiting to criticize and condemn – so we need to be ready to be that uplifting influence that will make a difference in someone’s life.  While others find fault, we need to edify…while others denounce and blame, we need to strengthen and build up.

II Corinthians 11:3 ” …from the simplicity that is in Christ.”

You’ve been witnessing to someone for a while now, but they’ll  have nothing to do with this “Jesus stuff”  you’re trying to push on them.  So  before you  beat them about the head and shoulders with your Bible – consider this.  The love that Jesus demonstrated was simple…it wasn’t complicated, or complex.  His love was honest, sincere, and  straightforward.  He loved simply, and simply loved all those around Him.  You might want to  try  this new tactic of simplicity…and love them into the arms of Jesus.

Genesis 35:15 ” Jacob called the place where God had talked to him Bethel.”

Communicating with the Lord doesn’t need to be done in some special building…with just the perfect words.  No, talking with God should be as natural as breathing…as fluid as movement…and as comfortable as your own skin.  Any time or place can become your  Bethel…your House of God.

Jeremiah 38:22 ” They misled you and overcame you – those trusted friends of yours. Your feet sunk in the mud; your friends have deserted you.”

You think those buddies of yours are loyal…those devoted allies, ever honorable when it comes to your relationship. But let some catastrophic thing happen, and they can all disappear…leaving you all alone… buried in the quagmire of your problems.  The one and only person you can always trust is the Lord.  Friends will abandon you…the Lord will not.

II Corinthians 12:15 ” …though the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved.”

We as humans love,  expecting something in return.  But If we look at Jesus, He was a servant to everyone…always denying Himself, and teaching others that they should follow His example.  To make an impact in the world today, we can’t just proclaim the Gospel, but we  must  be willing to become broken bread and poured out wine in the hands of our Savior for the sake of others.

Psalm 103:11 ” For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for those who fear Him.”

You may not be too willing to admit that you have one in your house…most times they are messy, unorganized, and a catch-all for everything that has no specific place to go…I’m talking about a junk drawer. Oh, what things we can find in the back of that drawer! Every cast-off, odd, or thing without a place will end up there for lack of anywhere else to put it. Sometimes we too can feel like we’ve been thrown in the world’s junk drawer… we don’t fit in the perfect, usual or customary places… so we’re judged because of our oddity, eccentricity, or peculiarity…and then delegated to junk drawer status. But, God has no junk drawer to throw us in because we may not “fit in”. His love for us is unfathomable as to how wide and long and high and deep it is towards us. In His eyes, we will always be worthy of a place of honor, rather than in the back of that drawer.