The Message

6-9-06

So, how can you be assured of all this? How can you know that you have peace with God and eternal life?

It's simple. In fact, it's so simple that people who don't understand the character of God try to either make it more difficult or water it down. It is human nature to want to work at something, to feel as though you have achieved it yourself.

Do you believe that Jesus was the Christ, the only Son of God, sent as a redeeming sacrifice for all mankind for all time? Did you know He wants to come to live in your heart?

You have to start there. This chapter is not an afterthought. It is the reason for everything. This message is found throughout everything I write.

God is Holy and He created the Law, the 10 Commandments and the first 5 books of the Bible called the Mosaic Law, the rules about how human beings are to treat each other and how to worship Him. The Law proves to us that apart from Him, we could not live perfect, holy lives. It is impossible to go through life without hurting someone else's feelings, or causing some kind of damage to each other either emotionally, materially, or financially, to come up with a few ideas. We try to be 'good', but 'good' isn't good enough. We can be competitive and be better than most people, but humans are not the standard, God is.

God says if you break one part of the Law, you are guilty of the whole thing. Have you ever lied? Would that make you a 'liar'? Do you ever question that a Holy God even exists? Does that maybe break the first commandment? Have you ever gotten too much change at the store and not said anything about it? Does that mean you might be a 'thief'? What if you found a large bag of money? What would you do? Have you ever been so angry with someone that you've called them names? Did you know that makes you a 'murderer'?

God's standards are that if you even think about doing something, you've already committed it in your heart. So how's your heart? Would that maybe make you a 'sinner'? What do you think the consequences are? On judgment day, how do you think you'll do before a Holy God?

Let's try to explain a little of the character of God this way. Bear with me. Let's say you are guilty of a great injustice and have never done anything bad before. In fact, you wouldn't hurt a flea. You volunteer in your spare time, and help little old ladies across the street. Let's say that you got frustrated and angry, and killed thousands of people. What would you say would be the correct punishment? A fine? Prison time? The death penalty? The judge says, "You're guilty. All the evidence is here. Have you anything to say before I pass sentence? And you say, "Yes, Judge, I'd like to say I believe you're a good man, and because I am a good man, you're going to overlook my crimes." The judge would probably say, "You're right about one thing. I am a good man, and because of my goodness, I'm going to see that justice is done. Because of my goodness, I'm going to see that you are punished." Don't you see? The very thing that sinners are hoping will save them on judgment day, the goodness of God, will be the very thing that condemns them. Because if God is good, He must by nature punish murderers, rapists, thieves, liars, fornicators, blasphemers, sinners, etc. He has to punish sin wherever it is found.

What are the consequences of sin? Death. Eternal death. Separation from God and everything else. Jesus said that hell was, "where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched" (Mark 9:44) and again, "And shall cast them into a furnace of fire; there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth." (Matthew 13:41)

But that place was not created for us, it was created for the devil and his angels. Matthew 25:41 " . . . depart from Me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels." God intended for you to be with Him in Paradise. That is why He sent to earth His only begotten son, Jesus Christ, to take the death penalty for us. God, Himself, crossed the bridge between Him and you.

And this is why it is so simple. To cross that bridge all you have to do is believe! Believe that Jesus is God in the flesh, and that He died for your sins, ask Him into your heart, and you will be saved!

1 John 1:9-10 (NKJV) "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us."

1 John 4:15 (NKJV) "Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God."

Put that belief into action and tell others that you now believe! Romans 10:8-10 "But what does [the scripture] say? 'The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart' (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." Tell everyone what I've just told you. Take them by the hand and everyone else you meet, and go to heaven together!

If a person says they are born-again or have had a salvation experience, and it doesn't change their life, then I question their convictions because to meet Jesus is a heart changing event. There are outward signs of an inward upheaval. To meet Jesus and walk away unchanged doesn't happen!

Jeremiah 29:11-14 (NKJV) "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you, says the LORD, and I will bring you back from your captivity; I will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you, says the LORD, and I will bring you to the place from which I cause to be carried away captive."

Next, you need to learn more so that when satan comes along with his counterfeit truths, you'll be able to recognize them. He'll use your family, friends, co-workers, the news, and especially movies to confuse you and question your convictions.

Start reading the Bible today. How do you think God could bring all these scriptures to remembrance when I needed them if I hadn't read them in the first place? Get one of the easy to read translations. Start with the Gospel of John, then the Gospels, Acts, Romans, and on from there. This is how you get to know who God is. That is where you start to build your relationship with Him.

You now have the Holy Spirit of God in your heart. He will lead you into all truth. He will translate the Bible to you so you understand it. He will bring to remembrance what you need when you need it. Don't let satan convince you that you need someone else to interpret the Bible for you. There are many Bible studies that will help you with doctrine and other things, but be aware that even satan will appear as an angel of light to deceive you. Get grounded in a good Christian church, one that preaches Jesus Christ and is based solely on the Bible. God will speak to your heart during the Sermons if you'll listen. If you're listening, you'll hear Him throughout the days and nights, speaking to you about things in your life to teach you and to lead you, also.

Matthew 10:16 (KJV) "Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: Be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves."

2 Corinthians 11:13-15 (KJV) "For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no marvel, for satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works."

Matthew 24:24 (KJV) "For there shall arise false christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect."

The Treasury Department trains their agents to spot counterfeit bills by making them study the real things very carefully. To be able to spot the deceptions of this world, you need to study the real thing, very carefully, and for yourself. Be extremely careful about depending on other documents or teachers other than the Bible and the church you attend. And do attend church! Read the Bible for yourself and listen to the urgings of the Holy Spirit. Find out the character of God for yourself. It means your life.

God Loves Me

6-2-06

Don't let satan convince you that God is up there in heaven, way up there, too high, too important, too holy, too whatever. Don't let your image of God become legalistic, judgmental, overbearing, untouchable, or impersonal.

The one thing that God wants is an intimate, up close and personal 'best-friend' relationship with you. It is more like a married relationship. Look at Psalm 139, no matter where you go or what you do, He is there. He's closer than a brother or a best friend.

The only thing that can hinder that relationship is you and your attitude. Your sin separates you from God because He is holy. But He came to earth and became human just so He could remove the separation. He was tempted in all areas just like we are, except He never acted on it, never sinned. He took the punishment for our sins just so the separation between us would be abolished. That is why the veil of the temple tore from the top down!

Matthew 27:51 (NKJV) "Then, behold the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom."

That is also why the erroneous myths about Jesus sinning before the cross are false. For Him to be the redeeming sacrifice, He could have no spots or blemishes (sin). He had to be perfect, in thought, word, and deed. Otherwise, it was all for nothing. (And the veil would not have torn!)

All we need to do is realize we have sinned, ask His forgiveness, and then come into His presence. He's waiting eagerly for you! Have a conversation with Him, talk and listen. The more you practice it the easier it gets. And soon, that's all you want to do because it is refreshing. It is peaceful and joyful and comforting and satisfying at the same time. It's like being wrapped up in a big hug. And He understands you, even when you can't say anything. It makes you sleep better, and wake up more refreshed. It makes the problems of the day more bearable.

He feels your pain.
He hears every cry.
He sees every tear.
He knows when you're so tired all you can do is crawl to Him.
He knows your name.
He died for you.
And He says, "My child, come to Me. My yoke is light. Let Me refresh your soul."

Psalm 34:4, 6, 7, 17-19 (NKJV) "I sought the LORD, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears . . . This poor man cried out, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them . . . The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles. The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all."

Psalm 40:1-3 (NKJV) "I waited patiently for the LORD; and He inclined to me, and heard my cry. He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a Rock, and established my steps. He has put a new song in my mouth--Praise to our God. Many will see it and fear, and will trust in the LORD."

1 Peter 5:6-7 (NKJV) "Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you."

John 10:14 (paraphrased) "I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and My sheep know Me."

Isaiah 28:11-12 (NKJV) "For with stammering lips and another tongue He will speak to this people, to whom He said, 'This is the rest with which you may cause the weary to rest,' and 'This is the refreshing.' "

Acts 3:19-20 (NKJV) "Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the LORD, and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before."

Psalm 25:16-18 (NKJV) "Turn Yourself to me, and have mercy on me, for I am desolate and afflicted. The troubles of my heart have enlarged: bring me out of my distresses! Look upon my affliction and my pain, and forgive all my sins."

Deuteronomy 33:26-27 (TLB) "There is none like the God of Jerusalem--He descends from the heavens in majestic splendor to help you. The Eternal God is your Refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. He thrusts out your enemies before you; it is He who cries, 'Destroy them!' "

Revelation 21:3-5a (NKJV) "And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, 'Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.' Then He who sat on the throne said, 'Behold, I make all things new.' "

Deuternonomy 7:13-14a (NKJV) "Then it shall come to pass, because you listen to these judgments, and keep and do them, that the LORD your God will keep with you the covenant and the mercy which He swore to your fathers, and He will love you and bless you and multiply you; He will also bless the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your land, your grain and your new wine and your oil, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flock, in the land of which He swore to your fathers to give you. You shall be blessed above all peoples."

Micah 6:8 (paraphrased) The LORD requires of us:
1.) Do justly
2.) Love mercy
3.) Walk humbly with God.

Matthew 22:37-39; Mark 12:29-31 (paraphrased) Jesus' commandments:
1.) Love the LORD your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.
2.) Love everyone else.
Note: If you fulfill these two, you won't break the others.

Romans 5:8 (NKJV) "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

Romans 8:35-39 (NKJV) "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, 'For Your sake we are killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.' Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our LORD."

Ephesians 2:4-8 (NKJV) "But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God."

1 John 4:7-11 (NKJV) "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another."

John 3:16-17 (NKJV) "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved."

John 1:1-4 (NKJV) "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men."

Deception

4-24-06

The LORD has revealed to me that part of what got me into trouble is that satan convinced me that everything I have experienced with the LORD was due to my imagination. It wasn't real. I just imagined it all.

All I know is this, God created mankind (Adam and Eve) in His image. And He called it good. God created me just the way I am, and He doesn't create junk or imperfection. Being created 'in His image' is more than appearance, we obviously don't all look alike. However, we all have 2 arms, 2 legs, a head, a body, a mind, a spirit, etc. More than that, we all: have emotions, smile when we're happy, cry when we're sad, dream dreams, love our children to the point of death, and much more.

God revealed His character to us through the prophets and His written Word. He created this whole universe with His Word. Read Genesis chapter 1. As we investigate and study this existence, we discover new things everyday. Whether they were there all along, or brand new is irrelevant. It merely confirms this truth: our God is a highly imaginative being. God is a trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We are a trinity: body, soul, and spirit. I am proud to be created in His image. I am glad to have an imagination. It bridges the gap between what we see and what we feel. It bridges the gap between the material world and the spiritual.

Jesus said we must become like little children to enter the kingdom of God. Children have highly developed imaginations. It is no problem for them to take as fact the spiritual truths they are told. They are very trusting, believing their mothers and fathers unconditionally. This is how we are to be. We must trust our Father God implicitly. We are to believe that what He tells us is true, that it is for our own good. That takes imagination.

How many times do we treat our loving Father like rebellious teenagers instead? We say by our words and deeds: 'I don't need you!" "You don't love me!" "I can do things better on my own!" "All you care about are rules, rules, rules!" "Leave me alone!"

If you are the parent of a teenager or have ever been in charge of one, you recognize the words, and the hurt it inflicts. We also hurt our Father God by our thoughts, words, and deeds. He only wants what is best for us.

Matthew 23:37 (NKJV) ". . . How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!"

What looks like restrictive rules are part of God's plan to protect us and love us and mature us. It makes one wonder where these rebellious thoughts come from. (Hmmmmm.)

Proverbs 3:11-12 (NKJV) "My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, nor detest His correction. For whom the LORD loves He corrects, just as a father the son in whom he delights."

Job 5:17 (NKJV) "Behold, happy is the man whom God corrects. Therefore do not despise the chastening of the Almighty."

And these are facts (not imaginations): 1.) He healed my broken leg in the car wreck with my dad in 1978. 2.) He healed my father of lung cancer in 1979 because he grew in faith after seeing what happened to me. 3.) He has helped me out of depression many times. Depression is also physical. The last time was February 13, 2006. 4.) He healed me of addiction to nasal spray in 1973. 5.) He healed me of alcoholism in 1976 and 1992.

These are actual events. satan can't do anything about them. I didn't imagine these things. And about the tings I have imagined like the vision I have had, God said young men will see visions, and old men will dream dreams. And if my imagination strengthens my faith because faith uses imagination, then do be it. My faith gives me peace with God.

Lack of imagination takes all the color out of life. Lack of imagination brings the depression. After all, what is worth living for? God said at the tower of Babel there isn't anything man cannot do because he can imagine it.

I am created in the image of God! I am adopted, grafted in because of Jesus. And if I'm okay with God, who else dares to hold an opinion on that? They will have to argue with God, not me.

Genesis 1:31 (NKJV) "Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good."

1 John 1:1-3 (NKJV) "that which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life--the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us--that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ."

Galatians 4:6 (NKJV) "And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, 'Abba, Father!' "

1 John 4:13-15 (NKJV) "By this we know we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God."

Matthew 18:3 (NKJV) ". . . and said, 'Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.' "

Matthew 19:13 (NKJV) "Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, 'Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.' "

Mark 10:14 (NKJV) "But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, 'Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them, for of such is the kingdom of God.' "

Genesis 11:6 (NKJV) "And the LORD said, 'Indeed the people are one and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do; now nothing that they propose (imagine) to do will be withheld from them.' "

Romans 8:15 (NKJV) "For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, 'Abba, Father!' "

Ephesians 1:3-6 (NKJV) "Blessed be the God and Father of our LORD Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved."

Faith - Hebrews

5-25-06

God rested on the seventh day. He ceased all His work. 'Rested' is the absence of work or struggle. Webster's has a lot to say about rest including: peace, ease, and refreshment as produced by sleep, refreshing ease or inactivity after work or exertion, a period or occasion of inactivity, relief from anything distressing or disturbing, annoying, tiring, etc., peace of mind, mental and emotional calm, tranquility, absence of motion, state of being still, etc.

We enter that rest when we quit working or struggling as when we quit trying to get to Heaven on our own merits. Pray enough, believe enough, do enough, impress God enough. Busy, busy, busy, . . .

When you have faith, or rather, when you use your faith, you are acknowledging that God did everything and there is no need for you to add to that. He has done it, He is doing it, and He will always continue to do it. He will take care of everything you pray for, everything you have no words for, all your needs, all my needs, all their needs, everything. Therefore, there is no more struggle, No worry, no anxiety, no work, no struggle.

God delights in me. And because of Jesus Christ I have faith. He gave it to me because He did it all and fulfilled it all. And when He was done, He sat down at the right hand of the Father. Jesus rested.

Faith is resting from our own efforts and accepting what He has already done and what He has promised. Therefore, faith is the substance (reality) of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Because Christ died on the cross, forgiving all my sins, healing all my diseases, and removing the separation between God and myself, I have peace with God and can rest. Enter into His rest and faith is the evidence. It is the evidence of our salvation, the evidence of our adoption, the evidence of the presence of God in our lives. Faith is that rest. It tells God and everyone, 'Yes, I believe Jesus did it all!' And you stop trying to re-do God's work.

That is why a lack of faith is sin, because it is unbelief in God's provision, unbelief in His love, unbelief in Him. We choose not to believe, we choose not to rest, and we choose not to accept the work that Jesus Christ did on the cross. It's like spitting His face. It's insulting Him. We choose to trust something else, anything else, but Jesus. It could be works, study, traditions, rules and regulations, etc. Because if we choose not to trust Jesus, then our enemy can step in with his deceptions. He keeps us from the truth of the simplicity in Christ. He will burden you down with worry, work, and depression because it is a hopeless path. His yoke is heavy but Jesus' yoke is light.

Matthew 11:28-30 (NKJV) "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

Faith is rest because we realize we no longer have to struggle to be good enough. Christ did it all! And that brings the joy! That brings the praise!

On the seventh day, God rested. He blessed the seventh day and called it holy. It is one of the first lessons in the Bible. He created, He called it good, and then He rested. He was exercising His faith that what He created was very good and would continue on.

God rested on the seventh day and called it the Sabbath. We are to keep the Sabbath holy, to rest every 7 days as a symbol of the rest He has given us for all the time. It commemorates what He has done, is doing, and will continue to do. Thereby He created faith. Faith commemorates all that God has done and it is holy! You could say that faith is that Sabbath rest, keep it holy.

God wants me to know I struggle too much. When I don't rest in Him, it brings on the depression. That is the sin, the lack of faith! The unrealistic expectations I place on myself! I must simply, completely, submit to God. Be faith-full. Be quiet and know that He is God. Rest. Quiet. Simple. Trust.

God was physically in the desert with the Israelites and yet all they did was grumble and complain. They could see God's presence and yet they doubted Him, they doubted that He'd take care of them. Unbelief. And they could not enter into His rest because of it, unbelief. Only Joshua and Caleb trusted God and they entered in even though they saw the same giants. Entertain 'what-ifs' and it will destroy your faith. God always accomplishes what He starts and He's not going to fail with you.

God is sooooooo good! All the time! Praise the Name of the LORD and His Christ for His mercies endure forever!

I think I will just climb up in His lap and take a nap. Just like the tea commercial, I'll fall backwards into the pool of His love! Be happy! Christ is mine, and I am His! He is my all in all!

OH, THE JOY!!!!

Hebrews 4:4 (NKJV) "For He has spoken in a certain place of the seventh day in this way: 'and God rested on the seventh day from all His works'. "

Hebrews 1:3 (NKJV) "...who being the brightness of His glory and express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high..."

1 Peter 2:24 (NKJV) "Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might life for righteousness--by whose stripes you were healed."

2 Corinthians 11:3 (NKJV) "But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ."

2 Timothy 1:12 (NKJV) "I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that day."

Romans 4:3, 13 (NKJV) "For what does the Scripture say? 'Abraham believed God, and it was accounted (imputed, credited) to him for righteousness.' ...For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith."

Hebrews 3:12-14 (NKJV) "Beware brethren lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the Living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called 'Today', lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end."

Hebrews 4:10 (NKJV) "For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His."

Hebrews 4:14-16 (NKJV) "Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need."

Hebrews 10:37-38 (NKJV) "For yet a little while, and He who is coming will come and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith; but if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him."
1 Peter 5:6-7 (NKJV) "Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you."

2 Corinthians 12:9 (NKJV) "And He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness'. Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."

Psalm 46:10-11 (NKJV) "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge."

Psalm 37:3-8 (NKJV) "Trust in the LORD, and do good. Dwell in the land and feed on His Faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass. He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday. Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him, do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath, do not worry--it only causes harm."