Created for Good Works -Ephesians 2:10

"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them."

This promise is huge. When I'm sinning, all I see is my fallen nature. However, it's important to remember that God made us to do good!

This verse goes even beyond that and points out that God has planned our good works ahead of time!

Yet He Thinks On Me -Psalms 40:17

"But I am poor and needy; Yet the LORD thinks upon me. You are my help and my deliverer; Do not delay, O my God."

My Feet in a Wide Place -Psalms 31:7-8

"I will be glad and rejoice in Your mercy, For You have considered my trouble; You have known my soul in adversities, And have not shut me up into the hand of the enemy; You have set my feet in a wide place."

You Will Answer Me -Psalms 86:7

Well, I haven't really been writing anything extra in my posts lately. Maybe it's because I've been a little lazy, but probably it's due to the fact that I've been swamped with a lot of school! On top of that, I'm pretty bad with my schedule, so I tend to not post until really late...

But I just wanted to comment on this one, as this encouragement is huge for me right now. I really feel like the things God has me going through are really bringing to light all the weakness and failures that I have. It's hard when multiple struggles hit you all at once!

This verse, however, reminds me to put my hope in and seek help from God...why? Because God will answer me.

"In the day of my trouble I will call upon You, For You will answer me."

Take Heart!

Knowing Just Like We Are Known -1 Corinthians 13:12

"For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known."

Help in Our Weaknesses -Romans 8:26-27

"Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God."

Hairs of you Head -Luke 12:4-7

"And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him! Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten before God. But the very hairs of our head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows."

In My Distress -Psalms 18:6

When we are going through hard times in our lives, this verse reminds us that God hears.

"In my distress I called upon the LORD, And cried out to my God; He heard my voice from His temple, And my cry came before Him, even to His ears."

God Has Seen -Psalms 10:13-14

We just read this chapter together as a family this evening...I saw these verses, and thought I'd share them here!

"Why do the wicked renounce God? He has said in his heart, "You will not require an account." But You have seen, for You observe trouble and grief, To repay it by Your hand. The helpless commits himself to You; You are the helper of the fatherless."

God is a faithful God. He's faithful in His mercy, and faithful in His Judgment.

These verses point to the fact that God does see all that we do, and that He is faithful to repay the wicked.

However, these verses also remind us that God is a helper of the fatherless...in our tough situations, we need to trust Him to deliver us.

God knows who are His -Nahum 1:7

God's judgement is a serious thing.

I mean, since He is all-powerful, (omnipotent), facing his judgment is something that is extremely scary. Especially when you are facing His righteous indignation.

Okay. Wow. Wait a minute. How could a promise of God, (other than His judgement on sin), be found in a chapter like this? Well, the book of Nahum does contain a verse that I wanted to share.

"The Lord is good, A stronghold in the day of trouble; And He knows those who trust in Him."

It was amazing to see this verse. You see, the chapter surrounding this verse was talking about how God will punish His enemies. And then, right in the middle, we see these encouraging Words to those who trust in Him. When we see God's judgement on sin, we as Christians can know that God is good and that He will be our stronghold.

I also found the last part of the verse encouraging. Because when I look at a chapter like this, I see my own sin. I see where I fail time and time...and time again. And I see how deserving I am of God's Holy, Righteous, and Complete Judgement.

And yet, even though we as Christians still sin, God knows who are His. He knows who trusts in Him. And through Jesus' death on the cross, God's righteous indignation was poured out on His Son, freeing us from punishment of sin (and the bondage of sin itself).

All Praise to God.