You Have Done It -Psalms 52:7-9

""Here is the man who did not make God his strength, but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself in his wickedness." But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God; I trust in the mercy of God forever and ever. I will praise You forever, Because you have done it; And in the presence of Your saints I will wait on Your name, for it is good."

Surrounded by Mercy -Psalms 32:10-11

"Many sorrows shall be to the wicked; But he who trusts in the LORD, mercy shall surround him. Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous; And shout for joy, all you upright in heart!"

Under Grace -Romans 6:12-14

This post is a continuation of yesterday's post...since we are dead to sin and alive in Christ, we are given this command regarding sin...and it ends with a promise.

"Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace."

Live With Him -Romans 6:7-11

"For he who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Making God Your Trust

"Blessed is that man who makes the LORD his trust, And does not respect the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies."

Enlarging My Path -Psalms 18:36

"You enlarged my path under me, So my feet did not slip."

A sure footing is only found in Christ.

Leap Over A Wall -Psalms 18:27-29

"For You will save the humble people, But will bring down haughty looks. For You will light my lamp; The LORD my God will enlighten my darkness. For by You I can run against a troop, By my God I can leap over a wall."

This was good for me to read today...I've been in a position where I don't know for sure what God wants me to be doing right now...so to read that God will "enlighten my darkness" is an encouraging promise.

On top of that, I also have been busy with a ton of school...so to hear that "By my God I can leap over a wall" is an encouragement to keep pressing forward...


Rest in His Promises!

Awake In Your Likeness -Psalms 17:14-15

These verses are encouraging, simply because it is a clear reminder that ultimate fulfillment is found in God.

It's the promise of things yet to come.

I have to add here that verse 15 always excites me, as I read "...I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness." Wow. What a hope!

"With Your hand from men, O LORD, From men of the world who have their portion in this life, And whose belly You fill with Your hidden treasure. They are satisfied with children, And leave the rest of their possession for their babes. As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness."

Hope Does Not Disappoint -Romans 5:1-5

"Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulations produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us."

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!

Temporary v.s. Eternal -2 Corinthians 4:16-18

"Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal."

Complete in Him -Colossians 2:8-10

"Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power."

Not Tempted Beyond What We Are Able -1 Corinthians 10:13

"No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it."

The Day of Battle -Proverbs 21:31

"The horse is prepared for the day of battle, But deliverance is of the LORD."

Deliver the Godly -2 Peter 2:9

"then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment."

I need to give a little introduction to this verse...we've been going through 2 Peter in church, and we had been looking at this verse today (verses 4-10).

Right before this, we get a history lesson that recounts some of the things God has done:

• He punished the angels who sinned (v.s. 4)
• Destroyed the earth, but saved Noah (v.s.5)
• Destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah (v.s. 6)
• Delivered Lot (v.s. 7-8)

Then, after being remind of God's Power, we get the verse I posted today. If God did all those things, than God can deliver those who are His, and He can punish those who are not.

I think it's cool when God reminds us of what He's done in the past...we can use it as encouragement to remind us that God really is in control.

Depart From Evil -Psalms 37:27-28

So, I'm back at Psalms 37 again...this chapter really does have a lot of promises!

"Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell forevermore. For the Lord loves justice, And does not forsake His saints; They are preserved forever, But the descendants of the wicked shall be cut off."

 These verses were a good reminder to not continue sinning! God promises here that He will not forsake those that are His...but those that are not His will be cut off.

Lately I've been realizing that sin is really a lack of trust.

I mean if you think about it, when we sin we are really saying that we don't believe what God says is true. We don't believe that He will satisfy our every need, that He will protect us, and that we can rest in Him.


God, please help me to trust you more!

The Guard From the Evil One -2 Thessalonians 3:3

I just read this verse and found it encouraging...thought I'd share it with you!

"But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one."

Never Leave Us -Hebrews 13:5-6

"Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." So we may boldly say: "The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?"

The one thought I wanted to point out is that when we sin, it's a form of covetousness. We're basically saying by our actions that God is "not enough." And this promise reminds us that God never leaves us, unlike sin which is only enjoyable "for a season."

In the end, God is faithful, and He will always be there.

Endurance -James 1:12

"Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him."

If you are anything like me, then you will understand how easy it is as human beings to lose perspective. I mean, the Children of Israel are a prime example. They had a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night leading them...and they still lost their focus.

I think God was trying to make a point to us as well. The fact that they had a physical reminder right in the sky...I mean, they just had to look up, and yet they still managed to go off track. We humans really are crazy.

And just in case you think I'm trying to harp on them...there is many times I look at myself and realize that I do exactly the same thing.

When I look at this promise, I see a good reminder to keep my eyes fixed on Jesus, (look up!),  and to fight the good fight of faith!

There is a crown of life waiting!