Many are wondering what this new year of 2019 will bring our way. Many are just concerned about their New Year's resolutions. Let us consider some up-building and encouraging Scriptures and Christian quotes to lift our spirits. Let us not even think about politics or world chaos. Let us think pure and joyful thoughts about life and the good Lord.
"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." - Philippians 4:8
What a positive and up-lifting verse that is ! You will be a much happier person and a better Christian if you do as it says.
A couple of years ago I prayed and asked the Lord to please give me a much needed "hug" as I needed His touch and grace. Shortly thereafter I found the following on the Internet and it was truly a great big hug from the Lord and I realized that in my daily Bible reading, I receive numerous hugs from Him. For more on hugs from God, go here.
What a wonderful reminder of the power of God's Word ! The Bible is God's Love Letter to us, and also our Instruction Manual. It can reach even a stony heart and it can transform the vilest person into a saint.
"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." - Romans 12:1-2
"Man's way leads to a hopeless end! God's way leads to an endless hope !" - unknown
"Christianity is not consistency to conscience or to convictions; Christianity is being true to Jesus Christ." - Oswald Chambers
"I don't need to read the Bible because I'm a great saint. I read the Bible because I'll find God there. It's about a daily walk with this person, Jesus." - Rich Mullins, a musician best known for "Awesome God."
Another thing, besides reading the Bible, is to be frequently in prayer; daily, hourly, whatever your soul needs and craves when you need to draw close to the good Lord, or to seek His guidance.
"Be careful [anxious] for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." - Philippians 4:6-7
"And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive." - Jesus at Matthew 21:22
"Prayer is the nearest approach to God and the highest enjoyment of Him that we are capable of in this life." - William Law
"As a man prays so is he." - A. W. Tozer
"As a man prays so is he." - A. W. Tozer
"The best and sweetest flowers of paradise, God gives to His people when they are upon their knees. Prayer is the gate of heaven." - Thomas Brooks
"To have God speak to the heart is a majestic experience, an experience that people may miss if they monopolize the conversation and never pause to hear God's responses." - Charles Stanley
A peacock struts around as if it is saying, "Look at me". Peacocks, to me, are the epitome of pride. God hates pride!
"The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: Pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate." - Proverbs 8:13
"For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world." - 1 John 2:16
Talking about pride is bordering on the negative in this "positive" article; but perhaps there is someone reading this that needs to be reminded that God hates pride. Pride will keep you from having a close, personal, intimate, love relationship with God through His Son, Jesus Christ. Let us be humble and turn to the Lord in love and submission. Let us endeavor to always please Him in every way, and to live as godly a life as possible.
Recently I came across the full version of the "Serenity Prayer" which was written by Reinhold Neibuhr, who lived from 1892 to 1971. Like many, I was only familiar with the first paragraph of this beautiful and hopeful prayer. I feel the Lord urging me to share it with you today.
The Serenity Prayer
God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change;
Courage to change the things that I can;
And wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
As it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
If I surrender to His will;
So that I may be reasonably happy in this life,
And supremely happy with Him
Forever and ever in the next.
Amen.
Don't let the world situation or your own personal trials wear you down; don't lose your joy. If you are a child of God, you have much to rejoice about. If Jesus is your Savior and you have been born again, then look up ! Your redemption draweth nigh! (Luke 21:28)
True believers have a blessed hope (Titus 2:13). Jesus will return soon to take His faithful followers to be with Him in Heaven.
If you have not accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior, now is the time to do so before it is too late. Don't be left behind to face the horrors and wrath of the 7 year tribulation period. Please do not lose your soul. Please do not reject Jesus. He is the only hope for us to gain eternal life in heaven.
Jesus loves you.
He will welcome you with open arms of love and forgiveness if you but repent and turn to Him in godly sorrow for your sins.
Believe Jesus is the Savior. Not with an intellectual knowledge, but with a heart full of belief that He and only He can save you by His shed blood at Calvary. He died as a substitute in your place so that if you but believe in Him and that His shed blood can wash away your sins and make you a new creation, you will be saved and become a child of God.
Pray for forgiveness. Repent. Surrender to the good Lord with all of your very being. The Bible tells us that we must also believe in Jesus' Resurrection.
Romans 10: 9, 10, 13 tells us: (9) "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (10) For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (13) For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."
"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me." - John 14:6
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." - John 3:16
Have a blessed and Christ centered weekend......and life!
No comments:
Post a Comment