I am the Son of God

 Jesus says

 

I am from above, I am not of this world. 1 I came from God. 2

I and the Father are one. 3 Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. 4

I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will but the will of him who sent me. 5 I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. 6 I always do the things that are pleasing to him. 7 

I honour my Father, I do not seek my own glory. 8 My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me. 9 

Whoever receives me receives his who sent me. 10 Whoever hates me hates my Father also. 11 No one comes to the Father except through me. 12

Everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven. 13

I said, “I am the Son of God.” 14

Who do you say that I am? 15

 

1 Jn 8.23 2 Jn 8.42 3 Jn 10.30 4 Jn 14.9 5 Jn 6.38 6 Jn 14.31 7 Jn 8.29 8 Jn 8.49-50 9 Jn 7.16 10 Lk 9.48 11 Jn 15.23 12 Jn 14.6 13 Mt 10.32-33 14 Jn 10.36 15 Mt 16.15

The Humble will be Exalted

Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you. Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God. 1

Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall. 2 For the LORD of Heaven’s Armies has a day of reckoning. He will punish the proud and mighty and bring down everything that is exalted. Human pride will be humbled, and human arrogance will be brought down. 3

Some who seem least important now will be the greatest then, and some who are the greatest now will be least important then. 4  Those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted. 5

For the LORD delights in his people; he crowns the humble with victory. 6 True humility and fear of the LORD lead to riches, honour, and life. 7 So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honour. 8

 

1 1Cor 1.26-29 2 Prov 16.18 3 Isa 2.12,17 4 Lk 13.30 5 Mt 23.12 6 Ps 149.4 7 Prov 22.4 8 1Pt 5.6 nlt

 

 

A Prayer for Forgiveness

I am a sinful man, O Lord. 1 My iniquities have overtaken me, and I cannot see. 2

For my iniquities have gone over my head; like a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me. I am feeble and crushed; I groan because of the tumult of my heart. 3

O God, you know my folly; the wrongs I have done are not hidden from you. 4 I confess my iniquity; I am sorry for my sin. 5

You are a gracious and merciful God. 6 A broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. 7

Now, O LORD, please take away the iniquity of your servant, for I have done very foolishly. 8

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. 9

 

1 Lk 5.8 2 Ps 40.12 3 Ps 38.4,8 4 Ps 69.5 5 Ps 38.18 6 Neh 9.31 7 Ps 51.17 8 2Sam 24.10 9 Ps 51.1-2, 7, 10 esv

The only way of Salvation

All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,1

The Father has sent his Son to be the Saviour of the world. 2 Jesus appeared in order to take away sins. 3

Christ died for the ungodly. 4 He became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, 5

Everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name. 6 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” 7

If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 8 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 9

Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. 10 No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also. 11

For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 12 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 13

1 Rom 3.23 2 1Jn 4.14 3 1Jn 3.5 4 Rom 5.6 5 Heb 5.9 6 Ac 10.43 7 Ac 4.12 8 Rom 10.9 9 Jn 3.18 10 1Jn 5.12 11 1Jn 2.23 12 1Tim 2.5 13 Jn 14.6 esv

 

Be Doers of the Word

What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. 1

Anyone who knows the right thing to do and fails to do, commits sin. 2 Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. 3

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. 4 

O LORD, who shall sojourn in your tent?

Who shall dwell on your holy hill?

He who walks blamelessly and does what is right

and speaks truth in his heart;

who does not slander with his tongue

and does no evil to his neighbour,

nor takes up a reproach against his friend;

in whose eyes a vile person is despised,

but who honours those who fear the LORD;

who swears to his own hurt and does not change;

who does not put out his money at interest

and does not take a bribe against the innocent.

He who does these things shall never be moved. 5

Blessed are those who hear the word of God and obey it! 6

 

1 Jam 2.14-17 2 Jam 4.17 3 1Jn 2:4-5 4 Jam 1:22-25 5 Ps 15 6 Lk 11.28

 

 

 

 

Wisdom

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom 1 Who is the man who fears the LORD? He will show him the way he should choose. 2 

If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without criticising, and it will be given to him. 3 If you call out to insight and lift your voice to understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it like hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and discover the knowledge of God. 4

 The wisdom from above is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, without favouritism and hypocrisy. 5 

Wisdom will enter your mind, and knowledge will delight your heart. Discretion will watch over you, and understanding will guard you, rescuing you from the way of evil, from those who enjoy doing evil and celebrate perversion. 6 Insight is a fountain of life for its possessor. 7 Happy is a man who finds wisdom. The wise will inherit honour. 8 Eat honey for it is good, and the honeycomb is sweet to your palate; realise that wisdom is the same for you. If you find it, you will have a future, and your hope will never fade. 9 

 1 Ps 111.10 2 Ps 25.12 3 Jam 1.5 4 Prov 2.3-5 5 Jam 3.17 6 Prov 2.10-12, 14 7 Prov 16.22 8 Prov 3.13, 35 9 Prov 24.13-14

I will bless him

God says

 

This is the one to whom I will seek: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word. 1 

If a man is righteous and does what is just and right and keeps my rules by acting faithfully – he is righteous; he shall surely live. 2

The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me; to one who orders his way rightly I will show the salvation of God! 3

I will surely have mercy on him. 4 I will heal him; I will lead and restore comfort to him. 5 I will be his God and he will be my son. 6

Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name. When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honour him. 7 I will place him in the safety for which he longs. 8 With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation. 9

 

1 Isa 66.2 2 Ezek 18.5,9 3 Ps 50.23 4 Jer 31.20 5 Isa 57.18 6 Rev 21.7 7 Ps 91.14-15 8 Ps 12.5 9 Ps 91.16

God will provide all you need

The LORD will provide. 1 My God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 2

For those who fear Him lack nothing. 3

The widow’s flour jar did not become empty, and the oil jug did not run dry, according to the word of the LORD He had spoken through Elijah. 4

And God is able to make every grace overflow to you, so that in every way, always having everything you need, you may excel in every good work. 5

Look at the birds of the sky: They don’t sow or reap or gather into barns, yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you worth more than they. 6 Learn how the wildflowers of the field grow: they don’t labor or spin thread. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendour was adorned like one of these! If that’s how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and thrown into the furnace tomorrow, won’t He do much more for you — you of little faith? 7

Your Father knows the things you need before you ask Him. 8 

Don’t worry about your life, what you will eat; or about the body, what you will wear. But seek His kingdom, and these things will be provided for you. 9

 

1 Gen 22.14 2 Phil 4.19 3 Ps 34.9 4 1Kin 17.16 5 2Cor 9.8 6 Mt 6.26 7 Mt 6.28-30 8 Mt 6.8 9 Lk 12.22,31 

Be Holy

Work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord. 1

You must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.” 2 You are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect. 3

So if your eye – even your good eye – causes you to lust, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your hand – even your stronger hand – causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 4

God’s will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin. Then each of you will control his own body and live in holiness and honour – not in lustful passion like the pagans who do not know God and his ways. 5

If through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live. 6

You know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete. 7 For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. 8

Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful. 9

 

1 Heb 12.14 2 1Pt 1.15-16 3 Mt 5.48 4 5.29-30 5 1Th 4.3-5 6 Rom 8.13 7 Jam 1.3-4 8 Phil 2.13 9 1Th 5.23-24

Remember the LORD

 Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome. 1

Remember your Creator. 2

Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead. 3

Take care lest you forget the LORD. 4

Be very careful to love the LORD your God, and to walk in all his ways and to keep his commandments and to cling to him and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul. 5

Take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest depart from your heart all the days of your life. 6

Beware lest you say in your heart, “My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth. You shall remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth. 7

Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you, 8 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith. 9

Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually! Remember the wondrous works that he has done, 10 and forget not all his benefits. 11

 

1 Neh 4.14 2 Eccl 12.1 3 2Tim 2.8 4 Deut 8.11 5 Josh 22.5 6 Deut 4.9 7 Deut 8.17-18 8 Prov 4.23 9 Heb 12.2 10 1Chr 16.11-12 11 Ps 103.2

The LORD Saved Me

Come and listen, all you who fear God, and I will tell you what he did for me. 1

Death wrapped its ropes around me; the terrors of the grave overtook me. I saw only trouble and sorrow. Then I called on the name of the LORD: “Please, LORD, save me!” 2

And the LORD answered me and set me free. 3

How kind the LORD is! How good he is! So merciful, this God of ours! The LORD protects those of childlike faith; I was facing death, and he saved me. 4

He reached down from heaven and rescued me; he drew me out of deep waters. He led me to a place of safety; he rescued me because he delights in me. 5 He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along. He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. 6

Praise the LORD! For he has heard my cry for mercy. 7

I am overwhelmed with joy in the LORD my God! For he has dressed me with the clothing of salvation and draped me in a robe of righteousness. 8

 

1 Ps 66.16 2 Ps 116.3-4 3 Ps 118.5 4 Ps 116.5-6 5 Ps 18.16,19 6 Ps 40.2-3 7 Ps 28.6 8 Isa 61.10

I will sing praises to you

 O my Strength, to you I sing praises. 1 

You thrill me, LORD, with all you have done for me! I sing for joy because of what you have done. 2

I will sing of your love and justice, LORD. 3 I will sing about your power. Each morning I will sing with joy about your unfailing love. For you have been my refuge, a place of safety when I am in distress. 4

It is good to proclaim your unfailing love in the morning, your faithfulness in the evening. 5 I can never stop praising you; I declare your glory all day long. 6 I lie awake thinking of you, meditating on you through the night. Because you are my helper, I sing for joy in the shadow of your wings. 7

My heart is confident in you, God; no wonder I can sing your praises with all my heart! 8 You satisfy me more than the richest feast. I will praise you with songs of joy. 9 I will sing praises to your name forever. 10

 

1 Ps 59.17 2 Ps 92.4 3 Ps 101.1 4 Ps 59.16 5 Ps 92.2 6 Ps 71.8 7 Ps 63.6-7 8 Ps 108.1 9 Ps 63.5 10 Ps 61.8

I Love You

 God says

 

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you.¹ I have chosen you.² I have blotted out your transgressions like a cloud and your sins like mist;  ³ I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. ⁴

 I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself. ⁵  You are precious in my eyes, and honoured, and I love you,  ⁶ I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you. ⁷  

For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed, ⁸  I will not forget you. Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me. ⁹ Even to your old age I am he, and to grey hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save. ¹⁰

 

1 Jer1.5 2 Isa 41.9 3 Isa 44.22 4 Isa 43.1 5 Ex 19.4 6 Isa 43.4 7 Jer 31.3 8 Isa 54.10 9 Isa 49.15-16 10 Isa 46.4

By the Grace of God

Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. 1 For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 2

How then can a mortal be righteous before God? How can one born of woman be pure? If even the moon is not bright and the stars are not pure in his eyes, how much less a mortal, who is but a maggot – a human being, who is only a worm! 3 What a wretched man I am? Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord. 4

I was shown mercy, the grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 5 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 6

I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me, through the power of the Spirit of God. 7 May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. 8

By the grace of God I am what I am, 9 not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ. 10

 

1 Ps 51.5 2 Rom 7.18 3 Job 25.4-6 4 Rom 7.24-25 5 1Tim 1.13-14 6 Gal 2.20 7 Rom 15.18-19 8 Gal 6.14 9 1Cor 15.10 10 Phil 3.9

 

You are the Church

You are God’s people, 1 the sheep of his pasture. 2

You are members of the household of God, 3 heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ. 4

You are God’s field, God’s building, 5 his workmanship, 6 Zion, the perfection of beauty. 7

You are God’s temple, 8 a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. 9

You are the light of the world, 10 herald of UN good news, 11 a pillar and buttress of the truth. 12

You are the salt of the earth, 13 servants of God. 14

You are the body of Christ, 15 his Bride. 16

You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, 17 the church of the living God. 18

 

1 1Pet 2.10 2 Ps 100.3 3 Eph 2.19 4 Rom 8.17 5 1Cor 3.9 6 Eph 2.10 7 Ps 50.2 8 1Cor 3.16 9 Eph 2.22 10 Matt 5.14 11 Isa 40.9 12 1Tim 3.15 13 Matt 5.13 14 1Pet 2.16 15 1Cor 12.27 16 Rev 19.7 17 1Pet 2.9 18 1Tim 3.15 

The Gospel

I want to clarify for you the gospel I proclaimed to you; you received it and have taken your stand on it. You are also saved by it, if you hold to the message I proclaimed to you that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures. 1

The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but it is God’s power to us who are being saved. 2

It is bearing fruit and growing all over the world, just as it has among you since the day you heard it and recognised God’s grace in the truth, 3 the good news that Jesus is the Messiah, 4 the good news of the kingdom of God. 5

Once you were alienated and hostile in your minds because of your evil actions. But now Christ has reconciled you by His physical body through His death, to present you holy, faultless, and blameless before Him – if indeed you remain grounded and steadfast in the faith and are not shifted away from the hope of the gospel that you heard. 6

What will the outcome be for those who disobey the gospel of God? 7 These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction from the Lord’s presence and from His glorious strength. 8

Don’t be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord. Instead, share in suffering for the gospel, relying on the power of God. 9

Live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, standing firm in one spirit, with one mind, working side by side for the faith that comes from the gospel. 10

 

1 1Cor 15.1-4 2 1Cor 1.18 3 Col 1.6 4 Ac 5.42 5 Lk 16.16 6 Col 1.21-23 7 1Pt 4.17 8 2Th 1.9 9 2Tim 1.8 10 Phil 1.27

My Prayer for You

I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 1

I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you. 2

I keep asking that the glorious Father may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. 3

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 4 and that by his power he may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you. 5

I continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work. 6

And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. 7

 

1 Eph 1.16 2 3Jn 2 3 Eph 1.17-19 4 Eph 3.16 5 2Th 1.11-12 6 Col 1.9-10 7 Eph 3.17-19

Overcoming the world

Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world. 1

The whole world is under the control of the evil one, 2 the accuser of our brothers and sisters. 3

The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work. 4 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. 5 The Prince of this world now stands condemned. 6

Jesus Christ gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age. 7 Everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 8

If God is for us, who can be against us? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died, more than that, who was raised to life, is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 9

Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10 Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” 11

 

1 Eph 6.12 2 1Jn 5.19 3 Rev 12.10 4 1Jn 3.8 5 Col 2.15 6 Jn 16.11 7 Gal 1.3-4 8 1Jn 5.4 9 Rom 8.31-37 10 1Cor 15.57 11 Jn 16.33   

Suffering for Christ

Do not be astonished, brothers and sisters, that the world hates you. 1 Do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that is taking place among you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 2 For God has graciously granted you the privilege not only of believing in Christ, but of suffering for him as well. 3 

But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, a criminal, or even as a mischief maker. Yet if any of you suffers as a Christian, do not consider it a disgrace, but glorify God because you bear this name. 4 If you endure when you do right and suffer for it, you have God’s approval. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in his steps. 5

If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the spirit of glory, which is the Spirit of God, is resting on you. 6 Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you on account of the Son of Man. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, for surely your reward is great in heaven. 7

You are being protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, even if now for a little while you have had to suffer various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith – being more precious than gold that, though perishable, is tested by fire – may be found to result in praise and glory and honour when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8 Rejoice insofar as you are sharing Christ’s sufferings, so that you may also be glad and shout for joy when his glory is revealed. 9

 

1 1Jn 3.13 2 1Pt 4.12 3 Phil 1.29 4 1Pt 4.15-16 5 1Pt 2.20-21 6 1Pt 4.14 7 Lk 6.22-23 8 1Pt 1.5-7 9 1Pt 4.13

My Helper

My help comes from the LORD,

who made heaven and earth, 1

Who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” 2

Who calls into existence the things that do not exist, 3

Who works wonders, 4

Who raises the dead, 5

Who sees in secret, 6

Who knows the heart, 7

Who reveals mysteries, 8

Who gives power and strength, 9

Who saves, 10

Who keeps covenant and steadfast love, 11

Who acts for those who wait for him. 12

The Lord is my helper;

I will not fear 13

 

1 Ps 121.2 2 2Cor 4.6 3 Rom 4.17 4 Ps 77.14 5 2Cor 1.9 6 Matt 6.4 7 Ac 15.8 8 Dan 2.28 9 Ps 68.35 10 Ps 7.10 11 Neh 1.5 12 Isa 64.4 13 Heb 13.6

I will fear no evil, for you are with me

O LORD, Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. 1

O LORD, how many are my foes! But you, O LORD, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. I will not be afraid of many thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around. 2 

I will not fear. What can man do to me? 3 Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident. 4 For you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy. My soul clings to you. 5

I am continually with you; you hold my right hand. 6 Whom shall I fear? Of whom shall I be afraid? 7 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me. 8

 

1 Ps 139.1,7-10 2 Ps 3.1,3,6 3 Ps 118.6 4 Ps 27.3 5 Ps 63.7-8 6 Ps 73.23 7 Ps 27.1 8 Ps 23.4

I am God Almighty

 God says,

 

I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is anything too hard for me? 1

Hear, you who are far off, what I have done; and you who are near, acknowledge my might. 2 It is I who by my great power and my outstretched arm have made the earth, with the men and animals that are on the earth, and I give it to whomever it seems right to me. 3

My hand laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand spread out the heavens; when I call to them, they stand forth together. 4 By my rebuke I dry up the sea, I make the rivers a desert. 5

I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand. 6 I bring low the high tree, and make high the low tree, dry up the green tree, and make the dry tree flourish. 7 I form light and create darkness, I make well being and cause calamity, I am the LORD, who does all these things. 8 

Like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand. 9 Do you not fear me? Do you not tremble before me? 10

I am God Almighty. 11

 

1 Jer 32.27 2 Isa 33.13 3 Jer 27.5 4 Isa 48.13 5 Isa 50.2 6 Deut 32.39 7 Ezek 17.24 8 Isa 45.7 9 Jer 18.6 10 Jer 5.22 11 Gen 35.11

 

My Sheep

 God and Jesus says

 

“What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbours, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. 1

I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out. As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep that have been scattered, so will I seek out my sheep, and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered. I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep. I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak. I will feed them with good pasture. 2 For they shall graze and lie down, and none shall make them afraid. 3

I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, and I lay down my life for the sheep. 4 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 5

 

 

1 Lk 15.47 2 Ezek 34.11-16 3 Zeph 3.13 4 Jn 10.14-15 5 Jn 10.27-28

Creator

When God created mankind, he made them in the likeness of God. 1 

The LORD God formed a man from the dust of the ground. 2 God placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 3 He breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. 4

He took one of the man’s ribs, then the LORD God made a woman from the ribs. 5 She would become the mother of all the living. 6

From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth, and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. 7

God himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. 8 For in him we live and move and have our being. 9 In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind. 10 

If it were his intention and he withdrew his spirit and breath, all humanity would perish together and mankind would return to the dust. 11

Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us. 12 Come, let us bow down in worship, let before the LORD our Maker. 13

 

1 Gen 5.1 2 Gen 2.7 3 1Cor 12.18 4 Gen 2.7 5 Gen 2.21-22 6 Gen 3.20 7 Ac 17.26 8 Ac 17.25 9 Ac 17.28 10 Job 12.10 11 Job 34.14-15 12 Ps 100.3 13 Ps 95.6

 

Godly Speech

Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone. 1 Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. 2 So encourage each other and build each other up. 3

Don’t grumble about each other.  4 Don’t speak evil against each other. 5 Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will grant you his blessing. For the Scriptures say, “If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies.” 6 Tell the truth to each other, 7 we will speak the truth in love.  8

 You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. 9 But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behaviour, slander, and dirty language. 10 Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God. 11

Let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name. 12

 

1 Col 4.6 2 Eph 4.29 3.1Th 5.11 4 Jam 5.9 5 Jam 4.11 6 1Pet 3.9-10 7 Zec 8.16 8 Eph 4.15 9 Jam 1.19 10 Col 3.8 11 Eph 5.4 12 Heb 13.15 

Justice

Justice, and only justice, you shall pursue, so that you may live and occupy the land that the LORD your God is giving you. 1 For the LORD loves justice. 2

You shall not render an unjust judgment; you shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great. 3 You must not accept bribes, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and subverts the cause of those who are in the right. 4

You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour. 5 Keep far from a false charge, and do not kill the innocent and those in the right. 6 When human rights are perverted in the presence of the Most High, when one’s case is subverted – does the LORD not see it? 7

These are the things that you shall do: Speak the truth to one another, render in your gates judgments that are true and make for peace. 8 Judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy. 9 Seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow. 10

Keep the way of the LORD by doing righteousness and justice. 11 Let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like a n ever-flowing stream. 12

 

 

1 Deut 16.20 2 Ps 37.28 3 Lev 19.15 4 Deut 16.19 5 Ex 20.16 6 Ex 23.7 7 Lam 3.35-36 8 Zech 8.16 9 Prov 31.9 10 Isa 1.17 11 Gen 18.19 12 Am 5.24

Hate Evil

To fear the LORD is to hate evil;

I hate pride and arrogance,

evil behaviour and perverse speech. 1

I will conduct the affairs of my house with a blameless heart.

I hate what faithless people do; I will have no part in it. The perverse of heart shall be far from me; I will have nothing to do with what is evil. 2

“Who of us can dwell with the consuming fire? Who of us can dwell with everlasting burning?”

Those who walk righteously, who reject gain from extortion and keep their hands from accepting bribes, who stop their ears against plots of murder and shut their eyes against contemplating evil. 3 I will not look with approval on anything that is vile. 4 When what is vile is honoured by the human race. 5

Woe to those who call evil good

and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. 6 What people value highly is detestable in God’s sight. 7

Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 8 Let those who love the LORD hate evil. 9

 

1 Prov  8.13 2 Ps 101.2-4 3 Isa 33.14-15 4 Ps 101.3 5 Ps 12.8 6 Isa 5.20 7 Lk 16.15 8 Rom 12.9 9 Ps 97.10

Spiritual Gifts

Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.

In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. 1 Yet each person has a special gift from God, of one kind or another. 2

There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. 3 It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have. 4

Do not neglect the spiritual gift you received. 5 If God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly. 6

Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. 7

 

1 Rom 12.4-6 2 1 Cor 7.7 3 1 Cor 12.4-5 4 1 Cor 12.11 5 1 Tim 4.14 6 Rom 12.6-8 7 1 Pet 4.10-11 

You are my King

I lift my eyes to you,O God, enthroned in heaven. 1 You are my King. 2

I will meditate on your majestic, glorious splendour. 3 You are robed with honour and majesty. 4 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne. Unfailing love and truth walk before you as attendants. 5 

You alone are the Most High, supreme over all the earth. 6 Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty. Everything in the heavens and on earth is yours, O Lord, and this is your kingdom. 7

Your throne, O Lord, has stood from time immemorial. You yourself are from the everlasting past. 8 You, O LORD, will sit on your throne forever. Your fame will endure to every generation.9 For your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. 10

I will exalt you, my God and King, and praise your name forever and ever. 11

 

1 Ps 123.1 2 Ps 44.4 3 Ps 145.5 4 Ps 104.1 5 Ps 89.14 6 Ps 83.18 7 1Chr 29.11 8 Ps 93.2 9 Ps 102.12 10 Ps 145.13 11 Ps 145.1 

Time and eternal

The world in its current form is passing away. 1 For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2

The Day of the Lord will come like a thief, on that day the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, the elements will burn and be dissolved, and the earth and the works on it will be disclosed. 3 But based on His promise, we wait for the new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness will dwell. 4

For the Earth will be filled

with the knowledge of the LORD’s glory,

as the waters cover the sea. 5

The past events will not be remembered or come to mind. 6 Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, it is clear what sort of people you should be in holy conduct and godliness as you wait for and earnestly desire the coming of the day of God. The heavens will be on fire and be dissolved because of it, and the elements will melt with the heat. 7

The world with its lusts is passing away, but the one who does God’s will remains forever. 8 God has given us very great and precious promises, so that through then you may share in the divine nature, escaping the corruption that is in the world because of evil desires. 9

Entry into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ will be richly supplied to you. 10 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us hold on to grace. By it, we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire. 11

 

1 1Cor 7.31 2 2Cor 4.18 3 2Pet 3.10 4 2Pet 3.13 5 Hab 2.14 6 Isa 65.17 7 2Pet  3.11-12 8 1Jn 2.17 9 2Pet 1.4 10 2Pet 1.11 11 Heb 12.28-29 

God works in us

It is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. 1 For we are God’s  handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. 2

There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. 3 He lives in us. 4 Our competence comes from God, 5 who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us. 6

We have this treasure in jars of clay to show that’s this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 7 Thanks be to God, who uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. 8

Now may the God of peace, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him. 9

Great are the works of the LORD. 10 It will now be said of Jacob and of Israel, ‘See what God has done!’ 11 For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be there just glory forever! Amen. 12

 

1 Phil 2.13 2 Eph 2.10 3 1Cor 12.6 4 1Jn 3.24 5 2Cor 3.5 6 Eph 3.20 7 2Cor 4.7 8 2Cor 2.14 9 Heb 13.20-21 10 Ps 111.2 11 Num 23.23 12 Rom 11.35-36 

Conduct towards outsiders

Beloved, I urge you as aliens and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honourable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of judgment. 1

You are the salt of the earth. 2 Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person. 3 Always being prepared to make a defence to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behaviour in Christ may be put to shame. 4

Aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one. 5

Speak evil of no one, avoid quarrelling, be gentle, show perfect courtesy toward all people. For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Saviour appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy. 6

You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. 7

 

1 1 Pet 2.11-12 2 Mt 5.13 3 Col 4.5-6 4 1 Pet 3.15-16 5 1 Th 4.11-12 6 Titus 3.2-5 7 Mt 5.14-16

Generosity

 Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will repay him for his deed. 1 

You shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother, but you shall open your hand to him and lend him sufficient for his need, whatever it may be. 

You shall give to him freely, and your heart shall not be grudging when you give to him, because for this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake. 2

Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. 3

Be rich in good works, be generous and ready to share, 4 Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 5

If you pour yourself out for the hungry

and satisfy the desire of the afflicted,

then shall your light rise in the darkness

and your gloom be as the noonday.

And the LORD will guide you continually

and satisfy your desire in scorched places

and make your bones strong;

and you shall be like a watered garden,

like a spring of water,

whose waters do not fail. 6

 

1 Prov 19.17 2 Deut 15.7-8,10 3 2Cor 9.7-8 4 1Tim 6.18 5 2Cor 9.6 6 Isa 58.10-11

Seek me and live

 God and Jesus says

 

The gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. 1 Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls. 2

Turn to me and be saved. 3 Cease to do evil, learn to do good. 4 

I, I am he, who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins. 5 Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. 6

Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. 7 Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known. 8 Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 9

I am the way, and the truth, and the life. 10

Seek me and live. 11

 

1 Matt 7.14 2 Jer 6.16 3 Isa 45.22 4 Isa 1.16-17 5 Isa 43.25 6 Isa 1.18 7 Jer 29.12-13 8 Jer 33.3 9 Matt 7.7-8 10 Jn 14.6 11 Am 5.4

 

My Purpose will Stand

 God says

 

I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’ 1

“‘Have you not heard that I determined it long ago? I planned from days of old what now I bring to pass. 2 Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them. 3 I am watching over my word to perform it. 4

For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. 5 

I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have purposed, and I will do it. 6 I work, and who can turn it back?” 7 As I have planned, so shall it be, and as I have purposed, so shall it stand, 8

 

1 Isa 46.9-10 2 Isa 37.26 3 Isa 42.9 4 Jer 1.12 5 Isa 55.10-11 6 Isa 46.11 7 Isa 43.13 8 Isa 14.24

A Collective Prayer

You, LORD, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter, we are all the work of your hand. 1 All that we have accomplished you have done for us. 2 Not to us, LORD, not to us but to your name be the glory. 3 We give you thanks, and praise your glorious name. 4

LORD, we have often rebelled; we have sinned against you. 5 We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy. 6

Help us, God our Saviour, for the glory of your name; deliver us and forgive our sins for your name’s sake. 7

LORD, be gracious to us; we long for you. Be our strength every morning, our salvation in time of distress. 8 Let the light of your face shine on us. 9 Establish the work of our hands for us. 10 May your unfailing love be with us, LORD, even as we put our hope in you. 11

Amen! 12

 

1 Isa 64.8 2 Isa 26.12 3 Ps 115.1 4 1Chr 29.13 5 Jer 14.7 6 Dan 9.18 7 Ps 79.9 8 Isa 33.2 9 Ps 4.6 10 Ps 90.17 11 Ps 33.22 12 Ps 106.48

Redeemed

You shall remember that you were a slave and the Lord your God redeemed you. 1 God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, 2 to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, 3 the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. 4

Do you not know that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price, 5 redeemed without money. 6 You were not  redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ. 7

You are a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. 8

Blessed is the Lord who has not left you without a redeemer. 9 Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His lovingkindness is everlasting. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom He has redeemed from the hand of the adversary 10

 

1 Deut 24.18 2 Gal 4.4-5 3 Titus 2.14 4 Ac 20.28 5 1Cor 6.19-20 6 Isa 52.3 7 1Pt 1.18-19 8 1Pt 2.9 9 Ruth 4.14 10 Ps 107.1-2

Prayer for healing

Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am languishing; heal me, O LORD, for my bones are troubled. My soul also is greatly troubled. 1 Days of affliction have taken hold of me. The night racks my bones, and the pain that gnaws me takes no rest. 2

For my days pass away like smoke, and my bones burn like a furnace. My heart is struck down like grass and has withered; I forgot to eat my bread, I lie awake; I am like a lonely sparrow on the housetop, my days are like an evening shadow; I wither away like grass. 3

O my God, take me not away in the midst of my days. 4 Oh restore me to health and make me live! 5

Deal bountifully with your servant, that I may live and keep your word, my soul clings to the dust; give me life! 6 Be gracious to me, O LORD, O you who lift me up from the gates of death, that I may recount all your praises. 7 Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved, for you are my praise. 8

 

1 Ps 6.2-3 2 Job 30.16-17 3 Ps 102.3-4,7,11 4 Ps 102.24 5 Is 38.16 6 Ps 119.17,25 7 Ps 9.13-14 8 Jer 17.14