Let us lift our hearts and hands to God in heaven.
Who is like the Lord our God, who dwells on high, who humbles Himself to behold the things that are in the heavens and in the earth? § To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul. § I spread out my hands to You; my soul longs for You like a thirsty land … Do not hide Your face from me, lest I be like those who go down into the pit. Cause me to hear Your loving- kindness in the morning, for in You do I trust; cause me to know the way in which I should walk, for I lift up my soul to You.
Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise You. Thus I will bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name. § Rejoice the soul of Your servant, for to You, O Lord, I lift up my soul. For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You.
Whatever you ask in My name, that I will do.
Lam. 3:41; Ps. 113:5–6; 25:1; 143:6–8; 63:3–4; 86:4–5; John 14:13
Watchman, what of the night?
It is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.
Learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors … Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.
I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His word I do hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning—yes, more than those who watch for the morning.
He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.” Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Watch … for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.
Isa. 21:11; Rom. 13:11–12; Matt. 24:32–33, 35;
Ps. 130:5–6; Rev. 22:20; Matt. 25:13
The same Spirit that hovered over the surface of the deep in the second verse of the Bible is the same Spirit that fully indwelt Jesus Christ. (John 3:34) In John 14 Jesus speaks of Him as the Spirit of truth, (John 14:17) because He always works through the truth, which is incarnate in Christ and written in the Scriptures. (2 Pet. 1:21) He is also referred to as the Counselor because He gives wisdom, direction for living, and understanding of the truth. (John 14:16) And He is called the Holy Spirit because He is totally separate from sin. (John 14:26)
This wonderful Spirit of God is available to live within you when you repent of your sin and, by faith, invite Jesus Christ to come into your life as your Lord and Savior. (John 14:17) In fact, without the “seal” of His Presence in your life, you have no eternal credibility with the Father. (Eph. 1:13) But with the “seal” of His Presence you have the guarantee of a heavenly home and all the blessings of God.
As the body is one and has many members . . . so also is Christ.
He is the head of the body, the church. § Head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. § We are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones.
A body You have prepared for Me. § Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them.
They were Yours, You gave them to Me. § He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world. § Whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son.
Grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies … causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
1 Cor. 12:12; Col. 1:18; Eph. 1:22–23; 5:30; Heb. 10:5;
Ps. 139:16; John 17:6; Eph. 1:4; Rom. 8:29; Eph. 4:15–16
The fountain of living waters.
How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings. They are abundantly satisfied with the fullness of Your house, and You give them drink from the river of Your pleasures. For with You is the fountain of life.
Thus says the Lord God: “Behold, My servants shall eat, but you shall be hungry; behold, My servants shall drink, but you shall be thirsty.” § Whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” § This He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive.
Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters. § The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.
Jer. 2:13; Ps. 36:7–9; Isa. 65:13; John 4:14; 7:39; Isa. 55:1; Rev. 22:17
Who do you know who says we can each have our own religion as long as we’re sincere? Does that person put a guilt trip on you for what he or she describes as a dogmatic, narrow-minded, intolerant, and exclusive faith? But the Gospel wasn’t our idea, was it? Jesus Himself declared, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6, NIV). We must come to God through Him or we don’t come at all. The Bible says emphatically that “salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” Just the name Jesus.
And Who is Jesus? He is God Himself made visible to all. Praise God! You and I are not condemned to live in the darkness because He has turned on the Light! Praise God for just giving us Jesus!
Sit still, my daughter.
Take heed, and be quiet; do not fear or be fainthearted. § Be still, and know that I am God. § Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God? § The loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be brought low; the Lord alone will be exalted in that day.
Mary … sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. § Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her. § In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and confidence shall be your strength. § Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still.
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. He will not be afraid of evil tidings; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord. His heart is established.
Whoever believes will not act hastily.
Ruth 3:18; Isa. 7:4; Ps. 46:10; John 11:40; Isa. 2:17;
Luke 10:39; 10:42; Isa. 30:15; Ps. 4:4; 37:7; 112:7–8; Isa. 28:16
What I am doing you do not understand now,
but you will know after this.
You shall remember that the Lord your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not.
“When I passed by you again and looked upon you, indeed your time was the time of love. Yes, I swore an oath to you and entered into a covenant with you, and you became Mine,” says the Lord God. § Whom the Lord loves He chastens.
Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. § 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.
John 13:7; Deut. 8:2; Ezek. 16:8; Heb. 12:6;
1 Peter 4:12–13; 2 Cor. 4:17–18
