Be not far from Me, for trouble is near.
How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? § Do not hide Your face from me; do not turn Your servant away in anger; You have been my help; do not leave me nor forsake me, O God of my salvation.
He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. § The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth. He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He also will hear their cry and save them.
I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. § Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. § Truly my soul silently waits for God; from Him comes my salvation … My soul, wait silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him.
Ps. 22:11; 13:1–2; 27:9; 91:15; 145:18–19;
John 14:18; Matt. 28:20; Ps. 46:1; 62:1, 5
Hallowed be Your name.
For you shall worship no other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God. § Who is like You, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like You, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders? § Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty.
Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness! § I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. Above it stood seraphim. And one cried to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!” … So I said: “Woe is me, for I am undone!” § I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You. Therefore I abhor myself.
The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. § That we may be partakers of His holiness. § Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus … let us draw near with a true heart.
Matt. 6:9; Ex. 34:14, 15:11; Rev. 4:8; 1 Chron. 16:29;
Isa. 6:1–3, 5; Job 42:5–6; 1 John 1:7; Heb. 12:10, 10:19, 22
They didn’t just persecute Jesus; they crucified Him! How is it that you and I think we will be treated any better?
You may be thinking this doesn’t happen today. Yet it has been estimated by the World Christian Encyclopedia that more than 45 million men and women were put to death for their faith in Jesus Christ during the twentieth century! In recent years the estimate has averaged between 160,000 and 171,000 per year. Imagine! That’s more than 10,000 Christians dying for their faith every month! More than 400 per day!
While you and I are getting up in the morning, trying to decide what to wear and what to eat and where we will spend our vacation, somewhere in the world someone is paying the ultimate price for his or her relationship with Jesus! And I ask myself, would I be willing to do the same?
The whole family in heaven and earth.
One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. § You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. § That in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him.
He is not ashamed to call them brethren. § Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother. § Go to My brethren and say to them, “I am ascending to My Father and your Father.”
I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held … Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed. § That they should not be made perfect apart from us.
Eph. 3:15; 4:6; Gal. 3:26; Eph. 1:10; Heb. 2:11;
Matt. 12:49–50; John 20:17; Rev. 6:9, 11; Heb. 11:40
In this manner . . . pray: Our Father in
heaven, hallowed be Your name.
Jesus … lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: “Father.” § My Father and your Father.
You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. § You did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.
Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son.
Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. § I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.
Matt. 6:9; John 17:1; 20:17; Gal. 3:26; Rom. 8:15–16;
Gal. 4:6–7; John 16:23–24; 2 Cor. 6:17–18
“I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred” (John 5:7, NIV). The man beside the pool of Bethesda was focused on what he lacked. He lacked a friend to help him. He lacked the strength to do it on his own. But while he was preoccupied with what he didn’t have, he totally missed what he did have-he had Jesus! Standing right there!
What’s your excuse for continuing to lie down on your responsibilities? What’s your excuse for remaining a spiritual child when you should be mature in your faith? What’s your excuse for sleeping when you should be kneeling in prayer? What’s your excuse?
Is it lack of faith? Lack of willpower? Lack of knowledge? Lack of discipline? Lack of energy? There is no excuse you or I can come up with that is valid because we have Jesus!
You are God, ready to pardon, gracious and merciful.
The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. The longsuffering of our Lord is salvation.
For this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life. § Whatever things were written before were writ- ten for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.
Do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? § Rend your heart, and not your garments; return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness; and He relents from doing harm.
Neh. 9:17; 2 Peter 3:9, 3:15; 1 Tim. 1:16; Rom. 15:4, 2:4; Joel 2:13
The words of the Lord are pure words.
Your word is very pure; therefore Your servant loves it. § The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. § Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar.
Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You … I will meditate on Your precepts, and contemplate Your ways. § Brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. § As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby.
We are not, as so many, peddling the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ. § Nor handling the word of God deceitfully.
Ps. 12:6; 119:140; 19:8; Prov. 30:5–6;
Ps. 119:11, 15; Phil. 4:8; 1 Peter 2:2; 2 Cor. 2:17; 4:2
