Tag: faith

Where Do You Get True Wisdom? Ask God.

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How many times have you been criticized for not knowing something or stuck because you did not know what to do? It happens in life, as we cannot know all things. God is wise and promises to give us the wisdom we need. I find that very comforting and reassuring.

James 1:5 “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.”

The Bible tells us God is wise and has all widom. Job 12:13 “With God are wisdom and might;  he has counsel and understanding.” Daniel elaborates on this in Daniel 2:20-24 “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever,  to whom belong wisdom and might. 21 He changes times and seasons;   he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise  and knowledge to those who have understanding;22 he reveals deep and hidden things;  he knows what is in the darkness,  and the light dwells with him.” The picture of God’s wisdom given by Job and Daniel shows us that God’s wisdom extends to all things. He is omnipotent, all-knowing.

Knowing that God is the sources of all wisdom, leads us to the conclusion that if we desire wisdom on any given subject or matter, God is the one we should turn to. This promise in James encourages us to come to God and ask Him for wisdom. He promises to give us wisdom without judging us for not knowing. There is no condemnation from God because we do not know what is the wise course of action. He has compassion upon us and promises to guide and direct us in life. The only way to get the true wisdom we need is to ask God. The promise says that He will give it to us generously. That means He will provide wisdom liberally, openhandedly and in abundance! I am also encouraged by Ephesians 1:7-8 “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight.” Through our faith in Jesus, He will grace us with all wisdom and insight. Accessing God’s wisdom can be done in several ways. We can pray and ask God directly or we can search God’s Word for wisdom He has already given to us. Sometimes when I pray about a problem, He will direct me through the Holy Spirit to His Word to find the answer. Sometimes He will use a fellow brother or sister in Christ to give me a good idea to pray about for confirmation.

What we can know from this verse: God is wise, God gives wisdom, God does not judge us for not having wisdom, God knows I need wisdom to live for Him, to receive His wisdom I must ask.

Lenten Reflections: Where am I struggling to make a decision that needs God’s wisdom? Have I asked God or searched His Word? How can I used God’s wisdom wisely in my life?

God acknowledges that we do not have all the wisdom we need for living and He promises to provide it to us abundantly. He does that when we ask Him in prayer or search His Word. The Bible is God’s manual for living and has God’s wisdom inside. Because Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead, I can ask God for answers and He will give me the wisdom I need to make the right decisions. I can live confidently that God has all the answers.

Linda

Related verses: Job 9:4, Job 12:16, Psalm 104:24, Ephesians 3:10, Matthew 7:7, John 11:22.

When God says, “I Will”, He WILL!

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In some Bible passages the Lord spoke to His people and gave them multiple assurances. They were nuggets of gold that the people could cling to in their lives which enable them to live with confidence and assurance from God that He was there for them! Those passages do the same for us today. Psalm 91:14-15 is one such passage. Let the truths of God’s words sink into your soul.

The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me.
    I will protect those who trust in my name.
15 When they call on me, I will answer;
    I will be with them in trouble.
    I will rescue and honor them. 16 I will reward them with a long life
    and give them my salvation.”

Promises: God promises to: rescue, protect, answer, be with us in trouble, deliver, honor, favor with long life, and save those who love and acknowledge His name.

Any time God says “I will”, we can take that as a truth. God does not lie, Numbers 23:19 “God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through?” God is not like us and will not ever lie nor will He change His mind! God is immutable, unchanging. Hebrews 13:8 “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” So unlike us, God means “I will’ with certainty and will not change from it. We can totally count on those promised words.

What a wonderful long list of promises from God of how He intends to care for those who love and honor Him in faith. Which of these means the most to you right now? Do you need God to rescue you from a difficult situation? Pray. Do you need protection? Pray. Do you need answers? Pray. Do you need His presence with you right now? He is omnipresent- pray and ask for Him to comfort you and quiet your fears. Deliverance can be different from rescue. Do you need a new idea at work, something in working with your children, an extra job? Pray and be specific about what you need. Remember the promise in 1 Corinthians 10:13 “The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.” Ask God to show you your way of escape. It might be right through it though for only God knows what that escape looks like. How has God shown you favor? It may come as providential care, blessings in our lives or mercy. All of us our days are numbered and He determines the length of our life. He promises salvation for those who believe in Jesus. John 17:13 “And this is the way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth.”

What we can know from these verses: God desires for me to love Him, God in His sovereignty can rescue, protect, defend and deliver me from life’s situations, God is accessible and will answer when I call upon Him (pray), God number’s each person’s days, God offers salvation with eternal life, Faith in Jesus shows our love of God and acknowledgement of His name.

Lenten Reflections: How am I showing God that I love Him? Where do I need to call upon God to receive His promised help?

These verses require us to think about the many things we take for granted about God. If we love Him, He is integral in our lives and is our partner in living for Him. Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, I can call to God in faith with all the details of my life and He will be there for me. He is faithful and will not let me down.

Linda

Related verses: Numbers 23:19, 1 Corinthians 10:13, John 17:13, Galatians 1:3-5, Hebrews 4:16, Proverbs 3:1-3, John 3:16.

Need a Plan for Peace- Try Prayer

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I love the promise for today. It is so meaningful and uplifting to me and is filled with God’s assurance and love. Philippians 4:6-7

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Promise: God promises that prayer will relieve anxiety and bring His peace that guards both our hearts and our minds in Christ.

These verses lay out a plan for relief from the anxieties that plague our lives and gives us a plan of action. When I’m feeling worried or stressed, the best way to get my mind off of the problem is to be busy doing something. God knows this and gives us a plan for doing here which is to be praying with a thankful heart. We are to tell him about our problems and desires and leave these with Him. The result will be His peace and protection through the work of the Holy Spirit within our lives. Being thankful reminds us of who is in control and who is sovereign in all circumstances. Leaving our worries at Jesus’ feet reminds us of His great power and omniscience. We serve a sovereign Lord that cares for us and wants us to live a life free from anxiety and have a heart that is focused on Him. His peace both guards our hearts and our minds and frees us. The fears of worries are enslaving and He wants us free to serve Him. The resulting freedom = peace from God.

What we can know from these verses: God hears and answers our prayers, my heart attitude and mindset are important when talking with God, God desires peace for me, God’s peace is beyond imagining, a heavenly place of mind, God’s peace is internal and can happen even when life seems in turmoil.

Lenten reflections: Where am I needing God’s peace in my life? What worries or anxieties can I relinquish to God today in exchange for His peace?

Just reading these verses seems to calm my mind and heart when I’m in turmoil. Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, I can have peace of mind and heart through Jesus.

Linda

Related verses: Isaiah 26:3-4, Isaiah 48:17-18, John 14:26-27, Colossians 3:15-17, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, Hebrews 4:16, Hebrews 7:25.

Dead and Buried- That is where my sins are! Thank you Jesus!

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This is one of my favorite promises that brings me great comfort. Micah 7:18-19

Where is another God like you,
    who pardons the guilt of the remnant,
    overlooking the sins of his special people?
You will not stay angry with your people forever,
    because you delight in showing unfailing love.
19 Once again you will have compassion on us.
    You will trample our sins under your feet
    and throw them into the depths of the ocean!

Promise: God will pardon my sins and throw them into the deepest ocean.

Those who believe in Jesus are counted as God’s people. God has treated us with forgiveness, mercy, unending patience, and constant love. In His compassion He sent Jesus to atone for our sins so that through faith in Jesus we can be reconciled to Him and stand before Him forgiven. He has thrown my sins and yours into the depths of the sea out of sight and out of mind. Without God’s pardon, I would be sentenced to death for my sins. Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.” As I ponder this, I am reminded of Romans 5:8 “But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” John 3:16-17 “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.” God loved me while I was a sinner and in His great love He sent Jesus so we could be reconciled to Him. He graciously pardoned my sins, buried them in the depth of the sea and does not hold them against me. Amazing! He is indeed compassionate and merciful.

What we can know from these verses: God forgives completely, God pardons us from the death sentence that sin carries, God is merciful and compassionate, sin angers God.

Lenten reflections: What sins do I need to confess so that God can remove them from me? Have I considered His loving forgiveness and the difference it is making in my life? Am I thankful?

Perhaps you can see why I love this promise so much. God took me, who is a sinner, and has forgiven me and will not hold those sins against me. He is filled with grace and mercy towards me which I do not deserve. Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, I am forgiven and my sins are completely gone by God’s grace. I am pardoned completely.

Linda

Related verses: Colossians 1:13-14, Romans 5:8, Romans 3:23, Psalm 103:8, Proverbs 6:16-19.

God Preserves

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Today’s promise comes from Psalm 31:23-24. It holds both promises and a warning- a cautionary note from God.

Love the Lord, all you his saints!
    The Lord preserves the faithful
    but abundantly repays the one who acts in pride.
24 Be strong, and let your heart take courage,
    all you who wait for the Lord!

Promise: God promises to preserve those who faithfully follow Him and chastise those who act pridefully.

The world present us with constantly changing circumstances. The life of one who follows Jesus requires strength and courage; it is not for the fainthearted! God promises that He will be preserve us as we wait upon Him and strive to follow His ways. He promises to look out for those who belong to Him and even calls us saints! This does not mean we will not have challenges or heartbreaks, but that we will be preserved. The best verse I can think of for this is John 10:27-29 “ My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.” We are protected through our faith in Christ. No one, nothing, can take us away from God once we are His. Once committed to Jesus, we cannot lose our salvation as no one can snatch us out of the Father’s hand! He preserves us and our salvation is safe. Our eternal life is secure!! Another verse that helps us see this is Ephesians 1:13 “In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,” We are sealed though the power of the Holy Spirit.

God’s caution about being prideful is shown through multiple examples in the Bible. 2 Chronicles 26 tells us about King Uzziah who became prideful before God, 2 Chronicles 32 tells us about Hezekiah’s prideful actions that almost cut his life short until he repented. Daniel 4 tells of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon who admired all he had built  “Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?” 31 While the words were still in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, “O King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: The kingdom has departed from you,” He then lost his kingdom and spent 7 years roaming the woods like an animal until he repented. Only then was he restored to health and power. Proverbs 16:18 puts it this way, “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.’

What we can know from these verses: God is worthy of my love and praise, God is committed to preserving me for eternity, God hates pride/arrogance, God supports those who wait upon Him with courage and strength.

Lenten Reflection: Do I truly believe that you belong to Jesus? If in doubt, pray and ask God for assurance of His promise that you are sealed and preserved for all eternity. Do you suffer bouts of pride or arrogance? Be quick to repent and acknowledge God as your Father and provider.

Knowing the Lord loves you and has your back for all eternity is a great comfort in this hectic and often evil world. Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, I can live with assurance of God’s faithfulness and His safeguarding of my salvation.

Linda

Related Verses: Psalm 145:3, John 10:27-29, Ephesians 1:13, Proverbs 16:18, 1 John 2:16-17, Psalm 97:10, Romans 1:7.

First Sunday of Lent 2025, Salvation-Thank You Jesus!

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Lent is a time of self-reflection and prayer. Each Sunday during Lent, I will post a passage that will hopefully turn your hearts towards Him in thanks. Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, we can be eternally grateful and secure in our salvation.

Psalm 85: 7-9 Show us your unfailing love, O Lord,
    and grant us your salvation. I listen carefully to what God the Lord is saying,
    for he speaks peace to his faithful people.
    But let them not return to their foolish ways.
9 Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him,
    so our land will be filled with his glory.

 Acts 4:11-12 “For Jesus is the one referred to in the Scriptures, where it says, ‘The stone that you builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.’ 12 There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.”

Ephesians 2:7-9 7 So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus. 8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.

John 10:28 is a favorite verse of one of my Sisters in Christ as it assures us that we belong to Him and NO ONE can remove us from His care and love. “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me.”

Thank you Lord for sending Jesus so that we might be reconciled to you through our faith in Him. Thank you Lord for sending Jesus to redeem us eternally and make us his own. Jesus paid the price for my sins and I am eternally grateful. Amen.

Linda

Peace and Strength, Available from God

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What do you do when you are troubled? How do you find assurance and peace? In our chaotic world with wars, rumors of wars, famine, geopolitics and unsettling circumstances all around us, there seems to be no place with or for peace. David lived in such a time as he was pursued by his enemy King Saul for 10+ years. Saul was jealous of David and wanted him gone! David found peace in the assurances of the Lord and comfort from God’s faithful promise that he would be king. God held his future, and David leaned into and depended upon God.

Psalm 29:10-11 The Lord rules over the floodwaters.
    The Lord reigns as king forever.
11 The Lord gives his people strength.
    The Lord blesses them with peace.

Promise: God promises strength and peace to His people.

David knew that God was sovereign and in control of the world around him. He trusted him for his future and the circumstances of his life. He took God at his word that he would provide the strength David needed to face and oppose Saul, lead his people and fight the battles before him. What about your strength? Do you seem to run out of strength to face the hard things in your life? Paul reminds us in Philippians 4:19 “For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” Christ is the source of all strength and He will provide. In Isaiah 40:29 God assures us, “He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless.” God is the source of all strength and it is to be ours through Jesus who gives us the strength we need. We need to ask Him for His strength when we are feeling weak. He will provide what we need to meet the challenges we face.

David also took God at his word and relied upon Him for peace. Not peace from his enemies, but internal peace knowing that all was in God’s hands and under His control. Do you know that peace? It transcends our world and is from within. Jesus spoke of this peace in John 14:27 “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” Jesus knew we are prone to worry and would struggle with the circumstances of our lives. He did not want us to live in turmoil or to be afraid! Jesus wanted us to see his peace as a blessing to our lives. It is a blessing that provides hope and assurance and rest in Him.

What we can know from these verses: God our source of strength, God’s peace is a blessing to us when we receive it, God cares about me, God wants me to be secure and resting in His peace.

Lenten reflections: How am I doing at accepting and reflecting God’s peace in my life? Is He winning or am I succumbing to the pressures and worries of the world? Have I asked God to give me strength instead of trying to do all things on my own?

I pray that you will look to Jesus as the source of your strength and peace. He had promised to provide them both. Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, I can trust Him to provide peace and strength in my life as He has promised!

Related verses: Isaiah 40:29, Philippians 4:19, 2 Timothy 4:17, John 14:27, Jon 16:33, Romans 5:1, Psalm 102:27-28, Psalm 62:1-2.

Linda

Here is the entire Psalm 29. Honor the Lord, you heavenly beings;
    honor the Lord for his glory and strength.
2 Honor the Lord for the glory of his name.
    Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness.

3 The voice of the Lord echoes above the sea.
    The God of glory thunders.
    The Lord thunders over the mighty sea.
4 The voice of the Lord is powerful;
    the voice of the Lord is majestic.
5 The voice of the Lord splits the mighty cedars;
    the Lord shatters the cedars of Lebanon.
6 He makes Lebanon’s mountains skip like a calf;
    he makes Mount Hermon leap like a young wild ox.
7 The voice of the Lord strikes
    with bolts of lightning.
8 The voice of the Lord makes the barren wilderness quake;
    the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.
9 The voice of the Lord twists mighty oaks
    and strips the forests bare.
In his Temple everyone shouts, “Glory!”

10 The Lord rules over the floodwaters.
    The Lord reigns as king forever.
11 The Lord gives his people strength.
    The Lord blesses them with peace.

Feeling desperate? “Come to me,”-God

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Do you ever feel that nobody cares what is happening to you or will take time to listens to your emotional distress? Do you feel there is no one to help you in your time of need? All of us feel that way from time to time in varying degrees, but what do you do about it??? The Bible gives us hope as God promises to be that someone for each of us. David wrote in Psalm 34 about just those feelings and knew where to turn for help, comfort and understanding.

Psalm 34:17-18 When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears
    and delivers them out of all their troubles.
18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted
    and saves the crushed in spirit.

Promise: God promises to hear our cries for help, deliver us from troubles, comfort us when we are brokenhearted and revive us when our spirits are crushed.

I take great comfort in this promise as it is rooted in God’s love. His love can find us and bring restoration. God desires to help those who love Him and He is committed to us. He wants to deliver us, as many times we are caught in the consequences of our own sins. I have experienced God’s deliverance in these times by a lessening of the severity of the consequences. I recognized His hand in my life and the circumstances and thanked Him for His help. It did not take away the consequence, but showed me how much worse it could have been without His help. When I have needed comfort, I have been overwhelmed by the way God uses others to come alongside me and put an arm around me or provide me exactly what I need. We may think we are alone, but God uses others in our lives to do His work. I need to keep that in mind when I feel nudged to help a brother or sister, call or write a note. The Holy Spirit is within us and can minister to others through us. When my spirits have been crushed, God has lifted and pointed me in a new direction. It was not instantaneous but little by little He revived and renewed me. I claim His promise from Joel 2:25a “I will restore to you the years  that the swarming locust has eaten,” I have definitely felt His restorative powers in my life. It is not the same as it was before I was crushed but new and different- restored! Praise God! Experiencing God’s love in these tangible ways deepens and confirms our faith. I confirms how much He loves and cares for us.

What we can know from these verses: God is accessible- He hears and listens, God is merciful and tenderhearted, God cares about me and my troubles, God can and does uplift and restore.

Lenten Reflection: Where have I felt God’s comfort, help or restoration in my life that I need to thank Him for His expressions of love towards me? Who is God nudging me to minister to in His name?

Related verses: 1 John 5:14-15, Psalm 103:8, Nahum 1:7, Joel 2:25, Isaiah 40:30-31, Psalm 90:1-2.

May you take strength from this promise in Psalm knowing God truly cares for you and will uphold and restore you if you will turn to Him. The key here is we have to humble ourselves and turn to Him for help. Because Christ died on the cross and rose again, we can come to Him in confidence knowing He will be there for us!
Linda

Walking in Trust

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Today’s promise comes from my favorite chapter of Romans, Romans 8:28. This is a verse to be claimed at all times, especially when you don’t understand what is happening. It can give you courage and backbone that comes directly from God.

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

Promise: God promises He can and does use (work) all things for the good of the believer.

This is a much quoted verse that give comfort to believers. When we face difficult circumstances such as: major problems, dire consequences, financial reversals, the death of a loved one, natural disasters or tragedies, it is only human nature to question God and say, Why me? Why did this have to happen? Why did you allow it God? The believer in Jesus can cling to this verse knowing that God keeps His promises and will bring good out of the circumstances for us and for His kingdom. Many times the good is evident right away and sometimes it is a long time coming or not evident at all in our lifetime. As believers we have to cling to this verse and claim its truth! We know God’s intent is always for our good and His glory. We have to trust Him knowing He is sovereign and His will absolutely will come to pass in His way. We need to hold on and have faith in our Heavenly Father.

What we can know from this verse: no circumstance is beyond God’s control, His intentions are good towards me, God has a special purpose for me as a believer and God’s ways are not our human ways and we have to trust Him with the past, present and future.

Lenten reflections – Am I harboring anger towards God about a situation that I need to seek His forgiveness? What am I facing today that I need to trust Him, knowing He has my best interest at heart?

Related verses: 2 Chronicles 20:6, Psalm 34:8, Lamentations 3:25, Nahum 1:7, John 10:29, Acts 17:26, Ephesians 1:11-14, Philippians 2:12-13 and 2 Timothy 1:9-10.

I pray that this verse or one of these related verses will encourage your trust in God and that you may catch a glimpse of his plans for you. Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead, so that you can be assured of His love, care and plans for you and your future.

Linda

Lent 2025, Let the Promise Journey Begin

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Our world is filled with chaos and turmoil. Keeping our eyes on Jesus will give us wisdom and discernment for navigating the waters of life that seem to swirl constantly around us. Habakkuk 3:17-19 provides a window into the hope we have in God.

Even though the fig trees have no blossoms,
    and there are no grapes on the vines;
even though the olive crop fails,
    and the fields lie empty and barren;
even though the flocks die in the fields,
    and the cattle barns are empty, Does your world resemble this picture?
18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord!
    I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! Is your resolve set in the Lord?
19 The Sovereign Lord is my strength!
    He makes me as surefooted as a deer,
    able to tread upon the heights. Are you willing to trust in Him?

Promise: God promises He will be my strength and joy and enable me to endure life’s trials.

If you had a chance to profess your faith and trust in God, would your words be similar to the prophet Habakkuk’s? He had learned that God alone would be His joy and strength in hard times. He knew he could count upon God to be there and give him the surefootedness of a deer when things got hard or steep. This confession of faith came after struggling with God, questioning Him and seeking to understand his world, faith and God’s actions or inactions. Doesn’t that describe each one of us? We say, why God did you allow such and such to take place? Why is this happening to me? Our answer, like Habakkuk’s comes down to trust and faith in Almighty God. Isaiah 55:8 “for my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither ar e you ways my ways,” declares the LORD. Just like Habakkuk, we have to acknowledge and trust in the sovereignty of God and depend upon His strength. May your resolve be empowered today as you step out and trust God in every trial you are facing.

From this promise we see: trusting God brings joy, God is our Savior, God is Sovereign, and God provides what we need to be able to endure or rise above the trials of life.

Questions for myself in this Lenten time of reflection. How is my trust in God growing? What joy from God am I experiencing in the trials of life I am currently facing?

God’s Word is deep and provides many other places where we can find similar assurances to this promise in Habakkuk. We are ‘slow’ learners and God knows we need things repeated to have them stick to our character. Here are some verses with related truths: 1 Chronicles 29:12, Psalm 18:46, Isaiah 43:11, John 10:29, Romans 5:1-5 and James 1:2-4.

Let us journey together the next 6 weeks and emerge steeped in His promises!

Linda