Sometimes life is sweet; everything goes according to plan, life is good. However, we all know that that is not always the case. Sometimes life can just get too much, things don’t seem to work out and you just feel like giving up. If that’s you today I want to encourage you with a few scriptures.

“In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33; KJV). “But thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Cor 15:57).  “Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ” (2 Cor 2:14).

These last 2 verses tell us to be thankful; not for   the challenges you are facing but despite them. Everything may look very bleak in the natural but we can be thankful that we serve a mighty victorious God for whom nothing is impossible (Luke 1:37). From our verses above we see that with Christ Jesus we are victorious, triumphant over all the works of satan (Col 2:15). “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Phil 4:13).

If you are in the valley today, keep confessing these verses because they are the word and the word is the truth whether you feel victorious or not. Confessing the word will build up your faith (Rom 10:17). How long should you keep confessing them? Until you experience the victory.

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I encourage you to read from John’s gospel chapter 13 and verses 1-17 today. This is a wonderful passage where Jesus teaches us humility and servant hood. Jesus showed us his supreme confidence in his relationship with his Father in verse 3. This allowed him to humble himself and show his amzing love for his disciples in washing their feet.

God calls us to serve (Mark 9:35) and we can only humble ourselves and do that if we know who we are in Christ. We are his sons and daughters (2 Cor 6:18), joint heirs with Jesus (Rom 8:17) and seated in the heavenly places with him (Eph 2:6). Nothing can ever separate us from his love (Rom 8:35). In that confidence we can walk in humility and serve.

In our passage above from John’s Gospel, Peter protested that Jesus should not wash his feet (v 8); but notice Jesus’ response. He said that if he could not wash Peter’s feet, Peter would have no part with Jesus (v 8). We have no part with Jesus if we do not have a servant’s heart. Jesus established servant hood as a mark of the Christian for all time (v 12-15); he demonstrated it for us.

In the word we are told that if we humble ourselves God will exalt us (1 Peter 5:6). We are told that we are called to serve and that in serving we will find greatness (Mark 10: 43-45). Look for ways to serve people today; this pleases the heart of our heavenly father.

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"The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing” (Zeph 3:17; KJV). If we had any doubt of God's love for us this verse should dispel it. As we know it is by no means the only verse in the Bible that talks about this. In Psalm 18:19, king David wrote that God is pleased with us and delights in us, this is repeated in Isaiah. 62:4.

It seems quite amazing that the omnipotent God should take delight in us mere mortals but that is what it says so we must believe it. According to Isaiah 43:4 we are precious in God’s sight. And the prophet Malachi records that we are God's jewels (Mal 3:17).

You might ask well, did God have anything written like that in the New Testament? I am glad you asked that question! “For we are his workmanship” (Eph 2:10). The Greek word for workmanship can also be translated as his poem or work of art. God also loves us so much that he sent Jesus to die on a cross for our sins (John 3:16).

If you have low self-esteem or are feeling unloved meditate on these verses until you get a revelation of God's great love for you. You will then be confident enough to reach out to others with the love of God.

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In any conversation the word discipline doesn’t always receive the most enthusiastic reception, but how critical it is if we are to grow in our Christian walk. When we are born again as Christians it is our spirit that is made new not our bodies or souls (1 Thess 5:23; John 3:5-6). We have to renew our minds (Rom 12:2) and discipline our bodies (1 Cor 9:27) so that the life of God grows in us and flows from us.

In Hebrews we are it is written that if we cooperate with God, he will discipline us (Heb 12:5-11). This word discipline is often translated as chastening or instructing. God disciplines us or instructs us primarily with his word. God loves us so much as his sons and daughters that he disciplines us (Prov 3:11-12; Heb 12:8) so we can grow to experience all he has for us and to do his will. Love without discipline is not love (1 Cor 13:6). In fact, it says in Hebrews (12:8) that if we do not receive Godly chastening, we are illegitimate children.

As we grow as Christians our spirit, heart and conscience, become sensitive to God’s Spirit and will either chasten or approve us for our thoughts, words and actions (1 John 3:20-21). Praise God, he is always there to keep us on track if we let him. Search your heart today, do you allow God, his Spirit and his word, to correct and guide you? The results are amazing.

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Check out our web site ( www.onthewayinlove.com ) for information on our book: “On the Way: Basic Christian Training”, including how to purchase it and also to see more encouraging Bible based blogs. Please recommend our book to others.

2 Tim. 1:7 (KJV) "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear: but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." The word “fear” there means “timidity”; the kind of fear that we often experience when it comes to witnessing. However, according to this verse timidity does not come from God. Proverbs 28:1 says that the: “righteous are bold as a lion” If you are born again then you are righteous and therefore you are BOLD.

 Let’s see what God has given us instead of fear. 1. Power; the Greek word used here is dunamis; the power of God that is like dynamite. 2. Love; the Greek word used here is agape, the unconditional, selfless love. 3.A sound mind; the Greek word is sophronismus, which means a well-balanced or self-controlled mind. Next time you are feeling fearful confess this verse and focus on the 3 things God has given you, not what the devil is lying to you about.

There is a beautiful verse in the apostle Paul’s letter to the Romans: “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba Father” (Rom 8:15). Fear is not from our loving father. God’s perfect love drives out all fear from our lives (1 John 4:18) and that love has been poured into our lives by the Holy Spirit (Rom 5:5). Press into God, dwell on his love, cast your cares on him and refuse to receive the devil’s fear.

Please pass this on. All rights reserved.

Check out our web site ( www.onthewayinlove.com ) for information on our book: “On the Way: Basic Christian Training”, including how to purchase it and also to see more encouraging Bible based blogs. Please recommend our book to others.