At the end of Johns Gospel Jesus had told Peter what would happen to him (Peter) later in his life and in turn Peter asked Jesus what would happen to John. Jesus replied: “what is that to thee? follow thou me” (John 21:21-22; KJV).

Jesus basically said don’t worry about the lives of others; keep your focus on me. What good advice; how often we compare ourselves to others. Usually when we do that we compare our weaknesses to the strengths of others. This not how God sees us; we are his children (John 1:12-13), he loves us unconditionally (John 3:16). The word for love used in this verse is God’s unconditional love.

God is no respecter of person (Acts 10:34). This means he does not see one person as better or worse than another; he doesn’t have favorites. He has given us all unique giftings (1 Cor 12:28) but the same word and Holy Spirit to enable us all to be all he wants us to be.

We need to get into the word and let God show us what he has for us. The word says God’s gifts and callings are without repentance; in other words, they will never change (Rom 11:29). We are all valuable and important in his sight; we are his work of art (Eph 2:10). We should never, ever let anyone tell us any different; God does not make junk (Eph 2:10).

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Isaiah 43:2 tells us that when we pass through the waters God will be with us and when we walk through the fire we will not be burned. Psalm 23:4 assures us that when we go through the valley of the shadow of death, again, God will be with us. Everyone deals with challenging situations at one time or another, but it's how we deal with those challenges that is important. God is there to help us and 1 Cor.10:13 tells us that he won't allow us to be tried beyond what we can bear and he will always make a way out for us. James 1:3 tells us that that the trying of our faith leads to patience. The Greek word used for patience is hupomone, which is not just the ability to endure things but to overcome them. Verse 4 says that patience makes us perfect which in fact means mature. So, trials cause us to mature and grow spiritually. When we go through trials we need to rely heavily on God trusting that: "many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord delivereth him out of them all" (Ps 34:19; KJV).

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 “So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone. And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above: but there was no breath in them” (Ezek 37:7-8; KJV).

God took Ezekiel into a valley full of human bones and told him to prophesy restoration and breathe to them and they rose up a mighty living army.  Nothing is impossible for our mighty God (Luke 1:37). The God that created the earth (Gen1), raised Jesus from the dead (Ro 8:11), defeated armies (Ex 14) and parted rivers to create dry land (Ex14) lives in you, if you are a Christian.

The word says that if we believe, nothing will be impossible for us (Matt 17:20), we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us (Phil 4:13). In fact, Jesus said that we would do greater things than him. (John 14:12) We are victorious in Christ Jesus (1 Cor 15:57) and more than conquerors (Rom 8;37). Are you getting the picture?

Are you sick? Christ is your healer (1 Pe 2:24). Are you under financial pressure? God will meet all of your need according to his riches and glory in Christ Jesus (Phil 4:19). Are you in turmoil? God leaves his peace with you (John 14:27).

Cast your cares on him (1Pe 5:6-7), stand on his word (Eph 6:14), talk to him, bring your prayers and concerns before him and he will turn things around for you.

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"If God be for us, who can be against us?' (Rom 8:31; KJV), Well of course the answer is no one. We have proof from scripture too, Psalm 27:1 says: "The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?" Again, the answer is no one. It doesn't matter who is against us if God is for us.

1 John 4:4 tells us that the God who is inside of us is greater than anyone else, and that includes the devil. The devil is of course against us because we belong to God. We need to truly believe what that verse says - God is greater, because Jesus defeated satan at Calvary (Heb. 2:14).

In 2 Kings 6:16 we read about Elisha and his servant when they were fighting a large army of Syrians. Elisha told his servant not to fear because: "they that be with us are more than they that be with them". That lines up with what we are talking about today. God allowed the servant to actually see in the spiritual realm that this was true. We need to close our eyes and allow the Holy Spirit to paint a picture of God’s answer to our challenges in our minds; that will help develop our faith.

God is for you; we learn in Jer 29:11 that God has a good plan for our lives, it is a plan for peace that will bring us hope. We are always on God's mind (Ps 139:17) and God loves us with an everlasting love (Jer 31:3,4). Even if our day is not going the way we planned today, we must remember that God is for us and he works all things together for good for those that love him (Rom 8:28). Nothing can separate us from his love (Rom 8:35).

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When you ever get to feel down and discouraged remember some of the things God says to you and about you in his word.

As a Christian, if you have asked Christ in to your life as Lord and Savior, God says he has forgiven you (Col 1:14). He has given you a new spiritual heart in fellowship with him (John 3:3, 5-6; Ez 36:26). You are a new creation in Christ Jesus, a species of being that never existed before (2 Cor 5:17).

You are a child of God (John 1:12-13), seated in heavenly places with Christ (Eph 2:6); a joint heir with Jesus (Rom 8:17). This all means you are in Christ and all he is and has is yours, now and forever. Jesus dwells in you as the Holy Spirit (John 14:16-18) and God’s word says that no evil force in this world is greater than the Holy Spirit that dwells in you (1 John 4:4).

Jesus defeated satan and took all power and authority back from him (Col 2:15); you are victorious in Christ (1 Cor 15:57). God loves you with a never-failing love, no matter what you have done or who you are (Rom 8:38-39); he will never leave you or forsake you (Heb 13:5). God says you are his workmanship, his work of art (Eph 2:10), designed for good works that he has for you (Eph 2:10).

Wow, that should rev your motor.

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