KEYS TO THE BLESSINGS

Our heavenly Father has truly blessed us.

But these blessing are not automatic. The key to walking in the fullness of these blessing is obedience. We can see this all through the Scriptures, especially Deuteronomy 28:1. All of the blessing listed there are connected to obeying the Lord.

The most important commandment that we need to walk in is love. If we are not walking in love, we will not experience these blessings. Why? According to Galatians 5:5 faith works through love. If you are not walking in love, and I am talking about God’s love, your faith won’t work. And if your faith is not working, then you cannot receive from God because everything we receive from Him is by faith.

Are you tithing? This is a commandment of the Lord. (Malachi 3:10-11)

What has the Lord told you to do? Are you being obedient to specific things that He has instructed you to do or not to do?

I have learned that thanking Him for His many blessings is a way to walk in them. Do you have an attitude of gratitude?

Are you resting in Him, trusting Him to work in your life and bring the many blessings He has for you?

Another thing that we need to keep in mind is that we are blessed to be a blessing to others. That is the whole purpose of our being blessed, not to hoard the blessings, but to release them into the lives of others.

I was listening to one of my regular programs on the Trinity Broadcasting Network one Sunday evening and he said something that caught my attention.

Deuteronomy 8:18 says that the Lord gives us the power to make wealth that He may confirm His covenant with us. What he said was that the money we are blessed with is for an assignment in the Kingdom.

Do you remember the story in Exodus where the Egyptians gave the Israelites all their possessions and valuables. Do you know why God gave them this favor with the Egyptians. The answer is that later on they gave it back to the Lord so the Lord could build His tabernacle. This was also the wages for 400 years of slavery with interest. If you will go back in Exodus and read about this, you will also find that everyone gave willingly and it got to point to where Moses had to tell them to stop giving. Imagine that, how many pastors have a congregation that give so much that they have to tell their people to stop giving.

I pray that you have been blessed with this series of teachings on Count Your Blessings.

You are blessed to be a blessing to others.

You have been blessed with something that is to be a blessing to the Body of Christ.

As you use your blessings, and stay in obedience, your blessings will be multiplied back to you so you can be a greater blessing.

COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS 5

SALVATION

Psalm 27:1
The Lord is my light and my salvation;
Whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the defense of my life;
Whom shall I dread?

Psalm 55:16
As for me, I shall call upon God,
And the Lord will save me.

John 6:54
"He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.

Romans 1:16
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

Romans 5:7-8
For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. [8] But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Colossians 1:14
In whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

SECURITY

Psalm 26:1
Vindicate me, O Lord, for I have walked in my integrity;
And I have trusted in the Lord without wavering.

Psalm 57:3
He will send from heaven and save me;
He reproaches him who tramples upon me.
God will send forth His lovingkindness and His truth.

Psalm 62:2
He only is my rock and my salvation,
My stronghold; I shall not be greatly shaken.

Psalm 62:7-8
On God my salvation and my glory rest;
The rock of my strength, my refuge is in God.
Trust in Him at all times, O people;
Pour out your heart before Him;
God is a refuge for us.

Psalm 105:14-15
He permitted no man to oppress them,
And He reproved kings for their sakes:
"Do not touch My anointed ones,
And do My prophets no harm."

Jeremiah 17:8
"For he will be like a tree planted by the water,
That extends its roots by a stream
And will not fear when the heat comes;
But its leaves will be green,
And it will not be anxious in a year of drought
Nor cease to yield fruit.

Matthew 7:25
"And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and burst against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded upon the rock.

STRENGTH

Joshua 23:9
"For the Lord has driven out great and strong nations from before you; and as for you, no man has stood before you to this day.

1 Chronicles 16:27
Splendor and majesty are before Him,
Strength and joy are in His place.

Psalm 18:2
The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,
My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge;
My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

Psalm 18:29
For by Thee I can run upon a troop;
And by my God I can leap over a wall.

Psalm 18:32
The God who girds me with strength,
And makes my way blameless?

Psalm 125:1
Those who trust in the Lord
Are as Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever.

Isaiah 40:29
He gives strength to the weary,
And to him who lacks might He increases power.

SUCCESS

Joshua 1:8
"This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.

Isaiah 58:11
"And the Lord will continually guide you,
And satisfy your desire in scorched places,
And give strength to your bones;
And you will be like a watered garden,
And like a spring of water whose waters do not fail.

Philippians 4:19
And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.


TRUTH

Mark 4:22
"For nothing is hidden, except to be revealed; nor has anything been secret, but that it should come to light.

John 8:32
And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

John 14:6
Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me.

John 17:19
"And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth.

2 John 1:2
For the sake of the truth which abides in us and will be with us forever:


UNDERSTANDING

1 Kings 3:12

Behold, I have done according to your words. Behold, I have given you a wise and discerning heart, so that there has been no one like you before you, nor shall one like you arise after you.

Psalm 111:10
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
A good understanding have all those who do His commandments;
His praise endures forever.

Psalm 119:130
The unfolding of Thy words gives light;
It gives understanding to the simple.

Proverbs 2:11
Discretion will guard you,
Understanding will watch over you,

Luke 24:45
Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures,

Ephesians 1:18
I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,

2 Timothy 2:7
Consider what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.


VICTORY

Psalm 60:12
Through God we shall do valiantly,
And it is He who will tread down our adversaries.

Psalm 108:13
Through God we shall do valiantly;
And it is He who will tread down our adversaries.

Ephesians 6:13-17
Therefore, take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. [14] Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, [15] and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; [16] in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming missiles of the evil one. [17] And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

1 John 5:4
For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world-- our faith.

WISDOM

1 Kings 4:29
Now God gave Solomon wisdom and very great discernment and breadth of mind, like the sand that is on the seashore.

Proverbs 2:6-7
For the Lord gives wisdom;
From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.
He stores up sound wisdom for the upright;
He is a shield to those who walk in integrity,

Luke 21:15
For I will give you utterance and wisdom which none of your opponents will be able to resist or refute.

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

WORD OF GOD

Psalm 19:7-8
The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul;
The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.
The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.

Psalm 107:20
He sent His word and healed them,
And delivered them from their destructions.

Psalm 119:1-2
How blessed are those whose way is blameless,
Who walk in the law of the Lord.
How blessed are those who observe His testimonies,
Who seek Him with all their heart.

Psalm 119:9
How can a young man keep his way pure?
By keeping it according to Thy word.

Psalm 119:45
And I will walk at liberty,
For I seek Thy precepts.

Psalm 119:50
This is my comfort in my affliction,
That Thy word has revived me.

Isaiah 55:11
So shall My word be which goes forth from My mouth;
It shall not return to Me empty,
Without accomplishing what I desire,
And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.

Jeremiah 15:16
Thy words were found and I ate them,
And Thy words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart;
For I have been called by Thy name,
O Lord God of hosts.

WORK

Deuteronomy 15:10
"You shall generously give to him, and your heart shall not be grieved when you give to him, because for this thing the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in all your undertakings.

Deuteronomy 28:2
"And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you will obey the Lord your God.

Deuteronomy 28:12
"The Lord will open for you His good storehouse, the heavens, to give rain to your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hand; and you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow.

Psalm 1:3
And he will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water,
Which yields its fruit in its season,
And its leaf does not wither;
And in whatever he does, he prospers.

Ecclesiastes 3:13
Moreover, that every man who eats and drinks sees good in all his labor-- it is the gift of God.

COUNT YOUR BLESSING 4

MIRACLES

Exodus 14:27-30

So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to its normal state at daybreak, while the Egyptians were fleeing right into it; then the Lord overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea. [28] And the waters returned and covered the chariots and the horsemen, even Pharaoh's entire army that had gone into the sea after them; not even one of them remained. [29] But the sons of Israel walked on dry land through the midst of the sea, and the waters were like a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. [30] Thus the Lord saved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore.

Psalm 105:39-40

He spread a cloud for a covering,
And fire to illumine by night.
They asked, and He brought quail,
And satisfied them with the bread of heaven.

Matthew 19:26

And looking upon them Jesus said to them, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."


MINISTRY

Isaiah 61:1

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
Because the Lord has anointed me
To bring good news to the afflicted;
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to captives,
And freedom to prisoners;

John 15:16

"You did not choose Me, but I chose you, and appointed you, that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask of the Father in My name, He may give to you.

Romans 10:15

And how shall they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who BRING GLAD TIDINGS OF GOOD THINGS!"

1 Peter 2:9

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a HOLY NATION, a people for God's own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;


PEACE

Leviticus 26:6

'I shall also grant peace in the land, so that you may lie down with no one making you tremble. I shall also eliminate harmful beasts from the land, and no sword will pass through your land.

Psalm 29:11

The Lord will give strength to His people;
The Lord will bless His people with peace.

Psalm 72:7

In his days may the righteous flourish,
And abundance of peace till the moon is no more.

Isaiah 26:3

"The steadfast of mind Thou wilt keep in perfect peace,
Because he trusts in Thee.

Isaiah 54:13

"And all your sons will be taught of the Lord;
And the well-being of your sons will be great.

Deuteronomy 4:37
"Because He loved your fathers, therefore He chose their descendants after them. And He personally brought you from Egypt by His great power,

Philippians 4:7

And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

2 Thessalonians 3:16

Now may the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every circumstance. The Lord be with you all!


POWER

Exodus 9:16

"But, indeed, for this cause I have allowed you to remain, in order to show you My power, and in order to proclaim My name through all the earth.

Deuteronomy 4:37

"Because He loved your fathers, therefore He chose their descendants after them. And He personally brought you from Egypt by His great power,

Deuteronomy 11:25

"There shall no man be able to stand before you; the Lord your God shall lay the dread of you and the fear of you on all the land on which you set foot, as He has spoken to you.

Psalm 44:5

Through Thee we will push back our adversaries;
Through Thy name we will trample down those who rise up against us.

Psalm 44:7

But Thou hast saved us from our adversaries,
And Thou hast put to shame those who hate us.

Isaiah 59:19

So they will fear the name of the Lord from the west
And His glory from the rising of the sun,
For He will come like a rushing stream,
Which the wind of the Lord drives.

Matthew 10:1

And having summoned His twelve disciples, He gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every kind of disease and every kind of sickness.

Matthew 10:8

"Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons; freely you received, freely give.

John 14:12

"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go to the Father.

Acts 1:8

But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth."


PROMOTION

Deuteronomy 1:10

'The Lord your God has multiplied you, and behold, you are this day as the stars of heaven for multitude.

Deuteronomy 28:13

"And the Lord shall make you the head and not the tail, and you only shall be above, and you shall not be underneath, if you will listen to the commandments of the Lord your God, which I charge you today, to observe them carefully,

1 Samuel 2:8

"He raises the poor from the dust,
He lifts the needy from the ash heap
To make them sit with nobles,
And inherit a seat of honor;
For the pillars of the earth are the Lord's,
And He set the world on them.

Psalm 71:21

Mayest Thou increase my greatness,
And turn to comfort me.

Matthew 5:5

"Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.

Matthew 23:12

"And whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.

Ephesians 2:6

And raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus,

James 4:10

Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.

1 Peter 5:6

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time,


PROSPERITY

Genesis 13:14-15

And the Lord said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, "Now lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward; [15] for all the land which you see, I will give it to you and to your descendants forever.

Leviticus 20:24

'Hence I have said to you, "You are to possess their land, and I Myself will give it to you to possess it, a land flowing with milk and honey." I am the Lord your God, who has separated you from the peoples.

Leviticus 26:9
'So I will turn toward you and make you fruitful and multiply you, and I will confirm My covenant with you.

2 Chronicles 26:5

And he continued to seek God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding through the vision of God; and as long as he sought the Lord, God prospered him.

Psalm 35:27

Let them shout for joy and rejoice, who favor my vindication;
And let them say continually, "The Lord be magnified,
Who delights in the prosperity of His servant."

3 John 1:2

Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers.


PROTECTION

Genesis 15:1

After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying,
"Do not fear, Abram,
I am a shield to you;
Your reward shall be very great."

Deuteronomy 1:30

'The Lord your God who goes before you will Himself fight on your behalf, just as He did for you in Egypt before your eyes,

2 Chronicles 20:15

And he said, "Listen, all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: thus says the Lord to you, 'Do not fear or be dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours but God's.

Psalm 27:5

For in the day of trouble He will conceal me in His tabernacle;
In the secret place of His tent He will hide me;
He will lift me up on a rock.

Psalm 91:2-7

I will say to the Lord, "My refuge and my fortress,
My God, in whom I trust!"
For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper,
And from the deadly pestilence.
He will cover you with His pinions,
And under His wings you may seek refuge;
His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark.
You will not be afraid of the terror by night,
Or of the arrow that flies by day;
Of the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
Or of the destruction that lays waste at noon.
A thousand may fall at your side,
And ten thousand at your right hand;
But it shall not approach you.

Isaiah 43:2

"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
And through the rivers, they will not overflow you.
When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched,
Nor will the flame burn you.

Nahum 1:7

The Lord is good,
A stronghold in the day of trouble,
And He knows those who take refuge in Him.

Luke 12:7

"Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear; you are of more value than many sparrows.


PROVISION

Deuteronomy 8:7-9

"For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, flowing forth in valleys and hills; [8] a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive oil and honey; [9] a land where you shall eat food without scarcity, in which you shall not lack anything; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills you can dig copper.

Deuteronomy 28:3-5

"Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the country. [4] "Blessed shall be the offspring of your body and the produce of your ground and the offspring of your beasts, the increase of your herd and the young of your flock. [5] "Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl.

1 Kings 17:14

"For thus says the Lord God of Israel, 'The bowl of flour shall not be exhausted, nor shall the jar of oil be empty, until the day that the Lord sends rain on the face of the earth.' "

Psalm 37:3

Trust in the Lord, and do good;
Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.

Psalm 37:25

I have been young, and now I am old;
Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken,
Or his descendants begging bread.

Psalm 68:19

Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burden,
The God who is our salvation.

Psalm 145:15-16

The eyes of all look to Thee,
And Thou dost give them their food in due time.
Thou dost open Thy hand,
And dost satisfy the desire of every living thing.


REST

Psalm 4:8

In peace I will both lie down and sleep,
For Thou alone, O Lord, dost make me to dwell in safety.

Psalm 23:2

He makes me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside quiet waters.

Proverbs 1:33

"But he who listens to me shall live securely,
And shall be at ease from the dread of evil."

Proverbs 3:24

When you lie down, you will not be afraid;
When you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.

Isaiah 14:3

And it will be in the day when the Lord gives you rest from your pain and turmoil and harsh service in which you have been enslaved,

Jeremiah 30:10

'And fear not, O Jacob My servant,' declares the Lord, 'And do not be dismayed, O Israel;
For behold, I will save you from afar,
And your offspring from the land of their captivity.
And Jacob shall return, and shall be quiet and at ease,
And no one shall make him afraid.

Matthew 11:28-29

"Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. [29] "Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls.


RESTORATION

Leviticus 26:13

'I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt so that you should not be their slaves, and I broke the bars of your yoke and made you walk erect.

Job 42:10

And the Lord restored the fortunes of Job when he prayed for his friends, and the Lord increased all that Job had twofold.

Psalm 20:8

They have bowed down and fallen;
But we have risen and stood upright.

Psalm 23:3

He restores my soul;
He guides me in the paths of righteousness
For His name's sake.

Psalm 40:2-3

He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay;
And He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm.
And He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God;
Many will see and fear,
And will trust in the Lord.

Psalm 103:5

Who satisfies your years with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle.


Psalm 138:3

On the day I called Thou didst answer me;
Thou didst make me bold with strength in my soul.

Psalm 138:7

Though I walk in the midst of trouble, Thou wilt revive me;
Thou wilt stretch forth Thy hand against the wrath of my enemies,
And Thy right hand will save me.

2 Corinthians 5:17

Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.


RESURRECTION

Isaiah 25:8
He will swallow up death for all time,
And the Lord God will wipe tears away from all faces,
And He will remove the reproach of His people from all the earth;
For the Lord has spoken.

John 5:21

"For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom He wishes.

John 11:25-26

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me shall live even if he dies, [26] and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?"

Romans 6:5

For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection,

Romans 8:11

But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who indwells you.


RICHES

Romans 8:11

But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who indwells you.

1 Chronicles 29:12

"Both riches and honor come from Thee, and Thou dost rule over all, and in Thy hand is power and might; and it lies in Thy hand to make great, and to strengthen everyone.

Proverbs 8:18-19

"Riches and honor are with me,
Enduring wealth and righteousness.
"My fruit is better than gold, even pure gold,
And my yield than choicest silver.

Proverbs 22:4

The reward of humility and the fear of the Lord
Are riches, honor and life.

Ecclesiastes 5:19

Furthermore, as for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, He has also empowered him to eat from them and to receive his reward and rejoice in his labor; this is the gift of God.

Isaiah 45:3

"And I will give you the treasures of darkness,
And hidden wealth of secret places,
In order that you may know that it is I,
The Lord, the God of Israel, who calls you by your name.

2 Cor. 8:9

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.

COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS PART 3

HEAVEN

Daniel 12:3

"And those who have insight will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.

Mark 14:25

"Truly I say to you, I shall never again drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God."

John 14:2

"In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.

1 Corinthians 2:9

But just as it is written,

"Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard,
And which have not entered the heart of man,
All that God has prepared for those who love Him."

1 Corinthians 13:12

For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I shall know fully just as I also have been fully known.

Revelation 21:3-4

And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He shall dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be among them, [4] and He shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there shall no longer be any death; there shall no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away."


HOLY SPIRIT

Luke 11:13
"If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?"

John 7:38
"He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, 'From his innermost being shall flow rivers of living water.' "

John 14:26

"But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.

John 16:13

"But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.

1 Corinthians 2:10-11

For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. [11] For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man, which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God.


HOPE

Psalm 71:5

For Thou art my hope;
O Lord God, Thou art my confidence from my youth.

Romans 5:4-5

And perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; [5] and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Romans 8:24

For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one also hope for what he sees?

Romans 15:13

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Hebrews 6:19

This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil,


INSPIRATION

Hebrews 6:19

This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil,

Proverbs 20:27

The spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord,
Searching all the innermost parts of his being.

Luke 12:12

For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say."

Philippians 4:8

Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things.


INTERCESSION

Isaiah 53:12

Therefore, I will allot Him a portion with the great,
And He will divide the booty with the strong;
Because He poured out Himself to death,
And was numbered with the transgressors;
Yet He Himself bore the sin of many,
And interceded for the transgressors.

John 17:15

"I do not ask Thee to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one.

Romans 8:27

And He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

James 5:16

Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.


JOY

Nehemiah 8:10

Then he said to them, "Go, eat of the fat, drink of the sweet, and send portions to him who has nothing prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength."

Psalm 3:3

But Thou, O Lord, art a shield about me,
My glory, and the One who lifts my head.

Psalm 16:11

Thou wilt make known to me the path of life;
In Thy presence is fulness of joy;
In Thy right hand there are pleasures forever.

Psalm 30:5

For His anger is but for a moment,
His favor is for a lifetime;
Weeping may last for the night,
But a shout of joy comes in the morning.

Psalm 118:24

This is the day which the Lord has made;
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Psalm 126:5-6

Those who sow in tears shall reap with joyful shouting.
He who goes to and fro weeping, carrying his bag of seed,
Shall indeed come again with a shout of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.


JUSTICE

Psalm 72:4

May he vindicate the afflicted of the people,
Save the children of the needy,
And crush the oppressor.

Psalm 89:14

Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Thy throne;
Lovingkindness and truth go before Thee.

Isaiah 33:22

For the Lord is our judge,
The Lord is our lawgiver,
The Lord is our king;
He will save us--

1 Corinthians 4:4

For I am conscious of nothing against myself, yet I am not by this acquitted; but the one who examines me is the Lord.


KNOWLEDGE

2 Chronicles 1:12

Wisdom and knowledge have been granted to you. And I will give you riches and wealth and honor, such as none of the kings who were before you has possessed, nor those who will come after you."

Proverbs 9:10
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

Isaiah 33:6

And He shall be the stability of your times,
A wealth of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge;
The fear of the Lord is his treasure.

Matthew 10:19

"But when they deliver you up, do not become anxious about how or what you will speak; for it shall be given you in that hour what you are to speak.

LONGEVITY

Deuteronomy 4:9

"Only give heed to yourself and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things which your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life; but make them known to your sons and your grandsons.

Deuteronomy 11:21

So that your days and the days of your sons may be multiplied on the land which the Lord swore to your fathers to give them, as long as the heavens remain above the earth.

Job 5:26

"You will come to the grave in full vigor,
Like the stacking of grain in its season.

Psalm 21:4

He asked life of Thee,
Thou didst give it to him,
Length of days forever and ever.

Psalm 91:16

"With a long life I will satisfy him,
And let him behold My salvation."

Proverbs 3:1-2

My son, do not forget my teaching,
But let your heart keep my commandments;
For length of days and years of life,
And peace they will add to you.

Proverbs 9:11

For by me your days will be multiplied,
And years of life will be added to you.


LOVE

John 15:10

"If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father's commandments, and abide in His love.

Romans 8:38-39

For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, [39] nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

1 John 4:10

In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.


MARRIAGE

Genesis 2:24

For this cause a man shall leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.

Psalm 128:3

Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine,
Within your house,
Your children like olive plants
Around your table.

Proverbs 18:22

He who finds a wife finds a good thing,
And obtains favor from the Lord.

Proverbs 31:11-12

The heart of her husband trusts in her,
And he will have no lack of gain.
She does him good and not evil
All the days of her life.

Proverbs 31:11-12

The heart of her husband trusts in her,
And he will have no lack of gain.
She does him good and not evil
All the days of her life.


MERCY

Genesis 9:16

"When the bow is in the cloud, then I will look upon it, to remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth."

Genesis 39:21

But the Lord was with Joseph and extended kindness to him, and gave him favor in the sight of the chief jailer.

Exodus 33:19

And He said, "I Myself will make all My goodness pass before you, and will proclaim the name of the Lord before you; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show compassion on whom I will show compassion."

Deuteronomy 4:31

"For the Lord your God is a compassionate God; He will not fail you nor destroy you nor forget the covenant with your fathers which He swore to them.

Psalm 36:5

Thy lovingkindness, O Lord, extends to the heavens,
Thy faithfulness reaches to the skies.

Psalm 86:5

For Thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive,
And abundant in lovingkindness to all who call upon Thee.

Psalm 86:7

In the day of my trouble I shall call upon Thee,
For Thou wilt answer me.

COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS PART 2

FAMILY

Genesis 15:4-5

Then behold, the word of the Lord came to him, saying, "This man will not be your heir; but one who shall come forth from your own body, he shall be your heir." [5] And He took him outside and said, "Now look toward the heavens, and count the stars, if you are able to count them." And He said to him, "So shall your descendants be."

Genesis 22:17-18

Indeed I will greatly bless you, and I will greatly multiply your seed as the stars of the heavens, and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your seed shall possess the gate of their enemies. [18] "And in your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice."

Genesis 28:14

"Your descendants shall also be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread out to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south; and in you and in your descendants shall all the families of the earth be blessed.

Psalm 68:6

God makes a home for the lonely;
He leads out the prisoners into prosperity,
Only the rebellious dwell in a parched land.

Psalm 127:3

Behold, children are a gift of the Lord;
The fruit of the womb is a reward.

Acts 16:31

And they said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you shall be saved, you and your household."


FAVOR

Genesis 12:2

And I will make you a great nation,
And I will bless you,
And make your name great;
And so you shall be a blessing;

Psalm 5:12

For it is Thou who dost bless the righteous man, O Lord,
Thou dost surround him with favor as with a shield.

Proverbs 3:4

So you will find favor and good repute
In the sight of God and man.

Proverbs 16:15

In the light of a king's face is life,
And his favor is like a cloud with the spring rain.


FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD

Song of Solomon 2:3-4

"Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest,
So is my beloved among the young men.
In his shade I took great delight and sat down,
And his fruit was sweet to my taste.
"He has brought me to his banquet hall,
And his banner over me is love.

Jeremiah 29:13

'And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.

Matthew 12:50

"For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother."

John 14:23
Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him, and make Our abode with him.

Romans 8:17

And if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him.

2 Corinthians 6:18

"And I will be a father to you,
And you shall be sons and daughters to Me,"
Says the Lord Almighty.

Revelation 3:20

'Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him, and will dine with him, and he with Me.


FORGIVENESS

Psalm 130:3-4

If Thou, Lord, shouldst mark iniquities,
O Lord, who could stand?
But there is forgiveness with Thee,
That Thou mayest be feared.

Isaiah 43:25

"I, even I, am the one who wipes out your transgressions for My own sake;
And I will not remember your sins.

Matthew 6:14

"For if you forgive men for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

Luke 15:20

"And he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him, and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him, and kissed him.

1 John 1:9

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.


FREEDOM FROM FEAR

Psalm 118:6

The Lord is for me; I will not fear;
What can man do to me?

2 Thessalonians 3:3

But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.

2 Timothy 1:7

For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.


FREEDOM FROM WORRY

Psalm 3:5-6

I lay down and slept;
I awoke, for the Lord sustains me.
I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people
Who have set themselves against me round about.

Psalm 55:22

Cast your burden upon the Lord, and He will sustain you;
He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.

Matthew 6:34

"Therefore do not be anxious for tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

John 14:27

"Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.

Revelation 1:17-18

And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as a dead man. And He laid His right hand upon me, saying, "Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, [18] and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.


FRIENDSHIP

Proverbs 18:24

A man of many friends comes to ruin,
But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Isaiah 41:8

"But you, Israel, My servant,
Jacob whom I have chosen,
Descendant of Abraham My friend,

John 15:13-14

"Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. [14] "You are My friends, if you do what I command you.


FRUITFULNESS

Psalm 92:14

They will still yield fruit in old age;
They shall be full of sap and very green,

Zechariah 8:12

'For there will be peace for the seed: the vine will yield its fruit, the land will yield its produce, and the heavens will give their dew; and I will cause the remnant of this people to inherit all these things.

Galatians 5:22
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,


GRACE

Psalm 103:12-13

As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
Just as a father has compassion on his children,
So the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him.

Isaiah 53:5

But He was pierced through for our transgressions,
He was crushed for our iniquities;
The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him,
And by His scourging we are healed.

Romans 5:20

And the Law came in that the transgression might increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more,

2 Corinthians 12:9

And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may dwell in me.

Ephesians 2:8

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;


GUIDANCE

Psalm 25:9

He leads the humble in justice,
And He teaches the humble His way.

Psalm 32:8

I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go;
I will counsel you with My eye upon you.

Psalm 73:23-25

Nevertheless I am continually with Thee;
Thou hast taken hold of my right hand.
With Thy counsel Thou wilt guide me,
And afterward receive me to glory.
Whom have I in heaven but Thee?
And besides Thee, I desire nothing on earth.

Psalm 139:10-11

Even there Thy hand will lead me,
And Thy right hand will lay hold of me.
If I say, "Surely the darkness will overwhelm me,
And the light around me will be night,"

Proverbs 3:6

In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight.

Isaiah 30:21

And your ears will hear a word behind you, "This is the way, walk in it," whenever you turn to the right or to the left.

Isaiah 49:10

"They will not hunger or thirst,
Neither will the scorching heat or sun strike them down;
For He who has compassion on them will lead them,
And will guide them to springs of water.


HAPPINESS

Psalm 37:4-5

Delight yourself in the Lord;
And He will give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to the Lord,
Trust also in Him, and He will do it.

Psalm 63:4-5

So I will bless Thee as long as I live;
I will lift up my hands in Thy name.
My soul is satisfied as with marrow and fatness,
And my mouth offers praises with joyful lips.


Psalm 64:10

The righteous man will be glad in the Lord, and will take refuge in Him;
And all the upright in heart will glory.


Psalm 84:11

For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
The Lord gives grace and glory;
No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.

John 10:10

"The thief comes only to steal, and kill, and destroy; I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly.

John 13:17

"If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.


HEALTH

Exodus 15:26

And He said, "If you will give earnest heed to the voice of the Lord your God, and do what is right in His sight, and give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have put on the Egyptians; for I, the Lord, am your healer."

Psalm 103:2-3

Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And forget none of His benefits;
Who pardons all your iniquities;
Who heals all your diseases;

Psalm 147:3

He heals the brokenhearted,
And binds up their wounds.

Jeremiah 30:17

'For I will restore you to health
And I will heal you of your wounds,' declares the Lord, 'Because they have called you an outcast, saying: "It is Zion; no one cares for her." '

Matthew 9:35

And Jesus was going about all the cities and the villages, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness.

COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS PART 1

ABILITIES

Exodus 31:3

"And I have filled him with the Spirit of God in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all kinds of craftsmanship,"

Romans 12:6

“And since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let each exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith;”

1 Corinthians 12:4-7

“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. And there are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good”

2 Corinthians 1:4

“who comforts us in all our affliction so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”


ABUNDANCE

Deuteronomy 15:6-7

"For the Lord your God shall bless you as He has promised you, and you will lend to many nations, but you will not borrow; and you will rule over many nations, but they will not rule over you. "If there is a poor man with you, one of your brothers, in any of your towns in your land which the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart, nor close your hand from your poor brother;"

Deuteronomy 30:9

"Then the Lord your God will prosper you abundantly in all the work of your hand, in the offspring of your body and in the offspring of your cattle and in the produce of your ground, for the Lord will again rejoice over you for good, just as He rejoiced over your fathers;"

Psalm 92:12

"The righteous man will flourish like the palm tree,
He will grow like a cedar in Lebanon."

Isaiah 41:18

"I will open rivers on the bare heights,
And springs in the midst of the valleys;
I will make the wilderness a pool of water,
And the dry land fountains of water."

Malachi 3:10

"Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open for you the windows of heaven, and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows."


ANGELS

Psalm 34:7

"The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him,
And rescues them."

Psalm 91:11-12

"For He will give His angels charge concerning you,
To guard you in all your ways.
They will bear you up in their hands,
Lest you strike your foot against a stone."

Isaiah 63:9

"In all their affliction He was afflicted,
And the angel of His presence saved them;
In His love and in His mercy He redeemed them;
And He lifted them and carried them all the days of old."

Matthew 4:11

"Then the devil left Him; and behold, angels came and began to minister to Him."

Matthew 18:10

"See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you, that their angels in heaven continually behold the face of My Father who is in heaven."

Hebrews 1:7

And of the angels He says,
“Who makes His angels winds,
And His Minister a flame of fire”


ASSURANCE

Genesis 26:3

"Sojourn in this land and I will be with you and bless you, for to you and to your descendants I will give all these lands, and I will establish the oath which I swore to your father Abraham."

Ezekiel 34:16

"I will seek the lost, bring back the scattered, bind up the broken, and strengthen the sick; but the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them with judgment."

John 14:18

"I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you."

Romans 8:28

"And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose."

Hebrews 6:17-18

"In the same way God, desiring even more to show to the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of His purpose, interposed with an oath, [18] in order that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we may have strong encouragement, we who have fled for refuge in laying hold of the hope set before us."

Hebrews 13:6

"So that we confidently say,
The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid.
What shall man do to me?"


AUTHORITY

Genesis 1:27-28

"And God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. [28] And God blessed them; and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky, and over every living thing that moves on the earth."

Genesis 9:2

"And the fear of you and the terror of you shall be on every beast of the earth and on every bird of the sky; with everything that creeps on the ground, and all the fish of the sea, into your hand they are given."

2 Samuel 22:30

"For by Thee I can run upon a troop;
By my God I can leap over a wall."

Luke 10:19

"Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall injure you."


CHURCH

Psalm 122:1

I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go to the house of the Lord."

Isaiah 54:17

"No weapon that is formed against you shall prosper;
And every tongue that accuses you in judgment you will condemn.
This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord,
And their vindication is from Me," declares the Lord."

Haggai 2:9

'The latter glory of this house will be greater than the former,' says the Lord of hosts, 'and in this place I shall give peace,' declares the Lord of hosts."

Matthew 16:18

"And I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades shall not overpower it."

Romans 12:5

"So we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another."

Ephesians 2:19-22

"So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's household, [20] having been built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, [21] in whom the whole building, being fitted together is growing into a holy temple in the Lord; [22] in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit."


CONFIDENCE

Isaiah 40:31

"Yet those who wait for the Lord
Will gain new strength;
They will mount up with wings like eagles,
They will run and not get tired,
They will walk and not become weary."

2 Corinthians 3:5

"Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God,"

2 Corinthians 9:8

"And God is able to make all grace abound to you, that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed;"

Philippians 1:6

"For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus."

1 John 4:4

"You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world."


DELIVERANCE

Exodus 3:8

"So I have come down to deliver them from the power of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and spacious land, to a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanite and the Hittite and the Amorite and the Perizzite and the Hivite and the Jebusite."

Psalm 18:19

"He brought me forth also into a broad place;
He rescued me, because He delighted in me.

Psalm 34:9

O fear the Lord, you His saints;
For to those who fear Him, there is no want."

Isaiah 10:27

"So it will be in that day, that his burden will be removed from your shoulders and his yoke from your neck, and the yoke will be broken because of fatness."

2 Timothy 4:18

"The Lord will deliver me from every evil deed, and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom; to Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen."


ETERNAL LIFE

Job 19:25-26

"And as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives,
And at the last He will take His stand on the earth.
"Even after my skin is destroyed,
Yet from my flesh I shall see God;"

Matthew 16:25

"For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake shall find it."

Matthew 16:27

"For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels; and will then recompense every man according to his deeds."

John 3:16

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life."

Romans 6:23

"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

1 John 5:11

"And the witness is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son."


ETERNAL HONOR

Malachi 3:17

"And they will be Mine," says the Lord of hosts, "on the day that I prepare My own possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him."

James 1:12

"Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to those who love Him."

1 Peter 1:4

"To obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,"

Rev. 2:17

"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, to him I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it."

Rev. 3:12

'He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write upon him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My new name."

Rev. 3:21

'He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne."

Rev. 21:7

"He who overcomes shall inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son."


FAITH

Mark 9:23

And Jesus said to him, " 'If You can!' All things are possible to him who believes."

Luke 17:6

And the Lord said, "If you had faith like a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and be planted in the sea'; and it would obey you. "

Romans 1:17

For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "But the righteous man shall live by faith."

Romans 5:1-2

"Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God."

Galatians 3:11

"Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, The righteous man shall live by faith."


FAITHFULNESS OF GOD

Numbers 23:19

"God is not a man, that He should lie,
Nor a son of man, that He should repent;
Has He said, and will He not do it?
Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?"

Deuteronomy 7:9
"Know therefore that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God, who keeps His covenant and His lovingkindness to a thousandth generation with those who love Him and keep His commandments;"

1 Kings 8:56

"Blessed be the Lord, who has given rest to His people Israel, according to all that He promised; not one word has failed of all His good promise, which He promised through Moses His servant."

Psalm 121:3-4

"He will not allow your foot to slip;
He who keeps you will not slumber.
Behold, He who keeps Israel
Will neither slumber nor sleep."

Psalm 145:18-19

"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 will also hear their cry and will save them."

Isaiah 54:10

"For the mountains may be removed and the hills may shake,
But My lovingkindness will not be removed from you,
And My covenant of peace will not be shaken,"
Says the Lord who has compassion on you.

John 6:37

"All that the Father gives Me shall come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out."

Hebrews 13:5

"Let your character be free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, "I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,"

COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS

Psalm 1:1

How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked,
Nor stand in the path of sinners,
Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!

Psalm 32:2
How blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity,
And in whose spirit there is no deceit!

Psalm 34:8
O taste and see that the Lord is good;
How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!

Psalm 40:4

How blessed is the man who has made the Lord his trust,
And has not turned to the proud, nor to those who lapse into falsehood.

Psalm 84:5

How blessed is the man whose strength is in Thee;
In whose heart are the highways to Zion!

Psalm 84:12

O Lord of hosts,
How blessed is the man who trusts in Thee!

Psalm 94:12

Blessed is the man whom Thou dost chasten, O Lord,
And dost teach out of Thy law;

Psalm 112:1

Praise the Lord!
How blessed is the man who fears the Lord,
Who greatly delights in His commandments.

Psalm 127:5

How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them;
They shall not be ashamed,
When they speak with their enemies in the gate.


Proverbs 3:13
How blessed is the man who finds wisdom,
And the man who gains understanding.

Proverbs 8:34
"Blessed is the man who listens to me,
Watching daily at my gates,
Waiting at my doorposts.

Proverbs 28:14
How blessed is the man who fears always,
But he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity.

Isaiah 56:2
"How blessed is the man who does this,
And the son of man who takes hold of it;
Who keeps from profaning the sabbath,
And keeps his hand from doing any evil."

Jeremiah 17:7
"Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord
And whose trust is the Lord.

All of these passages of Scripture tell us one thing, that we who put our trust in the Lord are blessed. If you are a born again Christian, you are blessed.

Ephesians 1:3 tell us, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,” Note that is say “with every spiritual blessing.” Not just with some of them, a few of them, but with “every” spiritual blessing in Christ.

If that is true, then why does if feel and look like we are not. We are blessed, whether we feel like it or not. But because the Word of God says we are, then we are. We just need to acknowledge them in our lives. We need to start speaking “blessing” and not “cursing” into our lives.

I read an article one time titled, “You are the Prophet of Your Life.” Your life is determined by the words you speak. Where you are today is a result of the words you have been speaking.

Do you want to change your circumstances, then change the words you are speaking. Start speaking the Word of God.

After reading the article, I began to realize that I have been my own worst enemy.
My words were creating my reality. So I have started and continued to change the words that I speak. It hasn’t been easy, but it takes discipline and determination to stay with it.

I spend a considerable amount of time in the morning speaking the Word of God. And I expect changes to start happening. In little ways is has, but I continue to work at it. I am more aware of what I am staying and I have to work at speaking words of blessing over people who irritate me. I can’t afford to let cursing come out of my mouth.

Not only that, but also I have been speaking words of blessing over my life and the lives of others.

In this series of teaching, we are going to be looking at some of the blessing God had blessed us with.

I have a book by Dr. Mike Murdock, titled, “The Blessing Bible.” In it he lists 58 specific blessings that we are blessed with. So little by little we are going to find out what God has blessed us with, and start speaking those blessings over our lives, and in the lives of others.

Before we get started, we are going to have to define “blessing.”

What does the word “blessing” mean?

The Hebrew word for “to bless” is “barak.”

It basically means “to kneel, bless, be blessed. It is interesting that the first time the word is used is in Genesis 1:28 when God blessed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. The whole creation is shown to depend upon God for its continued existence and function. It is used a second time in Genesis 5:2 when God blessed Noah after the flood. The third time it is used is in Genesis 12:2-3 when God blesses Abram.
This repeated “blessing” on the nations is repeated in Genesis 18;18; 22:18 and 28:14.

In all these instances, God’s blessing goes out to the nations through Abraham or his seed. The covenant promise called nations to seek “the blessing (Isaiah 2:2-4), but made it plain that the initiative in blessing rests with God, and that Abraham and his seed were the instruments.

The noun form of “to bless,” “blessing” when expressed by men, was a wish or prayer for a blessing that is to come in the future. This is why the patriarchs blessed their children. This was very important to the children, especially the first born son.

It is speaking words over people and it had a powerful effect. Now you can see why Esau was so upset of being tricked out of his blessing as the first born.

In the Greek the word for “to bless” is “eulogeo.”

It means literally “to speak well of,” to “praise, to celebrate with praises” of that which is addressed to God.

It also means to “invoke blessing upon a person.”

What kind of effect do you think invoking a blessing upon a person will have?

It is powerful. It is powerful to know that God has invoked His blessing on us. We need to find out exactly what we have been blessed with in the following lessons.

As you begin to receive the lessons with the topics, begin to pray them over your life and in the lives of others. Thank the Lord for what He has blessed you with.

REFLECTIONS ON PSALM 23

REFLECTIONS ON PSALM 23


In a consumer –oriented society, it is extremely difficult to hear the simple but radical message of Psalm 23: GOD IS THE ONLY NECESSITY OF LIFE!

While verse 1 is translated “I shall not lack nothing,” the traditional translation preserved by the NIV and the NRSV is particularly appropriate in a culture that teaches people to want everything.

Driven by greed rather than need, we can hardly imagine having only the necessities of life: food, drink, and shelter and protection.

Clever advertisers have succeeded in convincing us that what former generations considered incredible luxuries are now basic necessities.

To say in our prosperous context that God is the only necessity of life sounds hopelessly quaint and naïve.

Then again, the words of Jesus also strike us as naïve: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear, but seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:25,33)

In effect, to make Psalm 23 our words is to affirm that we do not need to worry about our lives or our deaths.

God will provide, and God’s provision is grounded in the reality of God’s reign.

The proper response to simple good news of Psalm 23 and Jesus Christ is to trust God.

But this is precisely the rub.

In a secular society, we are encouraged to trust first ourselves and to work first to secure our own lives and futures.

Psalm 23 thus challenges us to affirm with the psalmist: THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD, I SHALL NOT WANT.

To say that means to live humbly and gratefully as a child of God.

The third stanza of Isaac Watt’s beautiful metrical version of Psalm 23 expresses eloquently the simple truth that Psalm 23 communicates and commends to us:

The sure provisions of my God,
Attend me all my days,
O may Your House be my abode,
And all my work be praise.
There would I find a settled nest,
While others go and come,
No more a stranger or a guest,
But like a child at home.

Not only does Watts’s paraphrase capture the childlike trust articulated by Psalm 23, recalling Jesus’ words about entering the reign of God “like a little child.” (Mark 10:15), but also it calls to our attention the communal dimension of Psalm 23.

To be child at home means inevitably to be part of a family, to share community around a table.

Thus we are led to reflect on what it means to be apart of God’s household.

The implications are profound and radical: WE ARE NOT OUR OWN! WE BELONG TO EACH OTHER!

In his book “God the Economist,” M. Douglas Meeks recognizes the radical implications of Psalm 23.

He quotes Aubrey R. Johnson’s rendering of Psalm 23:6: “Yea, I shall be pursued in unfailing kindness everyday of my life, finding a home in the Household of Yahweh for many a long year.”

Because, as Psalm 23 affirms, God is the source of all food and drink and security, because we belong first and forever to God’s household, our lives are transformed.

Daily realities are not to be taken for granted and certainly not to be treated as rewards we have earned.

Psalm 23, like the Lord’s Supper, becomes finally an invitation to live under God’s rule and in solidarity with all God’s children.

Thus to make Psalm 23 our own is a profoundly radical affirmation of faith that transforms our lives and our world.

To be sure, Psalm 23 is to be heard in the midst of death and dying, but it is also to be heard amid the ordinary daily activities of living.

And it gives daily activities an extraordinary significance, for it invites us to share daily bread with all God’s people.

It is inevitable that Christians hear in Psalm 23 testimony to Jesus Christ.

Jesus became the gracious host who prepared a table that reconciles enemies and offers life.

NOTE: Mark 14:22-25. Interestingly, Mark 14:27 alludes to Zechariah 13:7, a passage about sheep and shepherds.

In a story with obvious eucharistic overtones, Jesus feeds people. (Mark 6:39)

The crowd is “to sit down on the green grass,’ a detail that recalls Psalm 23:2.

That the allusion is not coincidental is suggested by Mark’s description of Jesus’ motivation for having compassion on the crowd: “they were like sheep without a shepherd.” (Mark 6:34)

Jesus serves as both host and shepherd, acting out the two metaphors of Psalm 23.

Jesus is cast even more clearly in the role of shepherd in John 10:17.

As in Psalm 23, the shepherd:

Leads the sheep (John 10:3)

Providing food (John 10:9)

Protection (John 10:12-13)

For the purpose of sustaining life itself (John 10:10)

And Jesus says specifically, “I am the good shepherd.” (John 10:11, 14)

Interesting too in John 10 is the enigmatic mention of “other sheep that do not belong to this fold.” (John 10:16)

Does this refer to Christians beyond the Johannine community?

Does this refer more broadly to adherents of other world religions?

The solution is unclear, but in the light of the communal conclusion of Psalm 23, especially in view of the conclusion of Psalm 22, where “all the ends of the earth” and “all the families of the nations” are to “turn to the Lord” and “worship Him.” (Psalm 22:27)

It is worthy of note that John 10 envisions God’s household in very open terms, with room perhaps for “enemies and even for “all the families of the nations.” (Psalm 23:5)(Psalm 22:27)

This thrust toward universality is present too in the relationship between Jesus and Psalm 23:4; “You are with me.”
According to Matthew, Jesus is to be named “Emmanuel, God is with us”

This affirmation provides a frame for the Gospel, the final words of which are “ I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20)

This final affirmation of Emanuel is in the context of Jesus’ commission to “make disciples of all nations.” (Matthew 28:19)

God intends for His household to include “the ends of the earth.” (Psalm 22:27)

In short, in New Testament terms, Jesus is the Shepherd, host, Emmanuel.

When Psalm 23 is heard in the context of Psalm 22 and of Jesus Christ, its profoundly radical implications are even clearer:

GOD IS WITH US, BUT GOD IS NOT OURS TO OWN. THE GOD WHO SHEPHERDS US TO LIFE ALSO GIVES LIFE TO THE WORLD; THE TABLE AT WHICH WE ARE HOSTED IS ONE TO WHICH THE WHOLE WORLD IS INVITED.


The Lord (Yahweh) is my Shepherd, therefore I shall not want for:

REST: He makes me lie down in green pastures.

REFRESHMENT: He leads me beside the quiet waters.

RESTORATION: He restores my soul

GUIDANCE: He leads me in the paths of righteousness.

COURAGE: I will fear no evil, for You are with me.

COMFORT: Your rod and Your staff they comfort me.

SUPPLY: You prepare a table before me.

PROTECTION: In the presence of my enemies.

POWER: You anoint my head with oil.

GOODNESS AND MERCY: My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the day of my life.

FOREVER: I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.



I SHALL NOT LACK

I shall not lack rest or provision. Why? “He makes me lie down in green pastures.”

I shall not lack peace. Why? “He leads me besides the still water.”

I shall not lack restoration and encouragement when I faint; fail, or fall. Why? “He restores my soul.”

I shall not lack guidance and fellowship. Why? “He guides me in the paths of righteousness.”

I shall not lack courage when my way is dark. Why? “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil.”

I shall not lack companionship. Why? “For You are with me.”

I shall not lack constant comfort. Why? “Your rod and staff, they comfort me.”

I shall not lack for protection and honor. Why? “You prepare at table before me in the presence of my enemies.”

I shall not lack power. Why? “You anoint my head with oil.”

I shall not lack abundance. Why? “My cup overflows.”

I shall not lack God’s perpetual presence. Why? “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.”

I shall not lack security. Why? “And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”


TRAITS OF GOD IN PSALM 23

In his book “The Names of God,” by Elmer Towns, it is interesting to note that there are other names of God throughout Psalm 23:

The Lord is my Shepherd (vs 1) JEHOVAH ROHI THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD (Psalm 23:1)

I shall not want (vs 1) JEHOVAL JIREH THE LORD WHO PROVIDES (Genesis 22:14)

He leads me beside still waters JEHOVAH SHALOM THE LORD OUR (vs 2) PEACE (Judges 6:24)

He restores my soul (vs 3) JEHOVAL ROPHE THE LORD OUR HEALER (Exodus 15:26)

He leads me in the paths JEHOVAH TSIDKENU THE LORD OUR of righteousness (vs 3) RIGHTEOUSNESS (Jeremiah 23:6)

I will fear no evil (vs 4) JEHOVAH NISSI THE LORD OUR BANNER (Exodus 17:15)

You are with me (vs 4) JEHOVAH SHAMMAH THE LORD IS THERE (Ezekiel 48:35)

You anoint my head with oil (vs 5) JEHOVAH MEDADDISHKEHN THE LORD
WHO SANCTIFIES (Exodus 31:13)


ARTICLES FROM “OUR DAILY BREAD” ON PSALM 23


April 19, 2007

The Peace-Of-Mind Game

READ: Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. —Psalm 23:1

In her down-to-earth book More Than Sparrows, Mary Welch tells of her discussion about worry with a group of teenagers. Although they were Christians, they were as worried as unbelievers about the common things of life. As she lovingly listened to them, an unusual idea came to her for a game they could play. It went like this:
Instead of saying, “I’m worried,” stop and say, “The Lord is my Shepherd.” Then add, “So I’m worried to death!” The students laughed at the absurdity of the idea, but they all promised to play this new “peace-of-mind” game.

Later, Mary received a phone call from a young woman who had been paralyzed by worry over an exam she had been dreading to take. She said, “I must tell you how the game helped me trust God today. As I froze with worry, I remembered to say, ‘The Lord is my Shepherd . . . so I’m afraid I’ll fail!’ Suddenly I felt the strangest peace of mind. I laughed at myself, then I took the exam—and I passed!”
Saying “The Lord is my Shepherd, and I am worried to death” is more than a mind game to point out the absurdity of worry. God can use this contradiction to bring us to a fuller trust in Him.— Joanie Yoder

Why worry when you can pray?Trust Jesus, He’ll be your stay;Don’t be a “doubting Thomas,” rest fully on His promise.Why worry when you can pray? —Peterson© Renewal 1977 Singspiration, Inc.

Worry is the interest you pay on borrowed trouble.


November 9, 2004

Hope For Worriers

READ: Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. —Psalm 23:1

Everyone worries occasionally, but I was once a "professional worrier." My daily preoccupation was mulling over my worries, one by one.

Then one day I had to face an uncomfortable medical test, and I was frantic with fear. Finally I decided that during the test I would focus on the first five words of Psalm 23, "The Lord is my shepherd." This exercise in meditation not only calmed me, but I gained several fresh insights. Later, as I slowly meditated through the entire psalm, the Lord gave me more insights.

Eventually I was able to share at conferences what the Lord had taught me.

If you're a worrier, there's hope for you too! Rick Warren, author of The Purpose-Driven Life, wrote: "When you think about a problem over and over in your mind, that's called worry. When you think about God's Word over and over in your mind, that's meditation. If you know how to worry, you already know how to meditate!"

The more we meditate on God's Word, the less we need to worry. In Psalm 23, David meditated on his great Shepherd instead of worrying. Later, God chose him to be the shepherd of His people (Psalm 78:70-72). God uses those who can honestly say, "The Lord is my shepherd."— Joanie Yoder

When fear and worry test your faithAnd anxious thoughts assail,Remember God is in controlAnd He will never fail. —Sper

The more we think about God's Word, the less we'll think about our worries.


March 4, 2006

Another Walk With Whitaker

READ: Psalm 23

He leads me. —Psalm 23:2

My dog Whitaker and I like to take early-morning walks through the woods. He runs ahead while I amble along, meditating or praying. I know where we’re going; he’s not sure. I stay on the trail and he trots ahead—sniffing, investigating, and taking occasional forays into the forest to chase real or imagined chipmunks.

Though Whit is ahead, I’m leading. Every so often he checks to see where I am. If I’ve turned back toward home or gone on to another trail, I hear his pounding feet and panting breath as he races to catch up with me. If I hide behind some brush, he runs to the last place he saw me and tracks me down. Then we walk the trail together again.

It’s like that with God’s leading. He knows the way because He has prepared the way. But sometimes we may not see Him—so we do our best to go where He wants by following the guidance of His Word. Other times it may seem as if He is hidden from us. His pace may not be as fast as we would like, or we wish He would slow down.

Just as Whitaker keeps looking back at me, we need to look to God and His Word at every important juncture we come to. We must rely on the direction of His Spirit.
That’s what I thought about today while I was walking with Whitaker.— David C. Egner

Lead me, if Thou wilt, dear Master,Where the whispering waters flow;Guide me through the soft green pastures,Let me all Thy goodness know. —Rae

If you want God to lead you, be willing to follow.


March 29, 2007

Noon

READ: Psalm 23

He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. —Psalm 23:2

Our office is a busy place where things sometimes feel like they are moving at breakneck speed. This often involves meeting after meeting, hallway conferences, and an avalanche of e-mail.
In the midst of this extreme busyness, I sometimes feel the need to escape, to decompress. My response? To create a quiet place. On those days when I have no lunch meeting, I retreat to the quiet of my car. I grab some lunch and sit in my car, where I can read, listen to music, think, pray—and be refreshed.

I think this is the essence of what the shepherd-psalmist points to in Psalm 23:2. He sees the Good Shepherd bringing him to “still waters”—that is, waters to rest by. It pictures a quiet place, a retreat from the pressures of life, where you can rest in the presence of the Shepherd of your heart and be strengthened for what lies ahead. Even Jesus withdrew to a solitary place to pray and commune with His Father (Mark 1:35).

We all need retreats in our lives, not only because of the overwhelming nature of life, but because of our dependence on the resources of the Master. In our fast-paced days, it is essential to find a place of solitude, “a place of quiet rest, near to the heart of God.” Where’s yours?— Bill Crowder

There is a place of quiet rest,Near to the heart of God,A place where sin cannot molest,Near to the heart of God. —McAfee

When we draw near to God our minds are refreshed and our strength is renewed!


May 30, 2003

Finding Rest

READ: Psalm 23

He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake. —Psalm 23:3

According to a survey conducted by an insurance company, one of every six workers in the US feels too busy to take all the vacation days he or she has earned. Even though studies show that a week's holiday each year can dramatically reduce stress and the risk of heart attack, many people just keep working.

A vacation can be good for body and soul. But many people don't have the luxury of time away from work and daily responsibilities. What can we do when we must remain in demanding circumstances?

Psalm 23 paints a beautiful word picture of a caring shepherd, secure sheep, and a tranquil scene of quiet meadows and still waters. But it is the Lord, our shepherd, who gives rest, not the green grass or the flowing stream. "He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake" (v.3).

Rest is a place of peace that our spirits find in God. Neither the presence of those who oppose us nor the dark valley of death can keep us from what hymnwriter Cleland McAfee called "a place of quiet rest, near to the heart of God." Through prayer and meditation on His Word, we can commune with Him. In the Lord's presence we can experience the rest and renewal we so desperately need.— David C. McCasland

There is a place of comfort sweet,Near to the heart of God, A place where we our Savior meet,Near to the heart of God. —McAfee

Spending quiet time with God will bring quiet rest from God.


April 6, 2004

Valley Of The Shadow

READ: Psalm 23

Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me. —Psalm 23:4

Darkness upon darkness. Sorrow upon sorrow. Pain upon pain. Anguish upon anguish. That's death.

Death is a fearful visitor, snatching away people who are precious to us and leaving us behind to mourn, grieve, and wonder. It blocks the light that before had shined so freely and easily on our lives.

Whether we're facing the prospect of dying, or dealing with the death of a loved one, death can be devastating. It can sap our energy, change our plans, overwhelm our soul, alter our outlook, test our faith, steal our joy, and challenge our assumptions about life's purposes.

When we walk through the deep valley, we feel swallowed up by the shadow and come face-to-face with fear. The frantic emptiness of our loss threatens the comfort that previously originated from our trust in God, and so we grow afraid. Afraid of our future. Afraid to enjoy life again.
Yet in that valley, under that shadow, we can say to the Lord, "I will fear no evil; for You are with me" (Psalm 23:4). His loving arms never let us go. He is always with us.

Slowly at first, but most assuredly, He provides comfort and release from the darkness. He gives light. He leads us out. Eventually, we escape the valley of the shadow.— Dave Branon

We need not ponder death with fear,Though what's ahead we cannot see;For we who put our faith in ChristLook forward to eternity. —Sper

Death separates us for a time; Christ will reunite us forever.


August 15, 2001

'Here I Come'

READ: Psalm 23:1-6

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. --Psalm 23:4

When I was about 10 years old, I climbed a big pine tree in our yard. Grabbing the topmost branch, I pulled myself up to gain the highest vantage point possible. Suddenly the tip of the old pine snapped and I came plummeting down, landing flat on my back. The impact knocked the wind out of me. As I lay gasping for breath, I thought I was dying—but I wasn't alarmed. In fact, I can recall thinking, I'm going to heaven. Just before lapsing into unconsciousness, I said, "Father, here I come."

My dad was reading under a tree nearby and heard me come crashing down. Rushing over, he picked me up and carried me into the house. How surprised I was to open my eyes and find myself on the couch instead of in heaven!

That experience taught me at a young age that the Christian can have peace even in the valley of the shadow of death. For believers, "to be absent from the body" is "to be present with the Lord" (2 Corinthians 5:8). As children of God, we can live each day with the assurance that come what may, whether we live or die, we are the Lord's.

If you know Christ as your Savior, you too can experience a wonderful peace—even when you are called to walk through the "valley of the shadow" (Psalm 23:4). — Richard De Haan

God holds our future in His handsAnd gives us every breath;Just knowing that He's by our sideAllays our fear of death. —Sper

If you live for eternity, you can die with serenity.


June 1, 2005

God Said That

READ: Psalm 23

You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. —Psalm 23:4

When 8-year-old Jacob visited his Grampa in the hospital, he came with his own custom-made "Get Well" card. It was an 81/2" x 11" piece of stiff white paper folded in half. On the front he had written, "Hope you feel better soon." On the inside, in large block letters, was this message:
I will be with youwherever you go.

There was no Scripture reference, so Jacob added these words: "God said that." He wanted to be sure I didn't expect him to be at my side during my entire hospital stay.

That added note conveyed an unintended and deeper truth that brought a smile to my face and comfort to my heart. A hospital can be a lonely place. It's a world of unfamiliar faces, first-time medical procedures, and uncertain diagnoses. But it's in just such a setting that God can quiet an anxious heart and give assurance that He'll go with you down every hall, through every new door, into any unknown future—yes, even through "the valley of the shadow of death" (Psalm 23:4).

Maybe you have had an unexpected setback or loss. Your future is unknown. Trusting Jesus as your Savior and Lord, you can be sure of this: He will go with you wherever you go. You can believe it. God said that! — Dennis J. De Haan

Whenever I feel that Christ is near,All cares and sorrows flee;He is my strength, my hope, my life,He's all in all to me. —Lewis

No danger can come so near the Christian that God is not nearer.


January 23, 1996

Dying Grace

READ: Psalm 23:1-6

Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me. --Psalm 23:4

Several years ago I read a pamphlet that quoted the dying words of various people who did not profess faith in Jesus Christ. The English atheist Thomas Hobbes said, "I am taking a fearful leap into the dark!" The French infidel Voltaire cried out, "I am abandoned by God and man; I shall go to hell!" Sir Francis Newport wailed in anguish, "Oh, eternity, eternity forever and forever! Oh, the unsufferable pangs of hell!"

What a sobering contrast to the last words of people who knew and loved Christ as their Lord and Savior. Dwight L. Moody said, "This is glorious! Earth recedes; heaven is opening; God is calling me!" Sir David Brewster declared, "I will see Jesus--see Him as He is. I have had the light for many years. Oh, how bright it is! I feel so safe, so satisfied!" And these words from a man being burned at the stake: "Blessed be the time that ever I was born for this day. We shall not lose our lives in this fire," he said to his fellow martyrs, "but only change them for something better."

Child of God, even if physical pain and heartache are a part of our closing days, the heavenly Father will give us dying grace. When we pass through that dark valley, we need not fear. The Great Shepherd will be with us. — Richard De Haan

Thy rod and staff shall cheer meIn death's dark vale and shade,For Thou wilt then be near me--I shall not be afraid. --Ewing

Those who truly fear God need not fear death.


April 18, 2001

Light Beyond The Valley

READ: 2 Corinthians 5:1-8

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me. --Psalm 23:4

Death comes eventually to us all. Yet, for the Christian, the dark door of death is to be viewed as only a shadow. As frightening as death may appear, on the other side is the bright and shining gate that leads to life—eternity with Jesus!

Author William H. Ridgeway recalls that when he was a boy he and his friends would pick berries. After filling their baskets, they would wait beside a nearby railroad track. As the sun was sinking in the west, a train would come by and "run over them." Of course the iron monster with its thundering noise and screaming whistle didn't actually run over them at all. It was only the shadow that passed over them.

There they sat, knowing there was no danger but shivering in anticipation at the approaching locomotive and boxcars. As the train swept by them, they were in its shadow for just a few moments and then it was gone. The setting sun bathed them in a golden glow as they walked to the inviting warmth of home. What a wonderful illustration of what it means for the Christian to "walk through the valley of the shadow of death" (Psalm 23:4).

We need not fear the chilling shadow of death—for the Lord is with us (v.4), and we have a home with Him waiting for us just beyond (2 Corinthians 5:1-8). — Henry G. Bosch

Say not it's a dreadful journeyWhen the Savior leads the way;It's but passing through the shadowsTo the land of endless day! —Bosch

For the Christian, death is the last shadow before heaven's dawn.


December 16, 1998

Our Forever Home

READ: John 14:1-6

I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. --Psalm 23:6

Night was falling and the weather deteriorating as I began the long drive home. The snow that had been falling lightly became heavier. Gale-force winds soon whipped it into a blinding curtain in front of my car. Only intense concentration and prayer kept me on the road.As the 21/2-hour drive stretched to 3, then 4, my muscles ached and my eyes burned. Never had home sounded so good!

When I finally walked though the doorway and collapsed in a chair, I felt great relief.
Sometimes our journey as followers of Christ is like that snowy drive. We struggle through long days of hard work and difficulty. When disappointment and sorrow come, our thoughts go to those wonderful passages of the Bible that describe our home in heaven. It heartens us to think of entering the Lord's presence where we will abide forever.

C. S. Lewis wrote a wonderful allegory called The Chronicles of Narnia in which he describes the unicorn's first glimpse of heaven. The unicorn exclaims, "I have come home at last! This is my real country! I belong here. This is the land I've been looking for all my life."
In a small way, that expresses how we will feel when we reach our forever home. — David C. Egner

To run life's grueling race, to win the lasting prize--To finally succeed in this endeavor--Look to the day you'll gaze into the Savior's eyesAnd understand you're home with Him forever. --Gustafson

Heaven's delights will far outweigh earth's difficulties.















RESOURCES:

Elmer Towns, “The Names of God”

Holman Bible Dictionary

Philip Yancy, “A Shepherd Looks at the 23rd Psalm”

Dr. Harold E. Jones, “The Ministry of the Twenty Third Psalm”

Discovery House Publishers, “The Lord is My Shepherd.”