what did you expect

Pray for what you want,

but expect something totally different

and far better.

"For we do not know what to pray for as we ought,

but the Spirit himself intercedes for us

with groanings too deep for words."

Romans 8:26 ESV

know Him

Every frightening situation

gives us the opportunity to know

the One who calms all fears.

"For I, the Lord your God,

hold your right hand;

it is I who say to you, "Fear not,

I am the one who helps you."

Isaiah 41:13 ESV

going?

If you are going to go, go boldly.

"For God gave us a spirit not of fear

but of power and love and self-control."

2 Timothy 1:7 ESV

careless?

Only careless soldiers let the weaker one win.

"The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."

Mark 14:38b ESV

unpopular

The praise of men will not help us

become more like Christ--

and may have the exact opposite effect.

"He was despised and rejected by men;

a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief;

and as one from whom men hide their faces

he was despised, and we esteemed him not."

Isaiah 53:3 ESV

undesirable

Lord Jesus, forgive me for so often

looking in the mirror and longing for beauty--

wishing I had what You did not have nor desire.

"He had no form or majesty that we

should look at Him,

and no beauty that we should desire Him."

Isaiah 53:2b

made by God

May our delight always be

in the One who created

the things we enjoy.

"And God saw everything that He had made,

and behold, it was very good.

And there was evening

and there was morning,

the sixth day."

Genesis 1:31 ESV

we the people

May we become a people

who honor God's name.

"O Lord, our Lord,

how majestic is your name

in all the earth!"

Psalm 8:9 ESV

wherever

Wherever you are, God is.

Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said,

"Surely the Lord is in this place,

and I did not know it."

Genesis 28:16 ESV

good hands

Are you in good hands?

"My sheep listen to my voice;

I know them, and they follow me.

I give them eternal life,

and they shall never perish;

no one can snatch them out of my hand."

John 10:28 NIV

what if

What if you live to be 105?

"Remember your Creator

in the days of your youth.

This is the day the Lord has made;

let us rejoice and be glad in it."

Ecclesiastes 12:1, Psalm 118:24 NIV