on greatness

The greater the God,

the more confident His people can be.

"With Your help I can advance against a troop;

with my God I can scale a wall.

For who is God besides the Lord?

And who is the Rock except our God?

It is God who arms me with strength

and makes my way perfect."

2 Samuel 22:30, 31-32 NIV

believe

Great news for believers!

There is only one sin God will not forgive--

unbelief.

"See to it, brothers, that none of you

has a sinful, unbelieving heart

that turns away from the living God."

"Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved."

Hebrews 3:12, Acts 16:31 NIV

Micah 6:8

Every struggle, every heartache,

everything we hope for or dream of,

every ambition and all of our efforts,

lead to the same end--

an awareness that we need more

than this world has to offer.

"He has showed you, O man, what is good.

And what does the Lord require of you?

To act justly and to love mercy

and to walk humbly with your God."

Micah 6:8 NIV

happiest

The happiest people are those who know

they can stand before God--

forgiven.

"Blessed are they

whose transgressions are forgiven,

whose sins are covered.

Blessed is the man whose sin

the Lord will never count against him."

Romans 4:7-8 NIV

moving day

We can trust God to keep us moving

in the right direction.

"In your unfailing love you will lead

the people you have redeemed.

In your strength you will guide them

to your holy dwelling."

Exodus 15:13 NIV

be thrilled

We are not as thrilled with God

as He is thrilling.

"Great is the Lord

and most worthy of praise;

His greatness no one can fathom.

For from Him

and through Him

and to Him

are all things.

To Him be glory forever!"

Psalm 145:3, Romans 11:36 NIV

Abba, Daddy

When we pray,

we are speaking to

our loving Father,

not a distant Being

who cares nothing about us.

"And because you are sons,

God has sent the Spirit of his Son

into our hearts,

crying, 'Abba! Father!'"

Galatians 4:6 ESV

family

Acquaintances come and go,

friends are forgotten,

but family--

is forever!

"[Jesus] replied to him, 'Who is my mother,

and who are my brothers?'

Pointing to his disciples, he said,

'Here are my mother and my brothers.

For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven

is my brother and sister and mother.'"

"For those God foreknew he also predestined

to be conformed to the likeness of his Son,

that he might be the firstborn among many brothers."

Matthew 12:48-49, Romans 8:29 NIV

even sin

God is so absolutely sovereign

that even sin

provides fuel for the fire

of our passion for Him.

"But where sin increased,

grace increased all the more,

so that, just as sin reigned in death,

so also grace might reign through righteousness

to bring eternal life

through Jesus Christ our Lord."

Romans 5:20-21 NIV

watching and listening

Our prayers get God's attention, every time,

because He always listens for them.

"The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,

and His ears are attentive to their cry."

Psalm 34:15 NIV

He's mine

We can claim God as our own--

our very own God.

"The Lord is my Shepherd."

Psalm 23:1

why pray

Prayer makes us feel so much better,

but that's not why we pray;

we pray because our God listens.

"The righteous cry out,

and the Lord hears them;

He delivers them from all their troubles."

Psalm 34:17 NIV

no way out

Once we are in Christ,

there is no way out of Him.

"I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish;

no one can snatch them out of my hand.

My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all;

no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand.

I and the Father are one."

John 10:28-30 NIV

attention

Every time we pray,

God gives us His full attention;

He showers us with peace,

every time we give Him ours.

"You keep him in perfect peace

whose mind is stayed on you,

because he trusts in you."

Isaiah 26:3 ESV

need cheering?

God is the best cheerer-upper!

"When anxiety was great within me,

your consolation brought joy to my soul."

Psalm 94:19 NIV

the gospel

In church history, one event, one sacrifice,

one monumental miscarriage of justice

changed everything.

And now we can be forever safe,

because Jesus died for our sins.

"For He bore the sin of many,

and made intercession for the transgressors.

And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord

will be saved."

Isaiah 53:12b, Joel 2:32 NIV

His way and mine

Worry is evidence that we do not believe

God will have His way.

"As for God, His way is perfect.

It is God who arms me with strength

and makes my way perfect."

2 Samuel 22:31, 33 NIV

answers

Sometimes it's best

to leave everyone else behind

and go to Jesus,

because only He has the answers

to all our questions.

"Simon Peter answered Him,

'Lord, to whom shall we go?

You have the words of eternal life.'"

John 6:68 ESV

think

Bad thinking leads to bad everything else.

"May the words of my mouth

and the meditation of my heart

be pleasing in your sight, O Lord,

my Rock and my Redeemer."

Psalm 19:14 NIV

go outside

Perhaps the easiest way to get to know God

is to go outside and look around.

"The whole earth is full of His glory!"

Isaiah 6:3 ESV

peace

We can be at peace

because our God is peaceful,

and He is in control.

"Peace I leave with you;

my peace I give you.

I do not give to you as the world gives.

Do not let your hearts be troubled

and do not be afraid."

John 14:27 NIV