So many entities in our lifetime have made plans for us. Then we had plans of our own which often collided with those other plans and left a field of debris. However, there is One whose plans are always for our welfare. You guessed it.

Jeremiah 29:11-13

“For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all of your heart.”

Tap into the One who knows the future. Give it some thought.

Gary

Perseverance is the quality of continuing with something or pursuing a goal despite difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement. It involves steadfast effort and determination to finish what one starts, and it is often described as a form of “grit” essential for achieving long-term success.

James 5:11

As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.

Think of the many and varied aspects of life that require this ability. Give it some thought and hang in there.

Gary

The group called The Animals belted it out in 1965 and titled it, “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood.”

“Don’t let me be misunderstood” means “Please understand that although I sometimes seem negative or angry, my intentions are good.” It is a plea for understanding. It begs others to look beyond temporary negative actions or words to see the inherent good in that person, acknowledging his or her complexities and imperfections.

Been there, done that is the common colloquialism. We all cry out for understanding on occasion. Does God answer that? Glad you asked.

Psalm 103:13-14

As a father pities his children,
So the Lord pities those who fear Him.

For He knows our frame;
He remembers that we are dust.

God is a God who knows us (and all of our shortcomings) intimately, yet He still loves us infinitely. Give it some thought.

Gary

“You can’t be that kid standing at the top of the waterslide, overthinking it. You have to go down the chute.” —Tina Fey

I don’t know how much Tina knows about Scripture, but that is the driving force behind faith.  Hebrews 11 is all about that. Here’s one verse:

Hebrews 11:6 

And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him.

Have you taken note of the kinds of experiences that require a step of faith? Life will offer them to you.  As a believer, you should trust Him to catch you in His faithful arms. Give it some thought.

Gary

“Sometimes I lie awake at night, and I ask, ‘Where have I gone wrong’.
Then a voice says to me, ‘This is going to take more than one night.”
― Charlie Schultz

This common thought has been plaguing man since the Garden of Eden. It’s not the past that should concern us, but the future. Does the Bible address this malady? Glad you asked.

1 John 2:1

My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous

Adam, Moses, David, Solomon or a multitude of others could have made a similar statement. However, God gave them a future and a hope.

Give it some thought.

Gary

Self-pity is our worst enemy, and if we yield to it, we can never do anything wise in this world.

– Helen Keller

This statement was made by a blind woman who spent a lifetime being a benefit to her world.  Does the Bible address this topic? Glad you asked.

Romans 5:3 

Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance,

1 Peter 5:7 

Casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you.

This world is not about us, but about others. Give it some thought.

Gary

I’ve learned –
that you can get by on charm
for about fifteen minutes.
After that, you’d better know something.

–       Unknown author

Proverbs 31:30 

Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

Matthew 23:28 

So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

It is not how we present ourselves to others that has value, but what we are before God.

Give it some consideration.

Gary