Matthew 6:6-7

But when you pray, go into your most private room, close the door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees (what is done) in secret will reward you. And when you pray, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.

God cares more about the heart than the eloquence of the words. He doesn’t want prayer to be a display but a close fellowship time with Him. The words we say should come from the heart and be in faith that God loves and hears us. 

Hosea 4:6

My people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge (of My law, where I reveal My will). Because you (the priestly nation) have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you from being My priest. Since you have forgotten the law of your God. I will also forget your children.

Jesus came to this earth to redeem us and restore our authority and dominion. The Word is specific about us speaking to the mountain, and it will obey us. If we are not using the Word or we don’t know the Word, the mountain stays put. If we reject the knowledge God gave us, God can’t help us. 

Luke 8:18

So be careful how you listen; for whoever has (a teachable heart), to him more (understanding) will be given; and whoever does not have (a longing for truth), even what he thinks he has will be taken away from him.

Our growth depends on how much we are willing to believe. We will not hear what we need to know from the Word of God if we don’t think it is true, such as healing, finances, and forgiveness. If we close our hearts to the belief that God’s Word says we can be healed, we won’t, even though Jesus says healing is ours. 

Luke 5:31-32

And Jesus replied to them, “It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but only those who are sick. I did not come to call the (self-proclaimed) righteous (who see no need to repent), but sinners to repentance.

Jesus came to change sinners’ ways of thinking. He reminds people that there is a standard of living, thinking, and believing. When Jesus reveals the difference between righteousness and sin, the conviction for repentance comes to the heart. Pray that sinners’ eyes are opened to Jesus and repentance. 

John 8:51

I assure you and most solemnly say to you, if anyone keeps My word (by living in accordance with My message) he will indeed never, ever see and experience death.

Salvation through Jesus Christ is living and real. If it weren’t, the devil would have nothing to fight against. For the people who may be on the fence about believing and keeping God’s word, it matters for eternal life. Our lives matter to God, and Jesus died on the cross to buy our sinful selves back from hell. Keep your faith, keep going, and stop letting the devil steal the future with lies. 

John 3:19-20

This is the judgement (that is the cause for indictment, the test by which people are judged, the basis for the sentence): the Light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds are evil. For every wrongdoer hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his (sinful, worthless) activities will be exposed and condemned.

The same devil that entices people into sin will use shame of exposure to keep them there. Pride for a “good” name that is tarnished pushes people to cover sin and not repent. God gets the victory, and the devil loses ground when we honestly repent and turn toward the light. God already knows where we have fallen and is waiting for us to repent so He can forgive us. 

Proverbs 1:20-22

Wisdom shouts in the street, she raises her voice in the markets; she calls out at the head of the noisy streets; at the entrance of city gates, she speaks her words: How long, O naïve ones (you who are easily misled), will you love being simple-minded and undiscerning? How long will scoffers (who ridicule and deride) delight in scoffing? How long will fools (who obstinately mock truth) hate knowledge?

God will send wisdom when we ask for help. Choosing wisdom and making a wise choice will not always be the easiest, depending on outside pressure. In each case above, a person chose to follow their own ways instead of the way of wisdom. Following the world’s wisdom doesn’t bring us the highest reward. 

Psalm 119:148-149

My eyes anticipate the night watches and I awake before the call of the watchman, that I may meditate on Your word. Hear my voice according to Your (steadfast) lovingkindness; O Lord, renew and refresh me according to Your ordinances.

The morning sets the tone for the day. The mind can be a battlefield if we let yesterday’s problems roll over to today’s thoughts. When we start with some study from the Bible or teaching, we focus our minds on God’s way. The devil will try to plant negative thought seeds, but we can cast them down.  

Psalm 119:18-20

Open my eyes (to spiritual truth) so that I may behold wonderful things from Your law. I am a stranger on the earth; do not hide Your commandments from me. My soul is crushed with longing for Your ordinances at all times. 

When God reveals spiritual truths to our hearts, we grow in our spiritual walk. The more we learn about God and His desire for us to receive His best, the more we want to learn. God is all that is good, and when we see that He wants all that is good for us, we long for an even closer relationship. 

Psalm 119:2-3

Blessed and favored by God are those who keep His testimonies and who (consistently) seek him and long for Him with all their heart. The do no unrighteousness; they walk in His ways.  

The best way to keep God’s favor is to keep His commandments. We do this by seeking the Lord through study, prayer, and listening to His word. It is easier for our minds to stay stable, focused, and close to God when we seek Him with all our hearts. Our focus and attention are maintained on God, and He will direct our paths.