Proverbs 24:19-20

Do not get upset because of evildoers, or be envious of the wicked, for there will be no future for the evil man; the lamp of the wicked will be put out.  

In troubling times, when the darkness of evil increases, the Lord reminds us that there will be punishment for the sinful man. God knows the end from the beginning, and the wicked will have no future. Keep our eyes focused on God; He will comfort, protect, and strengthen our hearts. 

Proverbs 15:10

Be He loves one who pursues righteousness (personal integrity, moral courage and honorable character). There is severe discipline for him who turns from the way (of righteousness) and he who hates correction will die.

It takes courage to pursue an honorable character. It means we will maintain our integrity even in the face of temptation or pressure from friends or family to compromise our faith. God loves and will reward those who pursue righteousness even in the face of opposition. The rewards for staying true to God’s commands are more significant than any reward the world could offer. 

Proverbs 11:25

The generous man (is a source of blessing and) shall be prosperous and enriched, and he who waters will himself be watered (reaping the generosity he has sown).

A person willing to give doesn’t fear losing what they give away—fear of never having enough and not trusting in God as the provider will stop people from giving. God loves a giver who knows and trusts in Him and will bless a giver. The first step is trusting in the Lord and understanding the tithe and giving.

1 John 1:7

But if we (really) walk in the Light (that is, live each and every day in the conformity with the precepts of God), as He Himself is the Light, we have (true, unbroken) fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus, His Son cleanses us from all sin (by erasing the stain of sin, keeping us cleansed from sin in all its forms and manifestations).

Doing our best to keep close to Jesus daily keeps us away from sin. We don’t lose our focus or our way with worldly and only temporarily satisfying things. The light of the Word will remove the dark thoughts and struggles from our minds. Jesus will help us avoid and stay away from sin. 

John 3:16

For God so (greatly) loved and dearly prized the world, the He (even) gave His (One and) only begotten Son, so that whoever believes and trusts in Him (as Savior) shall not perish, but have eternal life. 

Our salvation turned us from a life of sin, and now we have Jesus as an example of avoiding sin. God’s love for us bridged the gap through the sacrifice of Jesus to bring us back into fellowship with Him. We no longer have to live a life in sin; if we do miss the mark, we are to confess and get back into fellowship with God. 

1 Peter 5:8-9

Be sober (well balance and self-disciplined), be alert and cautious at all times. That enemy of yours, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, be firm in your faith (against his attack-rooted, established, immovable), knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being experienced by your brothers and sisters throughout the world. 

The devil will talk to us and suggest things. He is sly about it and slips it in when the guard is down. We are not to accept every thought that comes into our head but cast down imaginations that are not Godly. We are to resist the devil and speak the Word; the Bible says the devil will flee. Be strong in the Lord, and keep your guard up.  

Romans 12:1

Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies (dedicating all of yourselves, set apart) as a living sacrifice, holy and well pleasing to God, which is your rational (logical, intelligent) act of worship.

We must practice distancing ourselves from the world to set ourselves apart and walk holy before God. The world is selfish, carnal, and opposite of God. God has no satisfaction in the world. We worship God and his leadership when we follow God and keep ourselves holy.

1 Peter 2:9

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a consecrated nation, a (special) people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies (the wonderful deeds and virtues and perfections) of him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

The heart of praise toward God lies in thanksgiving for all He has done for His people. God committed and loved us when we were still in our sins and saved us from hell. God deserves our praise and worship; as we praise Him, we draw closer to Him. Today, give God the praise and thanksgiving for all He does in our lives.

Hebrews 11:6

But without faith it is impossible to (walk with God and) please Him, for whoever comes (near) to God must (necessarily) believe that God exists and the He rewards those who (earnestly and diligently) seek Him. 

Seeking God is a vital faith builder. When seeking something, we try to learn all we can about the subject. The more we know and increase our knowledge, the more our faith will build. God is a rewarder of those who seek Him in faith. How close we get to God depends entirely on our commitment to learning more about Him.

1 John 4:18

There is no fear in love (dread does not exist). But perfect (complete, full-grown) love drives out fear, because fear involves (the expectation of divine) punishment, so the one who is afraid (of God’s judgement) is not perfected in love (has not grown into sufficient understand of God’s love).

As believers, when we make a mistake and sin, the expectation of punishment will manifest in our hearts and minds. Immediately confess that sin to God and return to the Love walk. Fear comes from letting the devil get a foothold and not dealing with the sin. God loves us and willingly forgives us of our sins when we confess them!