Galatians 1:3-4

Grace to you and peace (inner calm and spiritual well-being) from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself (as a sacrifice to atone) for our sins ( to save and sanctify us) so that He might rescue us from this present evil age, in accordance with the will and purpose and plan of our God and Father.

Jesus was sent to rescue us from the present evil age. Without salvation through Jesus Christ, our hearts would feel fear and confusion. Jesus is our rock and foundation and ever-present help. To make sound decisions, we need the peace and calm that Jesus and the Word provide. 

Psalm 105:3-4

Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those who seek and require the Lord (as their most essential need) rejoice. Seek and deeply long for the Lord and His strength; seek and deeply long for His face and His presence continually. 

They knew in the Old Testament to value and put their trust in seeking the face of God. Nothing has changed from then to now! The importance of fellowship with God and His word is still vital to our lives and peace of mind. If we long for God in our hearts, we will place our focus solely on His guidance. 

Psalm 18:30-32

As for God, His way is blameless. The word of the Lord is tested (it is perfect, it is faultless); He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him. For who is God but the Lord? Or who is a rock, except our God, the God who encircles me with strength and makes my way blameless. 

The word of the Lord is tested and faultless. We are to use the word as a shield and a source of protection in our daily lives. God hears our prayers of faith and instills in us courage and strength through our confessions of faith. We are to speak to our mountains and watch as God turns them into mole hills. 

Habakkuk 3:18-19

Yet I will (choose to) rejoice in the Lord; I will (choose to) shout in exultation in the (victorious) God of my salvation! The Lord God is my strength (my source of courage, my invincible army); He has made my feet (steady and sure) like hinds’ feet and makes me walk (forward with spiritual confidence) on my high places (of challenge and responsibility).

Our faith comes down to the choices we make about whom we believe. Will we believe the lies of the enemy or the truth of God? What comes out of our mouths will either lead us to victory in God or defeat through the devil. When we choose God, we will build ourselves up on the most Holy Word and defeat the forces that are trying to move against our lives. 

Habakkuk 2:4

Look at the proud one, his soul is not right within him, but the righteous will live by his faith (in the true God). 

Pride is a deep pleasure in one’s own achievements. This makes it hard for God to lead the person when their soul is not right within them. The humble willingly listen to the voice of God with a soft heart and humility. The righteous humbly listen to and follow God through faith and do not lean on their own abilities

Habakkuk 2:3

For the vision is yet for the appointed (future) time it hurries toward the goal (of fulfillment); it will not fail. Even though it delays, wait (patiently) for it, because it will certainly come, it will not delay.

God has a vision for an appointed time. He had the vision for our creation and the creation of the world. He had the vision for Jesus and our salvation! God has a vision for His people and their futures, and we must wait patiently as all the pieces come together. God has a vision for the return of Jesus to the earth, and it will certainly come.

Amos 5:24

But let justice run down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream (flowing abundantly).

God does not want us to be outwardly righteous and inwardly corrupt and mistreating people. People can’t lie, cheat, and steal and expect God to bless it.  God calls for justice for those who do not follow His word and abuse their social position and power. God always sees the corruption and evil may seem to flourish until God sends justice to the land. 

Amos 5:14

Seek (long for, require) good and not evil, that you may live; and so many the Lord God of hosts be with you, just as you have said!

Making time for God benefits us greatly. Distraction is a tool of the enemy to keep us away from drawing close to God. If we seek good, our thoughts and perspective change. When we focus on God and His goodness, our lives will change. The more we spend our focus on God, the more we will believe what He has provided for us to be true. 

Amos 5:4-5

For thus says the Lord to the house of Israel, “Seek Me (search diligently for Me and regard Me as more essential than food) so that you may live. But do not resort to Bethel (to worship the golden calf), nor enter (idolatrous) Gilgal, nor cross over to Beersheba (and its idols); for Gilgal will certainly go into captivity and exile, and Bethel will come to nothing.

What would happen if the focus changed from what we currently think is more important to God? Would that shift open our eyes to the idolatry we see as normal, but that is actually a hindrance. If all we were to see was God as the most important thing, would the rest of our lives come in line without effort? God would then be able to fill all the voids without a struggle, and our path would be clear. 

Hebrews 4:12

For the word of God is living and active and full of power (making it operative, energizing, and effective). It is sharper than a two-edged sword, penetrating as far as the division of the soul and spirit (the completeness of a person), and of both joints and marrow (the deepest parts of our nature), exposing and judging the very thoughts and intentions of the heart.

The word of God is full of power and ability. There is nothing hidden that we do or think that God does not know. The word of God will help to bring us to light or reveal that we are stagnant in darkness. God, through His word, is giving us the ability to produce what is good and lovely in this world. Let us build ourselves up in the word so that we can be judges and hold what is righteous dear to our hearts.