Matthew 18:21-22

Then Peter came to Him and asked, “Lord how many times will my brother sin against me and I forgive him and let it go?” Up to seven times?” Jesus answered him, “I say to you, not up to seven times, but seventy times seven.

Forgiveness isn’t an option with Jesus. We can’t hold grudges or stay offended with people if we feel we were wronged or hurt. It doesn’t mean we must remain in close contact. It just means we forgive the wrong. We let thoughts of what happened fade in memory and walk forward with our lives in peace with Jesus. 

Matthew 15:18-19

But whatever (Word) comes out of the mouth comes from the heart, and this is what defiles and dishonors the man. For out of the heart come evil thoughts and plans, murders, adulteries, sexual immoralities, thefts false testimonies, slanders.  

What we have inside our hearts and thoughts in our minds is what we will speak. We will talk about those things if we are angry, troubled, or dissatisfied. Now, if God is at the center of our hearts, we will talk about what is pure and lovely. We can gauge where we are with God and our walk by what is spoken out of our mouths.  

John 15:5

I am the Vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him bears much fruit, for apart from Me (that is cut off from the vital union with Me) you can do nothing. 

In the pursuit of happiness, life without Jesus is unfulfilling. The problem is understanding the purpose of life if there is no God in it. The goal is not self-satisfaction only; when that is realized after meeting a goal and still being unhappy, people wonder what life is for. We cannot live a fruitful, purposeful life apart from God. God has designed us with a purpose; without Him, we will never realize it. 

John 14:15-16

If you (really) love Me, you will keep and obey My commandments. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor-Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), to be with you forever. 

When we love Jesus and keep His commandments the Holy Spirit can work in our lives. The Holy Spirit guides us around a multitude of traps and wrong turns. We cannot see all that the Holy Spirit sees happening in and around our lives. We are in the perfect hands of God with the Helper when we obey the commandments. 

Matthew 11:28

Come to Me, all who are weary and heavily burdened (by religious rituals that provide no peace) and I will give you rest (refreshing your souls with salvation). Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and You will find rest for your souls.

We live in a world where media, phones, and news are always pumping us information. It gets exhausting for the mind, and our hearts will have little peace. We were never designed to carry the burdens of the world. Jesus was intended to take the burdens of the world. Jesus is our peace and salvation when we turn away from the chaos and focus on Him alone. 

Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in and rely confidently on the Lord with all your heart and do not rely on your own understanding. In all your ways know and acknowledge and recognize Him, and He will make your paths straight and smooth.

Our minds will reason us the perfect scenario of what we imagine as truth. God sees the moment’s reality, the next hour, and beyond. We cannot rely on our feelings because feelings change. If we acknowledge God in all our ways, He can direct our path. First, we must silence our minds, reasoning, and emotions to hear. 

Jeremiah 29:11-12

For I know the plans and thoughts that I have for you, says the Lord, plans for peace and well-being and not for disaster to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call on Me and you will come and pray to Me, and I will hear and I will listen to you.

Our lives were planned before we were born by God. When we stay connected to God and the Bible, God can lead and guide us into those plans. We will flourish if we remain sensitive to the Holy Spirit and let God lead our lives. Our connection must be purposeful, our commitment real, and our hearts tender to God. 

Psalm 84:11 

For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows grace and favor and honor; no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly. 

If we are walking uprightly before the Lord, we will be blessed. What we receive from God depends on our following God’s Word. We have free will, but our choices affect our blessings and salvation. The more we incorporate God into our lives and ways, the more we will increase in blessings. 

Acts 14:22

Strengthening and establishing the hearts of the disciples; encouraging them to remain firm in the faith, saying, “It is through many tribulations and hardships that we must enter the kingdom of God.

We are to be encouraged by the Word of God because He knew we would have hardships. God doesn’t expect us to go through these times alone but firmly grasp His promises in the Bible. These promises will keep us steadfast and stable, only believing the truth of the Word and not the world’s lies. 

James 1:3-4

Be assured that the testing of your faith (through experience) produces endurance (leading to spiritual maturity, and inner peace). And let endurance have its perfect result and do a thorough work, so that you may be perfect and completely developed (in your faith), lacking in nothing.

Jesus overcame the world when He died on the cross and transferred the ability of faith to those who believe in Him. That knowledge of the transfer should increase our belief in the Word and our abilities with the Word to overcome the circumstances. Our faith must be practiced for us to succeed, and we must endure to grow and learn how to use the tools Jesus gave us to succeed.