Psalm 1:1-2

Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked (following their advice and example). Nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit (down to rest) in the seat of scoffers.  But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law, he meditates day and night. 

God gives us a clear path to follow that keeps us away from sin. When we transgress by following along with people who have turned away from God we lose our blessing. We are to practice our faith and meditate on the word. When will fill up with all that is good in the word, we leave no room for sin to enter. 

John 14:27

Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be afraid. 

Has our faith grown enough from knowledge and experience that we never doubt we can move the mountain? Or are we a work in progress, needing Jesus to bring peace to our hearts? Jesus gave us His peace and told us not to be troubled or afraid. We can turn to and rely on Jesus, whether our faith is developing or being practiced, and find peace. 

Mathew 11:28-30

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 (following Me as My disciple) for I am gentle and humble in heart, and You will find rest for your souls.

There is a difference between religion and relationship. Jesus came to this earth to remove the barrier posed by soulless rituals and to create a direct connection to our hearts. Only when a person has peace through Jesus and salvation can they feel a connection to God. The born-again spirit opens the door for Jesus to enter and bring rest to the soul.

2 Timothy 2:11-13

This is a faithful and trustworthy saying: If we died with Him, we will also live with Him; if we endure, we will also reign with Him; if we deny Him, He will also deny us; if we are faithless, He remains faithful (true to His word and His righteous character), for He cannot deny Himself. 

We will have good days and bad days, strong days and weak days. We will still be called to increase our faith through the trials. God remains faithful to us through it all, and He is removing obstacles that we will never have to see. We are to be diligent and keep walking closer to God, and He will move closer to us. 

Luke 8:25

And He said to them, “Where is your faith (your confidence in Me)? They were afraid and astonished, saying to one another, “When then is this, that He commands even the winds and sea, and they obey Him?’

The disciples were with Jesus, and even they struggled with faith. They saw miracle after miracle, but still did not comprehend the full power of Jesus. We are in good company if we sometimes feel weak in faith, but we don’t have to stay that way. Just as the disciples grew and developed in faith, so will we as we keep reading and studying the Bible. 

Romans 15:5-6

Now may the God who gives endurance and who supplies encouragement grant that you be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify and praise and honor the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

When the body of Christ is unified, it becomes a mighty force for good. Our strength as a church today keeps evil out of our neighborhoods, towns, cities, and countries. We are to pray for one another and help the weak among us. God encourages us and lets us work together to encourage others. 

Romans 15:13

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing (through the experience of your faith) that by the power of the Holy Spirit you will abound in hope and overflow with confidence in His promise.

God will fill us with joy and peace through the Holy Spirit. He gives us the first dose of infilling, giving us confidence in the promise. We, in turn, are to keep ourselves stirred up in Hope and Faith. We have a part to play in keeping ourselves connected and engaged, not taking God for granted. 

Proverbs 28:2

When a land does wrong, it has many princes, but when the ruler is a man of understanding and knowledge, its stability endures. 

Christians are the salt of this earth, and our prayers and interventions into the evil influences make a difference. We are vital to God’s plan for the redemption of our neighbors, strangers, and loved ones. We bring stability to the land, and without us, corruption will take over the land. 

Proverbs 28:1

The wicked flee when no one pursues them, but the righteous are bold as a lion.

Fear will erode a believer’s confidence if it is listened to and allowed to linger. The devil will use imagination to fabricate false evidence and deceive our minds. A righteous person will cast down an imagination that doesn’t line up with the word of God. A righteous person is bold because of their belief in God and their experience with God working on their behalf

1 Chronicles 22:13

Then you will prosper, if you are careful to observe and fulfill the statutes and ordinances which the Lord commanded Moses concerning Israel. Be strong and courageous, do not fear or be dismayed. 

God wants us to succeed. He gave us a guidebook, and He wants you to be encouraged daily. God is the world’s overcomer working through us here on this earth. We are not weak, powerless, or invisible fighting alone. God is with us and on our side. We are to be strong and courageous and not to fear or be dismayed.