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 the darkness into His marvelous light. 

As we are followers of Christ, our lives are set apart as a chosen race and special people. Our goal is to live lives that proclaim the goodness and faithfulness of the Lord. We understand our inheritance’s benefits through our salvation of being called out of darkness and into the light. Now walk in this world built up in the word and shine the light.

Ephesians 2:10

For we are His workmanship (His own master work, a work of art), created in Christ Jesus (reborn from above-spiritually transformed, renewed, ready to be used) for good works, which God prepared (for us) beforehand (taking paths which He set), so that we would walk in them (living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us).

We are seeds created by God and planted here are earth. We have potential that comes from our design by God, given to us through Jesus when we were reborn. Our lives were never meant to be ordinary in our path with God. We are called to be a reflection of Jesus on this earth.

Proverbs 22:3

A prudent and far-sighted person sees the evil (of sin) and hides himself (from it), but the naïve continue on and are punished (by suffering the consequence of sin).

The knowledge gained from the study of the word of God keeps us from falling into the traps of sin. God loves us so much and wants to keep us safe and wise to the enemy’s devices. God doesn’t want us to fail; if we fail, He wants us to confess sin and get back up. God wants us to succeed in this life.

Psalm 138:2-3

I will bow down (in worship) toward your holy temple and give thanks to Your name for Your loving-kindness and Your truth; for You have magnified Your word together with Your name. On the day I called, You answered me; and you made me bold and confident with (renewed) strength in my life.

God deserves all the praise. God loved us so much that He sacrificed His only son for our salvation. Even when we were sinners, God offered us His hand in love to guide us back to fellowship. God deserves all our praise and honor because He promises never to leave or forsake us. If we call on God, He will answer and renew our strength, so we walk confidently before Him. 

Psalm 147:1-3

Praise the Lord! For it is good to sing praises to our God; praise is becoming and appropriate. The Lord is building up Jerusalem; He is gathering the exiles of Israel. He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds (healing their pain and comforting their sorrows).

When we have praise for God in our hearts and our mouths, we can lift ourselves in any situation. Praise changes the atmosphere, invites God into our situation and focuses our minds on God. God builds His people up and heals them of their pain and sorrows. Praise the Lord for the healing and answers to prayers. 

Isaiah 60:1-2

Arise (from spiritual depression to a new life), shine (be radiant with the glory and brilliance of the Lord); for your light has come, and the glory and brilliance of the Lord has risen upon you. For in fact darkness will cover the earth and deep darkness will cover the peoples; but the Lord will rise upon you (Jerusalem) and His glory and brilliance will be seen on you. 

Through centuries of desert and famine, God has always cared for His people. This is our God, a mighty God. We have nothing to fear because darkness will not prevail. Jerusalem will rise, and the glory of the Lord will shine upon her. We will rise and be with Jesus because God has a covenant with His people. 

James 5:7-8

So wait patiently, brothers and sisters, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits (expectantly) for the precious harvest from the land, being patient about it, until it receives the early and late rains. You too, be patient; strengthen your hearts (keep them energized and firmly committed to God), because the coming of the Lord is near. 

We can see the signs of a world on the verge of the coming of the Lord. We must keep our focus and turn away from the evil rising on the earth prophesized in Isaiah 60. As Christians, we have work yet to do and no need to fear. Our God is able to keep us until the day of His coming.

Exodus 23:25

You shall serve (only) the Lord your God, and He shall bless your bread and water. I will also remove sickness from among you. 

Healing and health are essential to our lives. It matters to us when we feel pain and sickness, and it matters to God. When we serve the Lord and keep God’s central place in our lives, the power for healing is available to us. The devil will send darts of fear, doubt, symptoms, and pain, but the power of God is there to remove sickness from us. 

Isaiah 26:4

Trust (confidently) in the Lord forever (He is your fortress, your shield, your banner), for the Lord God is an everlasting Rock (the Rock of ages).

The best advantage we can give our lives is to seek and trust the Lord in all things. We must become like horses wearing blinders who can look only in one direction. That means we don’t spook if something suddenly comes our way. We only see God as our answer.

Romans 1:20

For ever since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through His workmanship (all His creation, the wonderful things that He has made) so that they (who fail to believe and trust in Him) are without excuse or defense.

It all comes down to what we choose to believe. If we believe in God, our lives will be transformed by salvation and eternal life. The problems develop in our thinking and our reasoning against the reality of God in our minds. We have heart trouble that leads to mind trouble. Guard and protect the thoughts of our hearts and mind. Keep the focus on God no matter the circumstance.