Editorial Note....

Happy Friday!

Please take an extra moment to read today's post slowly and carefully as it is truly a remarkable and powerful promise and message for us all!

I know many people are struggling with the inevitable trials and challenges that come with living life on this earth and we can often feel alone and overwhelmed by the events of each day. 

However, we are NEVER alone or in danger when we understand the promises and gifts that our faith provides to all of us!

All we have to do is Believe, Trust and Ask in order to receive all the backup and help we need to take on any challenge or trial in our lives! 

This is the Promise of our Faith!

Trust in it.

Have a Terrific and Peaceful weekend.

Remember, no matter how bad you think you have it, you can throw a rock and find someone whose cross is 1000 times more difficult to bear than ours today.

Put it all in perspective.

Count your blessings because they are numerous and beyond counting and know that someone you encounter today would trade their life for yours in a heartbeat - and you wouldn't want that trade!

Don't take your countless blessings for granted! ;)

God bless and Stay Strong!!

SUPERNATURAL POWER

WHEN THE JOURNEY YOU ARE ON FEELS OVERWHELMING, THE VERY BEST THING YOU CAN DO IS CLING TO ME.

At such times the future seems unreal—unreachable—and the past feels remote, but this can actually be a blessing.

My followers tend to waste vast quantities of time and energy thinking about past and future matters.

Thus they neglect the present—where they actually live—and My Presence, though I am always near.

When adverse circumstances surround you and seem to be closing in on you, it is still possible to be joyful in Me, your Savior.

Since you cannot find a way out of your circumstances, accept the situation and search for Me in the midst of it.

Sometimes you may feel as if you can hold on to Me no longer.

I remind you, though, that you have been able to cling to Me to this day.

You have powerful backup because the Holy Spirit lives in you.

He can give you supernatural strength, far beyond your own.

In addition to this, My hand has an eternal grip on yours.

Though your strength to keep holding on may run out, Mine never will.

From " Jesus Lives " by Sarah Young

Stay Strong!

"So do not fear, for I—your God—am with you. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. But cling to the Lord your God as you have done to this day."
JOSHUA 23:8 AMP

"Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.'
HABAKKUK 3:17–18

"My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me."
PSALM 63:8

"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." ISAIAH 41:10

The Strength of My Life; of Whom Shall I be Afraid?

I WANT YOU TO SAY WITH CONFIDENCE: "THE LORD IS MY HELPER; I WILL NOT BE AFRAID. WHAT CAN MAN DO TO ME?"

This bold confidence is not a denial that bad things happen to My people.

It is a declaration of transcendent courage—in the midst of hardships and dangers.

The basis for this courage is My tenacious Presence with you:

I will never leave you or forsake you.

I Myself go before you and will be with you wherever you go.

I am well aware of your fearful tendencies, and I long to help you break free from them.

Most of your fear stems from pondering bad things that could happen—leaving Me out of that imaginary scenario.

This is a very harmful practice; it is also an exercise in unreality.

Although your future stretches all the way into eternity, there is not even one second when I will be absent from you.

While the psalmist David was being pursued by King Saul, he was in constant danger.

Yet he was able to write:

The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

I am also your strength.

Whenever your mind wanders into the future, make the effort to include Me in that imagery.

See Me helping you, strengthening you, encouraging you.

Instead of being intimidated by tough times ahead, view them as adventures that you and I together can handle.

If fearful thoughts start closing in on you, push back the darkness with a shout of "Victory!"—confident in the Victorious One who will never leave you or forsake you.

From " Jesus Lives " by Sarah Young

Stay Strong!

"So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?"
HEBREWS 13:6

"The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."
DEUTERONOMY 31:8

"The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?"
PSALM 27:1 NKJV

My Strength and My Shield

"The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him."
NAHUM 1: 7

Prayer is so much simpler than we make it!

We get bogged down in details.

I heard one preacher say, "Don't preach theology to God in your prayers!"

Do we think God doesn't know all the details?

All we need to do is tell God our needs, our desires, our feelings, hopes, and longings as well as our temptations, our indifference to good, and our taste for evil.

Jesus knew you and I would struggle with prayer.

In His parting words to His disciples, Jesus kept it simple.

He said, "Ask and you will receive, that your joy may be full" (John 16: 24 NKJV).

Tell Him your troubles, your joys, your weaknesses, your needs.

Willingly show Him the wounds of your heart.

Ask!

Ask Him to help you pray more effectively and with more concentration.

Ask Him to help you pray specifically and persistently.

Ask, "Lord! Help me to pray!"

From " Fixing My Eyes on Jesus " by Anne Graham

I AM YOUR STRENGTH AND YOUR SHIELD.

I continually work—sometimes in wondrous ways—to help and protect you.

As you put your trust in Me, your heart can leap for Joy!

Trusting Me and loving Me go hand in hand.

When I search the hearts of My children, what I focus on most of all is the measure of love and trust within them.

If you say you love Me but you do not really trust Me—to take care of you and your loved ones, providing what is best in your lives—then your words ring hollow.

To trust Me wholeheartedly, you must rest in My sovereignty: My absolute control over the universe.

When circumstances seem to be spinning out of control, it's essential to believe I know what I am doing.

I orchestrate every event of your life—including suffering and loss— to benefit you in this world and the next.

While you are in the throes of adversity, your greatest challenge is to keep trusting that I am both sovereign and good.

Do not expect to understand My ways.

For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than yours.

The best response is simply to thank Me, believing I can bring much good out of the unwanted circumstances.

This act of faith will encourage you and glorify Me.

I rejoice when My struggling children give thanks to Me in song.

From " Jesus Lives " by Sarah Young

Stay Strong!

"The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song."
PSALM 28:7

"I love you, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold."
PSALM 18:1–2

"For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts."
ISAIAH 55:9 NKJV

Transform Trouble

WHATEVER IS TRUE, NOBLE, RIGHT, PURE, LOVELY, ADMIRABLE—THINK ABOUT SUCH THINGS.

You live in a world where media direct your attention to what is false, degrading, wrong, impure, ugly.

Truth has been displaced by "spin," and sensational stories attract advertisers.

It is no accident that "true" is the first adjective in this list of excellent qualities.

Without truth, there is nothing worth pondering.

That is why it's essential to fill your mind with Scripture—developing a biblical worldview.

Even though there is so much brokenness in the world, you can still find much that is excellent or praiseworthy in it.

Search for such things as for buried treasure.

When you unearth something lovely, meditate on it and praise Me for it.

Tell others about such things; help them find beauty and meaning in their lives.

True, noble, admirable things can still be found in many places on earth, but they are most abundantly available in Me.

So I urge you to fix your thoughts on Me as much as you can.

Whisper My Name to remind yourself that I am always within "whispering distance."

Look at the world around you through eyes of gratitude; thank Me for the many good things you can see.

Bring Me your problems as well as your praises, and watch Me transform trouble into something praiseworthy.

From " Jesus Lives " by Sarah Young

Stay Strong!

"Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."
PHILIPPIANS 4:8

"Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess."
HEBREWS 3:1

"He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him."
PSALM 91:15 NKJV

Constant and Complete Protection

DO NOT DREAD WALKING THROUGH THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH.

My radiant Presence shines brightly in that deep, sunless valley — strengthening, encouraging, and comforting you.

Since I never sleep, I am able to watch over you continuously.

Moreover, there is no valley or pit so deep and dark that I cannot see all the way to the bottom of it.

Even if you wander from Me and fall into a slimy pit, you need not despair.

When you cry out to Me, I will lift you out of the mud and mire and set your feet on a rock—giving you a firm place to stand.

Whenever you start to feel afraid, remember that I—your Shepherd—am armed.

I am never without My rod of protection, and I use it with deadly accuracy.

My shepherd's staff is for guiding you.

The hooked end of the staff is perfect for pulling you back from danger or rescuing you when you have fallen out of arm's reach.

Find comfort in the constant protection and guidance I provide.

As you face your fears, remember that I am the One who goes before you and will be with you;

I will never leave you.

While you are walking through the valley of adversity, let these ten short words cascade through your mind:

I will fear no evil, for You are with me.

From " Jesus Lives " by Sarah Young

Stay Strong!

"Yes, though I walk through the [deep, sunless] valley of the shadow of death, I will fear or dread no evil, for You are with me; Your rod [to protect] and Your staff [to guide], they comfort me."
PSALM 23:4 AMP

"I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand."
PSALM 40:1–2

"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep." JOHN 10:11 NKJV

"The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."
DEUTERONOMY 31:8

Do Not be Alarmed by Trials

I AM NOT A CARELESS GOD.

In fact, because I am perfect in all My ways, it is impossible for Me to be careless.

However, when I allow difficulties to come into your life— events that you know I could have prevented—you may feel as if I am being careless with you.

In those times, remember that I have fully equipped you to handle whatever comes your way.

What you need is: help in using the equipment.

My Word and My Spirit are freely available to help you.

The Bible imparts to you essential wisdom: My promises to be near you and take care of you, exhortations that help you avoid sinful snares, offers of forgiveness when you "miss the mark," promises of My Spirit's living in you and empowering you.

It is important not to be surprised or alarmed by the many trials that enter your life.

Until you reach your ultimate home in heaven, you will be at war.

Adopting a wartime mentality makes it easier to handle difficulties as they arise.

You don't waste time and energy bemoaning your circumstances, and you avoid the trap of feeling singled out for hardship.

I do indeed equip you to be ready for adversity and handle it well.

But you have to make the effort to use what I provide:

My Presence, My Word, My Spirit.

From " Jesus Lives " by Sarah Young

Stay Strong!

"Come to Me when you are heavy laden, and you will find rest for your soul. So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. ISAIAH 41:10

"Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings."
1 PETER 5:8–9

"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."
MATTHEW 11:28–29 NKJV

Be Joyful in Hope, Patient in Affliction, Faithful in Prayer

BE JOYFUL ALWAYS;

PRAY CONTINUALLY;

GIVE THANKS IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES.

The only way to be joyful consistently is to take pleasure in your invincible relationship with Me—the One who rules the universe.

This relationship is full of hope, so it is possible to be joyful in hope even in the midst of ongoing affliction.

The simplest way to find Joy in Me is to give thanks in all circumstances.

There is immense Power in praying simply,

"Thank You, Jesus."

This brief prayer is appropriate for all times and all situations because of My great sacrifice for you.

I encourage you to thank Me for every good thing as soon as you become aware of it.

This practice adds sparkle to your blessings, increasing your Joy; it also helps you pray continually—persistently, perseveringly.

When you are feeling dull or downhearted, it is still a good time to thank Me.

This tiny act of gratitude can brighten your perspective immediately.

To deepen your thankfulness, ponder specific things about Me that delight you—for instance: My lavish grace, My unfailing Love, My continual Presence.

Giving thanks in all circumstances is a joyous discipline; it empowers you to lift up your soul and live close to Me.

From " Jesus Lives " by Sarah Young

Stay Strong!

"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."
1 THESSALONIANS 5:16–18

"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer."
ROMANS 12:12

"In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with God's grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding."
EPHESIANS 1:7–

"Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul."
PSALM 143:8