encouragement

Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him for the help of His presence. Psalm 42:5

O send out Your light and Your truth, let them lead me; let them bring me to Your holy hill and to Your dwelling places Psalm 43:3

RESTING IN THE LOVE OF GOD

God ministers to broken and aching hearts in a variety of ways. The Holy Spirit touches our lives through:

ASSURANCE...

See how very much our heavenly Father loves us, for he allows us to be called His children -- think of it -- and we really are! But since most people don’t know God, naturally they don’t understand that we are His children. 1 John 3:1 TLB

That is why I am suffering here in jail, and I am certainly not ashamed of it, for I know the one in whom I trust, and I am sure that he is able to safely guard all that I have given him until the day of his return. 2 Timothy 1: 12

COMFORT...

But even so, you love me! You are holding my right hand! You will keep on guiding me all my life with your wisdom and counsel, and afterwards receive me into the glories of heaven! Psalms 73: 23-24 TLB

My sheep recognize my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life and they shall never perish. No one shall snatch them away from me. John 10: 27-28 TLB
As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you. Isaiah 66:13

FAITH...

Yet there is one ray of hope: His compassion never ends. It is only the Lord’s mercies that have kept us from complete destruction. Great is His faithfulness; his loving-kindness begins afresh each day. Lamentations 3: 21-23

Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him to help you do it, and He will. Psalms 37: 5 TLB

HOPE...

Now glory be to God, who by His mighty power at work within us is able to do far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of -- infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, or hopes. Ephesians 3: 20

“For I know the plans I have for you,“ says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29: 11 TLB

Now we can look forward to the salvation God has promised us. There is no longer any room for doubt, and we can tell others that salvation is ours, for there is no question that He will do what He says. Hebrews 10: 23

Come to me and I will give you rest -- all of you who work so hard beneath a heavy yoke. Wear my yoke -- for it fits perfectly -- and let me teach you; for I am gentle and humble, and you shall find rest for your souls; Matthew 11: 28-29

PEACE...
So now, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith in His promises, we can have real peace with Him because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Romans 5: 1 TLB

“I am leaving you with a gift -- peace of mind and heart! And the peace I give isn’t fragile like the peace the worlds gives. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” John 14: 27 TLB

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything; tell God your needs, and don’t forget to thank him for his answers. If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will keep your thoughts and your hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4: 6-7 TLB

TRUST...

As part of the act of faith by which a person establishes a saving relationship with Jesus Christ, trust is placed in the ability of Jesus Christ to restore the broken relationship between God and sinful man. Once Christ has been received as Lord and Savior, the believer begins to develop the confidence and trust in God to fulfill all the promises which Scripture makes to the maturing Christian.

We can trust God because He always tells the truth...

He has given us both his promise and his oath, two things we can completely count on, for it is impossible for God to tell a lie. Now all those who flee to him to save them can take new courage when they hear such assurances for God; now they ca know without doubt that He will give them the salvation he has promised them. Hebrews 6: 18 TLB

God will continue to be true even when every person is false. Romans 3: 4 NCV

We can trust God because He loves us...

We know how much God loves us because we have felt his love and because we believe him when he tells us that he loves us dearly. God is love, and anyone who lives in love is living with God and God is living in him. And as we live with Christ, our love grows more perfect and complete; so we will not be ashamed and embarrassed at the day of judgment, but can face him with confidence and joy because he loves us and we love him too. We need have no fear of someone who loves us perfectly; his perfect love for us eliminates all dread of what he might do to us. If we are afraid, it is for fear of what he might do to us and shows that we are not fully convinced that he really loves us. So you see, our love for him comes as a result of his loving us first. 1 John 4: 16-19 TLB

Many sorrows come to the wicked, but abiding love surrounds those who trust in the Lord. Psalms 32: 10 TLB

We can trust God because He is in control...

May the God of peace himself make you entirely pure and devoted to God; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept strong ad blameless until that day when our Lord Jesus Christ comes back again. God, who called you to become his child, will do all this for you just as he promised. 1 Thessalonians 5: 23-24 TLB

We know that in everything God works for the good of those who love him They are the people he called, because that was his plan. Romans 8: 28 NCV

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “ plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29: 11 NIV

We can trust God because He will help us in times of trouble...

In everything you do, put God first, and he will direct you and crown you efforts with success. Don’t be conceited, sure of your own wisdom. Instead, trust and reverence the Lord, and turn your back on evil; when you do that, then you will be given renewed health and vitality. Proverbs 3: 5-6 TLB

But remember this -- the wrong desires that come into your life aren’t anything new and different. Many others have face exactly the same problems before you. And no temptation is irresistible. You can trust God to keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can’t stand up against it, for he has promised this and will do what he says. He will show you how to escape temptation’s power so that you can bear up patiently against it. 1 Corinthians 10: 13

~ from John Thurman's Helpful Bible readings: http://www.johnthurman.net/templates/System/details.asp?id=26963&PID=560353