Psalm 34:17-18 NLT – The LORD hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles. [18] The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.

I really love these two verses and what they say. Firstly, it says God hears us when we call out for help. That gives me great comfort knowing God is always there when I need help. Next it says that God rescues us from our troubles and when our spirits are crushed. Not only does He hear us, but He rescues us when we desperately need Him. Lastly, it says He is close to the brokenhearted. Again that gives me great comfort in knowing this.

Prayer

Dear God, thank You that You are close to the brokenhearted and when our spirits are crushed. I am thankful that I can call out to You wherever I am and You will hear me and answer. Thank You that You are always there to rescue me from my troubles. Amen

1 Thessalonians 5:11 NLT says, “So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing”.

In the first part of this verse Paul tells the Thessalonians to encourage each other and build each other up. He sees it as something very important for all Christians and church goers. The world and the trials we go through can bring us down at times, so we all need encouragement. Then in the second part of the verse Paul says, “just as you are already doing”. Paul has already seen this practice in them, but he doesn’t want them to rest on their laurels, he wants them to continue in it. Encouragement is vital for us all to continue on in Christ. Especially “all the more as we see the great day of Christ’s return approaching” (Hebrews 10:25).

Prayer

Dear God, please help me to encourage my brothers and sisters in Christ. I pray that I can continue to be a person to build people up in their faith and trust in You. I pray I can do this each and every day. I ask in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Psalms 139:23-24 says “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

David knew what it was to talk and pray to God. He prayed and praised God when things were going well. He prayed and cried out to God when things we not good or where his enemies were all around him.

In the above verses we see that David also wanted God to search his heart and his thoughts. He wanted to be right with God and asked if there was anything that he needed to sort out. He also wanted to be lead in the way everlasting.

Most of us, if we are honest have things hidden away in our hearts and in our thoughts that are not quite right. Things that we wouldn’t want anyone else to know or hear out loud. I know I have at times.

I think the key is to be like David in these times. We need to ask God to search our hearts and our thoughts. Ask Him to reveal any offensive ways. When He does we then need to confess them and ask for help to overcome. 

When we do this we walk in the way of the everlasting. The way God intends us to walk…closely with Him each and every day.

Prayer

Dear God, like David I want you to search my heart and test my anxious thoughts. I pray if there is any offensive way in me, that you would show me. I want to confess and be right with You. With all my heart I want to walk with You in the way everlasting, Amen.

The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 “For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.”

As I read these verses I think about the change that overtook Paul after his conversion. He was no longer driven by selfish ambition, he was a changed man.

Paul was convinced that Jesus died on the cross to pay the price for our sin. This is the message he took everywhere. As a result of knowing this, he couldn’t live his life for himself any more.

Paul lived for Jesus Christ because he believed that he has died with Christ (Romans 6:6, 11). He believed that dying with Christ meant that he should live for Jesus (Galatians 2:20).

His heart was changed. He had a new focus. It was all about living for Jesus and pouring himself out for others (2 Timothy 4:5-7).

How about you? Has your life changed since you came to Christ? Have you got a new reason to live? Are you living for Jesus today?

Prayer

Dear God, help me not to live for myself, but to live for You and Your Kingdom. Help me to always remember that Jesus died for me and that I have been raised to a new life in Christ. Amen