Remain in my love. When you obey me, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father and remain in his love. I have told you this so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!

John 15:10-11

Do you have joy? I admitted this morning to myself that my "joy" was lacking. I looked up the word "joy" in the Greek and it means joy. Lord Jesus, give me some of this joy. Fill me up with joy overflowing. Teach me how to remain in your love and to obey you with all of my heart that I may be filled with heavenly joy!

As for me, I look to the LORD for his help. I wait confidently for God to save me, and my God will certainly hear me. Do not gloat over me, my enemies! For though I fall, I will rise again. Though I sit in darkness, the LORD himself will be my light. I will be patient as the LORD punishes me, for I have sinned against him. But after that, he will take up my case and punish my enemies for all the evil they have done to me. The LORD will bring me out of my darkness into the light, and I will see his righteousness.

Micah 7:7-9

If we must keep trusting God for something that hasn't happened yet, it teaches us to wait patiently and confidently.

Romans 8:25

Love. I need love. You are love. I need You.

I Need You by SonicFlood

Dear brothers, is your life full of difficulties and temptations? Then be happy, for when the way is rough, your patience has a chance to grow. So let it grow, and don�t try to squirm out of your problems. For when your patience is finally in full bloom, then you will be ready for anything, strong in character, full and complete.

James 1:2-4

"...as thou hast given me a repentance, not to be repented of, so give me, O Lord, a fear, of which I may not be afraid."

John Donne

"The eternal task of religion is the conquest of fear."

-- Anonymous

In his book Angels, Billy Graham wrote: "Once when I was going through a dark period, I prayed and prayed, but the heavens seemed to be brass. I felt as though God had disappeared and that I was all alone with my trial and burden. It was a dark night for my soul. I wrote to my mother about the experience, and will never forget her reply: 'Son, there are many times when God withdraws to test your faith. He wants you to trust Him in the darkness. Now, Son, reach up by faith in the fog and you will find that His hand will be there.' In tears, Billy knelt by his bed and experienced an overwhelming sense of God's presence."

True courage is like a kite; a contrary wind raises it higher.

-- John Petit-Senn

This is such a wonderful Pslam. Read through this, and hear God's promises over you. Receive these promises in Jesus Christ. Psalm 112 Praise the LORD! Happy are those who fear the LORD. Yes, happy are those who delight in doing what he commands. Their children will be successful everywhere; an entire generation of godly people will be blessed. They themselves will be wealthy, and their good deeds will never be forgotten. When darkness overtakes the godly, light will come bursting in. They are generous, compassionate, and righteous. All goes well for those who are generous, who lend freely and conduct their business fairly. Such people will not be overcome by evil circumstances. Those who are righteous will be long remembered. They do not fear bad news; they confidently trust the LORD to care for them. They are confident and fearless and can face their foes triumphantly. They give generously to those in need. Their good deeds will never be forgotten. They will have influence and honor. The wicked will be infuriated when they see this. They will grind their teeth in anger; they will slink away, their hopes thwarted.

The LORD is good. When trouble comes, he is a strong refuge. And he knows everyone who trusts in him.

Nahum 1:7

What a wonderful scripture! When trouble comes, God is a strong refuge, a place of safety from the doubt, despair, confusion, hurt, pain, whatever plagues you. If you could just put all your trust in him, then he would keep you safe, for he knows who trusts in him.

"If knowing answers to life's questions is absolutely necessary to you, then forget the journey. You will never make it, for this is a journey of unknowables--of unanswered questions, enigmas, incomprehensibles, and most of all, things unfair."

-- Madame Jeanne Guyon

For the Lord says, "Because he loves me, I will rescue him; I will make him great because he trusts in My name. When he calls on Me I will answer, I will be with him in trouble, and rescue him and honor him."

Psalm 91:14,15

"When you have nothing left but God, then for the first time you become aware that God is enough."

-- A Christian Leader

"Doubt always coexists with faith, for in the presence of certainity who would need faith at all?"

-- Reaching for the Invisible God, Philip Yancey

"Without somehow destroying me in the process, how could God reveal himself in a way that would leave no room for doubt? If there were no room for doubt, there would be no room for me."

-- Frederick Buechner

If only you would prepare your heart and lift up your hands to him in prayer! Get rid of your sins and leave all iniquity behind you. Then your face will brighten in innocence. You will be strong and free of fear. You will forget your misery. It will all be gone like water under the bridge. Your life will be brighter than the noonday. Any darkness will be as bright as morning. You will have courage because you will have hope. You will be protected and will rest in safety. You will lie down unafraid, and many will look to you for help.

Job 11:13-19

This is an amazing scripture! I've read it before, but I've never read it. It is packed full of wonderful and hopeful truths. "Prepare your heart and lift up your hands in prayer... Get rid of your sin..." These are great steps towards freedom, because here is what happens when you do that:

• Your face will brighten.
• You will be strong.
• You will be free of fear.
• You will forget your misery.
• Life will be brighter than the noonday.
• You will be have courage.
• You will have hope.
• You will be protected.
• You will rest in safety.
• You will lie down in safety.
• Many will look to you for help.

Do you want these things? Then, prepare your heart. Lift up your hands in prayer, and get rid of all sin and iniquity in Christ Jesus.

"Suffering, although it's a burden, is a useful burden."

-- Soren Kierkegaard, Christian Philosopher

"I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go."

-- Abraham Lincoln

President Lincoln was known to have battled severe depression and bouts of anxiety and panic attacks. He was also known to be a man seeking after God.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and don't lean on your own understainding. In all your ways, know God, and he will direct your steps.

Proverbs 3:5, 6

This is my life scripture. I've have spent years and years trying to understand why. Why this? Why that? And, it has taken it's toll on me, physically and mentally The more I relinquish my life, my thoughts, my need to know why, the more I can rest in the ever-strong arms of God. The more I let go of my understanding, the more I can trust by faith. I did a study of the word "to know" in verse 6. Most translations say "Acknowledge God in all that you do" but the word doesn't mean a simple acknowledgement like "I know you are there God, and I acknowledge you." No, it means much more. It means to know God like a man knows his wife. The same word "to know" is used in Genesis when Adam knew his wife and she became pregnant. It's a deep intimacy between people. God wants us to know him so intimately. When we take time to know God and experience his presence, then he will direct our steps and our path. Today, take time to know God. "Be still and know that he is God" (Psalms 46:10).