Soul Retreats: Sweet Sleep

Your body is an amazing machine, designed to run with great efficiency. In most cases, it will keep right on moving as long as you want it to, but how much better it functions when you stop for few minutes to rest. Rest is a natural prescription for well-being and productivity. 

When your hectic life leaves you feeling dull and uninspired, try a nap. If you aren't able to fall sleep, just lean back, close your eyes, and rest for a few minutes. When you feel refreshed, thank God for knowing exactly what you need and for the remarkable resilience of the body he has given you. 

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Jesus said, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Matthew 11:28-29 

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On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night. Because you are my help, I sing in the watches of the night. Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. 

Psalm 62:6-7

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Keep sound wisdom and discretion... When you lie down, you will not be afraid; 

When you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.

Proverbs 3:21, 24

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The sleep of a laborer is sweet, whether he eats little or much.

Ecclesiastes 5:12

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The Lord is my shepherd... He lets me rest in fields of green grass and leads me to quiet pools of fresh water. He gives me new strength. 

Psalm 23:1-3 

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My sould finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from Him. 

Psalm 6:2-1

Soul Retreats: Considering a Tree

Like people and snowflakes, every tree is unique - each is truly a one-of-a-kind creation. Perhaps that's why a tree never fails to inspire a sense of wonder when one stops to take a closer look. 

In the midst of your busy day, take a few minutes to ponder the magnificence of a tree that lives and grows near you. Slowly run to your hand along its trunk. Is the bark smooth and a little sticky, made up of hard lumpy squares, or something in between? Take one of its leaves and trace its lines and ridges with your fingertips. Step back and gaze up into the branches, noting the way they have been shaped and turned by the wind and rain. Imagine the roots burrowing underground, providing stability, strength and nourishment. 

As you do this, consider the fact that you are God's unique creation. Like the tree, you are one of a kind, molded and shaped by the hand of God. Let that understanding lift your spirit and refresh your soul. Then open your heart and whisper a greeting to God, who uses even a tree to remind you of His great love for you. 

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Happy are those who... find joy in obeying the Law of the Lord, and they study it day and night. 

They are like trees that grow beside a stream, that bear fruit at the right time, and whose leaves do not dry up. They succeed in everything they do. 

PSALM 1:1-3

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They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor. 

ISAIAH 61:3

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I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God's unfailing love for ever and ever. 

PSALM 52:8

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The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life. 

PROVERBS 11:30

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To him who overcomes, Jesus will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God. 

REVELATION 2:7

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Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. 

PSALM 100:3

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The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon. 

PSALM 92:12 

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Soul Retreats: The Amazing Bible

Without a doubt, the Bible is the most magnificent book ever written. Its words are filled with encouragement and inspiration. Even more than that, the Bible is a living letter from the loving God to you. 

It isn't necessary to read a whole book or even a whole chapter at a time. Find a quiet place and a readable version of the Bible. Allow yourself to move about within its pages, soaking up God's promises, gleaning God's wisdom and learning of God's great love for you. Read each passage twice - once for your head and once for your heart. Go slowly, and allow the richness of God's Word to calm your mind and refresh your soul. Soon you will feel the stress and fatigue of your busy day subsiding. 

No matter how much time you spend reading the Bible - event if it is no more than a few minutes a day, you will always be blessed as you read God's life - giving words. 

---o0o---

When your words came, I ate them; 

they were my joy and my heart's delight, O Lord. 

Jeremiah 15:16

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How sweet are your words to my taste, 

O Lord, sweeter than honey to my mouth! 

Psalm 119:103

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The precepts of the Lord are right, 

giving joy to the heart. 

Psalm 19:8

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When Moses went and told the people all the Lord's words and laws, they responded with one voice, "Everything the Lord has said we will do." Moses then wrote down everything the Lord has said. 

Exodus 24:3-4

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Jesus said, "It is written, that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God." 

Luke 4:4

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The unfolding of your words gives light, O Lord.

Psalm 119:130

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Jesus said,  "If you remain in me and my words remain in you,
ask whatever you wish and it will be given to you." 

John 15:7

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You are my hiding place and my shield, 

O Lord; I hope in your word. 

Psalm 119:114 

Soul Retreats: A Song From The Heart

When you find yourself in a situation over which you have no reasonable control, sing. God's delightful gift of song was designed for just such a time. It is guaranteed to lift your spirits and chase away the dark shadows of fear and dread.

The next time some situation threatens to get you down, try singing "He's God the Whole World in His Hand" or "What a Friend We Have in Jesus." The gift of song is a remedy for the troubled soul.

Rejoice in the good time and the not-so-bad times, and loosen the occasional tight grip of fear or anxiety with a song. Open your mouth, fill your lungs with air and burst forth with confidence, joy and thanksgiving.

---o0o---

O come, let us sing unto the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.
Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.
For the Lord is great God, and a great King above all gods.

PSALM 95:1-3

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Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord.

EPHESIANS 5:19

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Sing to the Lord a new song,
for he has done marvelous things.

PSALM 98:1

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I will sing of your love and justice;
to you , O Lord; I will sing praise.

PSALM 101:1

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God put a new song in my mouth,
a song of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear;
and put their trust in the Lord.

PSALM 40:3

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Miriam took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women followed her,
with tambourines and dancing. Miriam sang to them: "Sing to the Lord for he is highly exalted."

EXODUS 15:20-21

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Serve the Lord with gladness:
Come before his presence with singing.

PSALM 100:2

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Hear this, you kings! Listen, you rulers!
I will sing to the Lord, I will sing;
I will make music to the Lord, the God of Israel.

JUDGES 5:3

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Sing psalms, hymns, and sacred songs;
sing to God with thanksgiving in your hearts.

COLOSSIANS 3:16

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By day the Lord directs his love,
at night his song is with me --
a prayer to the God of my life.

PSALM 42:8

Soul Retreats: A Spot of Tea

God is aware of the complexities and stress-filled circumstances that you face in your life. God cares. He cares so much that he has provided many natural foods that will strengthen and renew body and mind and help you relax and recoup your energy. 

When you find yourself feeling the stress, boil the water, steep the tea and sit for a moment, allowing yourself to enjoy the incredible benefits of a simple cup of tea. These benefits shouldn't be seen as substitutes for more sophisticated remedies our doctors prescribe for us. But they do represent a wonderful provision for helping us cope successfully in our world. 

Relax, and know that God created tea for your benefit.

---o0o---

God causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, 

and herb for the service of man,

PSALM 104:14

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God blesses the soil which drinks in the rain that often falls on it and which grows plants that are useful to those for whom it is cultivated.

HEBREWS 6:7

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God said, "Behold I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the surface of all the earth, and in every tree which was fruit yielding seed; it shall be food for you.

GENESIS 1:29

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Whatever you do, whether you eat or drink, do it all for God's glory. 

1 CORINTHIANS 10:31

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Your heart shall rejoice, and your bones shall flourish like an herb; and the hand of the Lord shall be known towards his servants. 

ISAIAH 66:14

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O Lord, you preserve both man and beast.. They feast on the abundance of your house; you give them drink from your river of delights. 

PSALM 36:6,8

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I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil - this is the gift of God. 

ECCLESIASTES 3:12-13 

Soul Retreats: Wonder and Awe

God, who is responsible for vastness and complexities of the universe, can certainly strengthen and renew your soul. He called into being the wonders of the sun, the moon, and the stars placed them in their orbits. He can help you rearrange and realign your values and priorities. 

He created the heavens simply by speaking a word. He can speak words deep inside your soul that can set you free from burdens and cares. You already know that he cares - after all, he's written it in the sky.

---o0o---

When I consider your heavens, 

the work of your fingers,

the moon and the stars, 

which you have set in place,

what is man that you are mindful of him, 

the son of man that you care for him? 

PSALM 8:3-4

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The heavens tell about the glory of God.
The skies announce what his hands have made.

PSALM 19:1

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This is what the Lord says - 

your Redeemer, who formed you in the womb;

I am the Lord, who has made all things, 

who alone stretched out the heavens,

who spread out the earth by myself.

ISAIAH 44:24

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The heavens shall praise thy wonders, O Lord; 

thy faithfulness also in the congregation of the saints. 

PSALM 89:5 

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Ever since God created the world, his invisible qualities, both his eternal power and his divine nature, have been clearly seen; they are perceived in the things that God has made. 

ROMANS 1:20 

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He who created the heavens, 

he is God; he who fashioned and made the earth, he founded it;

he did not create it to be empty,

but formed it to be inhabited - 

he says: "I am the Lord, and there is no other." 

ISAIAH 45:18

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This is what the Lord says...

It is I who made the earth

and created mankind upon it.

My own hands stretched out the heavens;

I marshaled their starry hosts.

ISAIAH 45:11-12

Soul Retreats: Like a Playful Child

Children are capable of unfettered play because they are comfortable with there dependence on others. They know that someone will be watching out for them, and they accept the fact without question. 

If the responsibilities of your grown-up world keep you running in circles, spinning plates, and trying to hold all the aspects of your life together, visualize yourself as a child at play under the watchful eye of your heavenly Father. Forget your tension. Let worries drain away. Deliberately relax your shoulders, relax your stance, let your limbs hang loose. Know that God, who is more dependable than any earthly parent could ever be, is always looking out for you. So play! Enjoy God's world. 

---o0o---

As a father has compassion on his children,
so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him.

PSALM 103:13

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Some people brought children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples scolded the people. When Jesus noticed this, he was angry and said to his disciples, "Let the children come to me, and do not stop them, because the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these."

MARK 10:13-14

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Jesus called a little child and had him stand among them. And He said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."

MATTHEW 18:2-3

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Come, my children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the Lord.

PSALM 34:11

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My heart is not proud, O Lord,
my eyes are not haughty;
I do not concern myself with great matters
or things too wonderful for me.
But I have stilled and quieted my soul;
like a weaned child with its mother,
like a weaned child is my soul within me.

PSALM 131:1-2

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How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!

1 JOHN 3:1

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Jesus took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.

MARK 10:16

Soul Retreats: Walk It Off

Take God for your bridegroom and friend,and walk with him continually; 

and you will not sin and will learn to love,

and the things you must do will work out prosperously for you. 

--- o0o ---

You have delivered me from death
and my feet from stumbling,
that I may walk before God
in the light of life.

PSALM 56:13

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Many nations will come and say,
"Come, let us go up
to the mountain of the Lord,
to the house of the God of Jacob.
He will teach us his ways,
so that we may walk in his paths."

MICAH 4:2

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You show me the path of life, O Lord,
In your presence there is fullness of joy;
in your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

PSALM 16:11

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Jesus said, "I am the light of the world.
Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness,
but will have the light of life."

JOHN 8:12

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Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.

1 JOHN 2:6

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Teach me your way, O Lord;
lead me in a straight path.

PSALM 27:11

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I guide you in the way of wisdom
and lead you along straight paths.
When you walk, your steps will not be hampered;
when you run, you will not stumble.

PROVERBS 4:11-12

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The Lord said, "I will look upon you with favor and make you fruitful and increase your numbers, and I will keep my covenant with you... I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be my people.

LEVITICUS 20:9, 12

Soul Retreats: Words That Inspire

Reading provides a joyous retreat from the frantic busyness of your day. It can take you to exotic faraway places and fill you with a sense of wonder. It can encourage your faith in God and lift your perspective. Reading can rest and relax your soul. 

---o0o---

My eyers stay open

through the watches of the night,

that I may meditate on your promises, O Lord.

PSALM 119:148

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The sayings of the wise are like the sharp sticks that shepherds use to guide sheep, 

and collected proverbs are as lasting as firmly driven nails. 

They have been given by God, the one Shepherd of us all. 

ECCLESIASTES 12:11

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Happy is the one who reads this book, and happy are those who listen to the words of this prophetic message and obey what is written in this book! For the time is near when all these things will happen. 

REVELATION 1:3

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Pleasant words are a honeycomb, 

sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. 

PROVERBS 16:24

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All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 

2 TIMOTHY 3:16-17

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The wise in heart are called discerning, and pleasant words promote instruction.

PROVERBS 16:21 

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Everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures, we might have hope. 

ROMANS 15:4

Soul Retreats: Soaking In

Water clear, standing near,

Wash our hands and faces clean.

May the Lord, by His Word,

Wash our hearts from every sin.

So let everything we see

Turn our thoughts,

O Lord, to Thee...

---o0o---

Cleanse me with hyssop,

and I will be clean, O Lord;

wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. 

PSALM 51:7

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As water reflects the face,

so a man's heart reflects the man. 

PROVERBS 27:19

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Let us purify ourselves from everything that makes our body or soul unclean, and let us be completely holy by living in awe of God. 

2 CORINTHIANS 7:1

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Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.

HEBREWS 10:22

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Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word. 

EPHESIANS 5:25-26

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The Lord has dealt with me according to my righteousness;

according to the cleanses of my hand be has rewarded me. 

PSALM 18:20

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Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness:

according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. 

PSALM 51:1-2

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If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1 JOHN 1:9

Soul Retreats: The Power of Prayer

Morning, noon or night - the time of day you choose to pray doesn't matter.
The place where you pray doesn't matter much either,
as long as it's quiet, peaceful and as private as possible.
Just close your eyes and focus your attention completely to God. 

---o0o---

Let us... approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may have receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

HEBREWS 4:16

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Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.

MARK 1:35

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Don't worry about anything, but in all your prayers ask God for whom you need, always asking him with a thankful heart.

PHILIPPIANS 4:6

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Evening, morning and noon
I cry our in distress,
and God hears my voice.

PSALM 55:17

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I lift up my eyes to the hills --
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.

PSALM 121:1-2

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I cry aloud to the Lord,
I lift up my voice to the Lord for mercy.
I pour out my complaint before him,
before him I tell my trouble.
When my spirit grows faint within me,
it is you who know my wrap.

PSALM 142:1-3

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The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

JAMES 5:16

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When you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

MATTHEW 6:6

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Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.

EPHESIANS 6:18

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God's Words When You Are Facing Pain and Suffering

So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud.

Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

2 CORINTHIANS 12:7-10

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The Lord is a shelter for the oppressed,
a refuge in times of trouble.
Those who know your name trust in you,
for you, O Lord, do not abandon those who search for you.

Sing praises to the Lord who reigns in Jerusalem.
Tell the world about his unforgettable deeds.
For he who avenges murder cares for the helpless.
He does not ignore the cries of those who suffer.

PSALM 9:9-12

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What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.

Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.

And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

ROMANS 8:31-39

God's Words When You Are Worried Over Money

Now godliness combined with contentment brings great profit. For we have brought nothing into this world and so we cannot take a single thing out either. But if we have food and shelter, we will be satisfied with that. Those who long to be rich, however, stumble into temptation and a trap and many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all evils. Some people in reaching for it have strayed from the faith and stabbed themselves with many pains.

1 TIMOTHY 6:6-10

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Your conduct must be free from the love of money and you must be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you and I will never abandon you.” So we can say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper, and I will not be afraid. What can people do to me?”

HEBREWS 13:5-6

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 “Do not accumulate for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But accumulate for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

MATTHEW 6:19-21

God's Words When You Are Burdened By Doubt

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.  Is there anyone among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you then, although you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

MATTHEW 7:7-11

My brothers and sisters, consider it nothing but joy when you fall into all sorts of trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect effect, so that you will be perfect and complete, not deficient in anything. But if anyone is deficient in wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without reprimand, and it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith without doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed around by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord, since he is a double-minded individual, unstable in all his ways.
JAMES 1:2-8

A wise teacher said:
"God keeps every promise he makes. He is like a shield for all who seek his protection.

PROVERBS 30:5

God's Words When You Are Angry or Vengeful

A gentle answer quiets anger,
but a harsh one stirs it up.

PROVERBS 15:1

If you cannot control your anger, you are as helpless as a city without walls, open to attack.

PROVERBS 25:28

Remember this, my dear brothers!
Everyone must be quick to listen, but slow to speak and slow to become angry. Man's anger does not achieve God's righteous purpose. So get rid of every filthy habit and all wicked conduct. Submit to God and accept the word that he plants in your heart, which is able to save you.

Do not deceive yourselves by just listening to his word, instead, put it into practice. Whoever listens to the word but does not put it into practice is like a man who looks in the mirror and sees himself as he is. He takes a good look at himself and then goes away and at once forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks closely into the perfect law that sets people free, who keeps on paying attention to it and does not simply listen and then forget it, but puts it into practice - that person will be blessed by God in what he does.

JAMES 1:19-25

Ask God to bless those who persecute you - yes, ask him to bless,  not to curse. Be happy with those who are happy, weep with those who weep. Have the same concern for everyone. Do not be proud, but accept humble duties. Do not think of yourselves as wise.

If someone has done you wrong, do not repay him with a wrong. Try to do what everyone considers to be good. Do everything possible on your part to live in peace with everybody. Never take revenge, my friends, but instead let God's anger do it. For the scripture says, "I will take revenge, I will pay back, says the Lord." Instead, as the scripture says, "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he s thirsty, give him a drink; for by doing this, you will make him burn with shame." Do not let evil defeat you; instead, conquer evil with good.

ROMANS 12:14-21

God's Words When You Are Impatient

Trust in the Lord and do good.
Then you will live safely in the land and prosper.
Take delight in the Lord,
and he will give you your heart’s desires.

Commit everything you do to the Lord.
Trust him, and he will help you.
He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn,
and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun.

Be still in the presence of the Lord,
and wait patiently for him to act.
Don’t worry about evil people who prosper
or fret about their wicked schemes.

Stop being angry!
Turn from your rage!
Do not lose your temper—
it only leads to harm.
For the wicked will be destroyed,
but those who trust in the Lord will possess the land.

PSALM 37:3-9

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Dear brothers and sisters, be patient as you wait for the Lord’s return. Consider the farmers who patiently wait for the rains in the fall and in the spring. They eagerly look for the valuable harvest to ripen. You, too, must be patient. Take courage, for the coming of the Lord is near.

Don’t grumble about each other, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. For look—the Judge is standing at the door!

For examples of patience in suffering, dear brothers and sisters, look at the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. We give great honor to those who endure under suffering. For instance, you know about Job, a man of great endurance. You can see how the Lord was kind to him at the end, for the Lord is full of tenderness and mercy.

JAMES 5:7-11

God's Words When You Are Saddened By Loss

But someone may ask, “How will the dead be raised? What kind of bodies will they have?” What a foolish question! When you put a seed into the ground, it doesn’t grow into a plant unless it dies first. And what you put in the ground is not the plant that will grow, but only a bare seed of wheat or whatever you are planting. Then God gives it the new body he wants it to have. A different plant grows from each kind of seed.

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But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed. For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies.

Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled:

“Death is swallowed up in victory.
O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?”

For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 CORINTHIANS 15:35-38 | 51-57
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“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. And you know the way to where I am going.”

“No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!”

JOHN 14:1-7

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One day as he saw the crowds gathering, Jesus went up on the mountainside and sat down. His disciples gathered around him, and he began to teach them.

The Beatitudes

“God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him,
for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
God blesses those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
God blesses those who are humble,
for they will inherit the whole earth.
God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice,
for they will be satisfied.
God blesses those who are merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
God blesses those whose hearts are pure,
for they will see God.
God blesses those who work for peace,
for they will be called the children of God.
God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right,
for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

MATTHEW 5:1-10

God's Words When You Are Ill or Injured

Let all that I am praise the Lord;
with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name.
Let all that I am praise the Lord;
may I never forget the good things he does for me.
He forgives all my sins
and heals all my diseases.
He redeems me from death
and crowns me with love and tender mercies.
He fills my life with good things.
My youth is renewed like the eagle’s!

PSALMS 103:1-5

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Are any of you suffering hardships? You should pray. Are any of you happy? You should sing praises. Are any of you sick? You should call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord. Such a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make you well. And if you have committed any sins, you will be forgiven.

Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.

JAMES 5:13-16

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When Jesus arrived at Peter’s house, Peter’s mother-in-law was sick in bed with a high fever. But when Jesus touched her hand, the fever left her. Then she got up and prepared a meal for him.

That evening many demon-possessed people were brought to Jesus. He cast out the evil spirits with a simple command, and he healed all the sick. This fulfilled the word of the Lord through the prophet Isaiah, who said,

“He took our sicknesses
and removed our diseases.”

MATTHEW 8:14-17

God's Words When You Are Discouraged or Depressed

O Lord, how long will you forget me? Forever?
How long will you look the other way?
How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul,
with sorrow in my heart every day?
How long will my enemy have the upper hand?

Turn and answer me, O Lord my God!
Restore the sparkle to my eyes, or I will die.
Don’t let my enemies gloat, saying, “We have defeated him!”
Don’t let them rejoice at my downfall.

But I trust in your unfailing love.
I will rejoice because you have rescued me.
I will sing to the Lord
because he is good to me.

PSALM 13

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At that time Jesus prayed this prayer: “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike. Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way!

“My Father has entrusted everything to me. No one truly knows the Son except the Father, and no one truly knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

MATTHEW 11:25-30

God's Words When You Are Lonely

The Lord is my shepherd;
I have all that I need.
He lets me rest in green meadows;
he leads me beside peaceful streams.
He renews my strength.
He guides me along right paths,
bringing honor to his name. 

Even when I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will not be afraid,
for you are close beside me.
Your rod and your staff
protect and comfort me.
You prepare a feast for me
in the presence of my enemies.
You honor me by anointing my head with oil.
My cup overflows with blessings.
Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me
all the days of my life,
and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.

PSALMS 23

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My eyes are always on the Lord,
for he rescues me from the traps of my enemies.

Turn to me and have mercy,
for I am alone and in deep distress.
My problems go from bad to worse.
Oh, save me from them all!
Feel my pain and see my trouble.
Forgive all my sins.
See how many enemies I have
and how viciously they hate me!
Protect me! Rescue my life from them!
Do not let me be disgraced, for in you I take refuge.
May integrity and honesty protect me,
for I put my hope in you.

PSALMS 25:15-21

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God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world.

Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love.

1 John 4:16B -18