Emergencynumbers in the Bible

Emergencynumbers in the bible

JustaswemayhavealistoftelephonenumberstocallinanemergencyitisusefultohavealistofBiblepassageswhichareparticularlyappropriateforchallengingsituations.

Wheninsorrow:callJohn14.

Whenpeopleletyoudown:callPsalm27.

Whenlongingtobespirituallyfruitful:callJohn15.

Whenyouhavesinned:callPsalm51.

Whenyouworry:callMatthew6:19–34.

Whenyouareindanger:callPsalm91.

WhenGodseemsfaraway:callPsalm139.

Whenyourfaithneedsstirring:callHebrews11.

Whenyouarelonelyandfearful:callPsalm23.

Whenyougrowbitterandcritical:call1Cor.13.

ForPaul’ssecrettohappiness:callCol.3:12–17.

ForunderstandingofChristianity:call2Cor.5:15–19.

Whenyoufeeldownandout:callRomans8:31.

Whenyouwantrest:callMatthew11:25–30.

WhenseekingGod’sassurance:callRomans8:1–30.

Whenawayfromhome:callPsalm121.

Whenyouneedcourage:callJoshua1.

Whenyouaredepressed:callPsalm27.

Whenmenfailyou,callPsalm27

Whenyouhavesinned,callPsalm51

Whenyourprayersgrownarroworselfish,callPsalm67

Foragreatinvention/opportunity,callIsaiah55

Howtogetalongwithfellowmen,callRomans12

Whenyouthinkofinvestments/returns,callMark10

Ifyouaredepressed,callPsalm37

Ifyourpocketbookisempty,callPsalm37

Ifyouarelosingconfidenceinpeople,call1Cor.13

Ifpeopleseemunkind,callJohn15

Ifdiscouragedaboutyourwork,callPsalm126

Ifyoufindtheworldgrowingsmall,andyourselfgreat,callPsalm19

Wheninsorrow:callJohn14.

1“Donotletyourheartsbetroubled.BelieveinGod,believealsoinme.2InmyFather’shousetherearemanydwellingplaces.Ifitwerenotso,wouldIhavetoldyouthatIgotoprepareaplaceforyou?3AndifIgoandprepareaplaceforyou,Iwillcomeagainandwilltakeyoutomyself,sothatwhereIam,thereyoumaybealso.4AndyouknowthewaytotheplacewhereIamgoing.”5Thomassaidtohim,“Lord,wedonotknowwhereyouaregoing.Howcanweknowtheway?”6Jesussaidtohim,“Iamtheway,andthetruth,andthelife.NoonecomestotheFatherexceptthroughme.7Ifyouknowme,youwillknowmyFatheralso.Fromnowonyoudoknowhimandhaveseenhim.”

8Philipsaidtohim,“Lord,showustheFather,andwewillbesatisfied.”9Jesussaidtohim,“HaveIbeenwithyouallthistime,Philip,andyoustilldonotknowme?WhoeverhasseenmehasseentheFather.Howcanyousay,‘ShowustheFather’?10DoyounotbelievethatIamintheFatherandtheFatherisinme?ThewordsthatIsaytoyouIdonotspeakonmyown;buttheFatherwhodwellsinmedoeshisworks.11BelievemethatIamintheFatherandtheFatherisinme;butifyoudonot,thenbelievemebecauseoftheworksthemselves.12Verytruly,Itellyou,theonewhobelievesinmewillalsodotheworksthatIdoand,infact,willdogreaterworksthanthese,becauseIamgoingtotheFather.13Iwilldowhateveryouaskinmyname,sothattheFathermaybeglorifiedintheSon.14Ifinmynameyouaskmeforanything,Iwilldoit.

15“Ifyouloveme,youwillkeepmycommandments.16AndIwillasktheFather,andhewillgiveyouanotherAdvocate,tobewithyouforever.17ThisistheSpiritoftruth,whomtheworldcannotreceive,becauseitneitherseeshimnorknowshim.Youknowhim,becauseheabideswithyou,andhewillbeinyou.

18“Iwillnotleaveyouorphaned;Iamcomingtoyou.19Inalittlewhiletheworldwillnolongerseeme,butyouwillseeme;becauseIlive,youalsowilllive.20OnthatdayyouwillknowthatIaminmyFather,andyouinme,andIinyou.21Theywhohavemycommandmentsandkeepthemarethosewholoveme;andthosewholovemewillbelovedbymyFather,andIwilllovethemandrevealmyselftothem.”22Judas(notIscariot)saidtohim,“Lord,howisitthatyouwillrevealyourselftous,andnottotheworld?”23Jesusansweredhim,“Thosewholovemewillkeepmyword,andmyFatherwilllovethem,andwewillcometothemandmakeourhomewiththem.24Whoeverdoesnotlovemedoesnotkeepmywords;andthewordthatyouhearisnotmine,butisfromtheFatherwhosentme.

25“IhavesaidthesethingstoyouwhileIamstillwithyou.26ButtheAdvocate,theHolySpirit,whomtheFatherwillsendinmyname,willteachyoueverything,andremindyouofallthatIhavesaidtoyou.27PeaceIleavewithyou;mypeaceIgivetoyou.Idonotgivetoyouastheworldgives.Donotletyourheartsbetroubled,anddonotletthembeafraid.28Youheardmesaytoyou,‘Iamgoingaway,andIamcomingtoyou.’Ifyoulovedme,youwouldrejoicethatIamgoingtotheFather,becausetheFatherisgreaterthanI.29AndnowIhavetoldyouthisbeforeitoccurs,sothatwhenitdoesoccur,youmaybelieve.30Iwillnolongertalkmuchwithyou,fortherulerofthisworldiscoming.Hehasnopoweroverme;31butIdoastheFatherhascommandedme,sothattheworldmayknowthatIlovetheFather.Rise,letusbeonourway.

Whenpeopleletyoudown:callPsalm27.

1TheLORDismylightandmysalvation;whomshallIfear?TheLORDisthestrongholdofmylife;ofwhomshallIbeafraid?

2Whenevildoersassailmetodevourmyflesh—myadversariesandfoes—theyshallstumbleandfall.

3Thoughanarmyencampagainstme,myheartshallnotfear;thoughwarriseupagainstme,yetIwillbeconfident.

4OnethingIaskedoftheLORD,thatwillIseekafter:toliveinthehouseoftheLORDallthedaysofmylife,tobeholdthebeautyoftheLORD,andtoinquireinhistemple.

5Forhewillhidemeinhisshelterinthedayoftrouble;hewillconcealmeunderthecoverofhistent;hewillsetmehighonarock.

6Nowmyheadisliftedupabovemyenemiesallaroundme,andIwillofferinhistentsacrificeswithshoutsofjoy;IwillsingandmakemelodytotheLORD.

7Hear,OLORD,whenIcryaloud,begracioustomeandanswerme!

8“Come,”myheartsays,“seekhisface!”Yourface,LORD,doIseek.

9Donothideyourfacefromme.Donotturnyourservantawayinanger,youwhohavebeenmyhelp.Donotcastmeoff,donotforsakeme,OGodofmysalvation!

10Ifmyfatherandmotherforsakeme,theLORDwilltakemeup.

11Teachmeyourway,OLORD,andleadmeonalevelpathbecauseofmyenemies.

12Donotgivemeuptothewillofmyadversaries,forfalsewitnesseshaverisenagainstme,andtheyarebreathingoutviolence.

13IbelievethatIshallseethegoodnessoftheLORDinthelandoftheliving.

14WaitfortheLORD;bestrong,andletyourhearttakecourage;waitfortheLORD!

Whenlongingtobespirituallyfruitful:callJohn15.

1“Iamthetruevine,andmyFatheristhevinegrower.2Heremoveseverybranchinmethatbearsnofruit.Everybranchthatbearsfruitheprunestomakeitbearmorefruit.3YouhavealreadybeencleansedbythewordthatIhavespokentoyou.4AbideinmeasIabideinyou.Justasthebranchcannotbearfruitbyitselfunlessitabidesinthevine,neithercanyouunlessyouabideinme.5Iamthevine,youarethebranches.ThosewhoabideinmeandIinthembearmuchfruit,becauseapartfrommeyoucandonothing.6Whoeverdoesnotabideinmeisthrownawaylikeabranchandwithers;suchbranchesaregathered,thrownintothefire,andburned.7Ifyouabideinme,andmywordsabideinyou,askforwhateveryouwish,anditwillbedoneforyou.8MyFatherisglorifiedbythis,thatyoubearmuchfruitandbecomemydisciples.9AstheFatherhaslovedme,soIhavelovedyou;abideinmylove.10Ifyoukeepmycommandments,youwillabideinmylove,justasIhavekeptmyFather’scommandmentsandabideinhislove.11Ihavesaidthesethingstoyousothatmyjoymaybeinyou,andthatyourjoymaybecomplete.

12“Thisismycommandment,thatyouloveoneanotherasIhavelovedyou.13Noonehasgreaterlovethanthis,tolaydownone’slifeforone’sfriends.14YouaremyfriendsifyoudowhatIcommandyou.15Idonotcallyouservantsanylonger,becausetheservantdoesnotknowwhatthemasterisdoing;butIhavecalledyoufriends,becauseIhavemadeknowntoyoueverythingthatIhaveheardfrommyFather.16YoudidnotchoosemebutIchoseyou.AndIappointedyoutogoandbearfruit,fruitthatwilllast,sothattheFatherwillgiveyouwhateveryouaskhiminmyname.17Iamgivingyouthesecommandssothatyoumayloveoneanother.

18“Iftheworldhatesyou,beawarethatithatedmebeforeithatedyou.19Ifyoubelongedtotheworld,theworldwouldloveyouasitsown.Becauseyoudonotbelongtotheworld,butIhavechosenyououtoftheworld—thereforetheworldhatesyou.20RememberthewordthatIsaidtoyou,‘Servantsarenotgreaterthantheirmaster.’Iftheypersecutedme,theywillpersecuteyou;iftheykeptmyword,theywillkeepyoursalso.21Buttheywilldoallthesethingstoyouonaccountofmyname,becausetheydonotknowhimwhosentme.22IfIhadnotcomeandspokentothem,theywouldnothavesin;butnowtheyhavenoexcusefortheirsin.23WhoeverhatesmehatesmyFatheralso.24IfIhadnotdoneamongthemtheworksthatnooneelsedid,theywouldnothavesin.ButnowtheyhaveseenandhatedbothmeandmyFather.25Itwastofulfillthewordthatiswrittenintheirlaw,‘Theyhatedmewithoutacause.’

26“WhentheAdvocatecomes,whomIwillsendtoyoufromtheFather,theSpiritoftruthwhocomesfromtheFather,hewilltestifyonmybehalf.27Youalsoaretotestifybecauseyouhavebeenwithmefromthebeginning.

Whenyouhavesinned:callPsalm51.

1Havemercyonme,OGod,accordingtoyoursteadfastlove;accordingtoyourabundantmercyblotoutmytransgressions.

2Washmethoroughlyfrommyiniquity,andcleansemefrommysin.

3ForIknowmytransgressions,andmysiniseverbeforeme.

4Againstyou,youalone,haveIsinned,anddonewhatisevilinyoursight,sothatyouarejustifiedinyoursentenceandblamelesswhenyoupassjudgment.

5Indeed,Iwasbornguilty,asinnerwhenmymotherconceivedme.

6Youdesiretruthintheinwardbeing;thereforeteachmewisdominmysecretheart.

7Purgemewithhyssop,andIshallbeclean;washme,andIshallbewhiterthansnow.

8Letmehearjoyandgladness;letthebonesthatyouhavecrushedrejoice.

9Hideyourfacefrommysins,andblotoutallmyiniquities.

10Createinmeacleanheart,OGod,andputanewandrightspiritwithinme.

11Donotcastmeawayfromyourpresence,anddonottakeyourholyspiritfromme.

12Restoretomethejoyofyoursalvation,andsustaininmeawillingspirit.

13ThenIwillteachtransgressorsyourways,andsinnerswillreturntoyou.

14Delivermefrombloodshed,OGod,OGodofmysalvation,andmytonguewillsingaloudofyourdeliverance.

15OLord,openmylips,andmymouthwilldeclareyourpraise.

16Foryouhavenodelightinsacrifice;ifIweretogiveaburntoffering,youwouldnotbepleased.

17ThesacrificeacceptabletoGodisabrokenspirit;abrokenandcontriteheart,OGod,youwillnotdespise.

18DogoodtoZioninyourgoodpleasure;rebuildthewallsofJerusalem,

19thenyouwilldelightinrightsacrifices,inburntofferingsandwholeburntofferings;thenbullswillbeofferedonyouraltar.

Whenyouworry:callMatthew6:19–34.

19“Donotstoreupforyourselvestreasuresonearth,wheremothandrustconsumeandwherethievesbreakinandsteal;20butstoreupforyourselvestreasuresinheaven,whereneithermothnorrustconsumesandwherethievesdonotbreakinandsteal.21Forwhereyourtreasureis,thereyourheartwillbealso.22“Theeyeisthelampofthebody.So,ifyoureyeishealthy,yourwholebodywillbefulloflight;23butifyoureyeisunhealthy,yourwholebodywillbefullofdarkness.Ifthenthelightinyouisdarkness,howgreatisthedarkness!

24“Noonecanservetwomasters;foraslavewilleitherhatetheoneandlovetheother,orbedevotedtotheoneanddespisetheother.YoucannotserveGodandwealth.25“ThereforeItellyou,donotworryaboutyourlife,whatyouwilleatorwhatyouwilldrink,oraboutyourbody,whatyouwillwear.Isnotlifemorethanfood,andthebodymorethanclothing?26Lookatthebirdsoftheair;theyneithersownorreapnorgatherintobarns,andyetyourheavenlyFatherfeedsthem.Areyounotofmorevaluethanthey?27Andcananyofyoubyworryingaddasinglehourtoyourspanoflife?28Andwhydoyouworryaboutclothing?Considertheliliesofthefield,howtheygrow;theyneithertoilnorspin,29yetItellyou,evenSolomoninallhisglorywasnotclothedlikeoneofthese.30ButifGodsoclothesthegrassofthefield,whichisalivetodayandtomorrowisthrownintotheoven,willhenotmuchmoreclotheyou—youoflittlefaith?31Thereforedonotworry,saying,‘Whatwillweeat?’or‘Whatwillwedrink?’or‘Whatwillwewear?’32ForitistheGentileswhostriveforallthesethings;andindeedyourheavenlyFatherknowsthatyouneedallthesethings.

33ButstrivefirstforthekingdomofGodandhisrighteousness,andallthesethingswillbegiventoyouaswell.34“Sodonotworryabouttomorrow,fortomorrowwillbringworriesofitsown.Today’stroubleisenoughfortoday.

Whenyouareindanger:callPsalm91.

1YouwholiveintheshelteroftheMostHigh,whoabideintheshadowoftheAlmighty,

2willsaytotheLORD,“Myrefugeandmyfortress;myGod,inwhomItrust.”

3Forhewilldeliveryoufromthesnareofthefowlerandfromthedeadlypestilence;

4hewillcoveryouwithhispinions,andunderhiswingsyouwillfindrefuge;hisfaithfulnessisashieldandbuckler.

5Youwillnotfeartheterrorofthenight,orthearrowthatfliesbyday,

6orthepestilencethatstalksindarkness,orthedestructionthatwastesatnoonday.

7Athousandmayfallatyourside,tenthousandatyourrighthand,butitwillnotcomenearyou.

8Youwillonlylookwithyoureyesandseethepunishmentofthewicked.

9BecauseyouhavemadetheLORDyourrefuge,theMostHighyourdwellingplace,

10noevilshallbefallyou,noscourgecomenearyourtent.

11Forhewillcommandhisangelsconcerningyoutoguardyouinallyourways.

12Ontheirhandstheywillbearyouup,sothatyouwillnotdashyourfootagainstastone.

13Youwilltreadonthelionandtheadder,theyounglionandtheserpentyouwilltrampleunderfoot.

14Thosewholoveme,Iwilldeliver;Iwillprotectthosewhoknowmyname.

15Whentheycalltome,Iwillanswerthem;Iwillbewiththemintrouble,Iwillrescuethemandhonorthem.

16WithlonglifeIwillsatisfythem,andshowthemmysalvation.

WhenGodseemsfaraway:callPsalm139.

1OLORD,youhavesearchedmeandknownme.

2YouknowwhenIsitdownandwhenIriseup;youdiscernmythoughtsfromfaraway.

3Yousearchoutmypathandmylyingdown,andareacquaintedwithallmyways.

4Evenbeforeawordisonmytongue,OLORD,youknowitcompletely.

5Youhemmein,behindandbefore,andlayyourhanduponme.

6Suchknowledgeistoowonderfulforme;itissohighthatIcannotattainit.

7WherecanIgofromyourspirit?OrwherecanIfleefromyourpresence?

8IfIascendtoheaven,youarethere;ifImakemybedinSheol,youarethere.

9IfItakethewingsofthemorningandsettleatthefarthestlimitsofthesea,

10eventhereyourhandshallleadme,andyourrighthandshallholdmefast.

11IfIsay,“Surelythedarknessshallcoverme,andthelightaroundmebecomenight,”

12eventhedarknessisnotdarktoyou;thenightisasbrightastheday,fordarknessisaslighttoyou.

13Foritwasyouwhoformedmyinwardparts;youknitmetogetherinmymother’swomb.

14Ipraiseyou,forIamfearfullyandwonderfullymade.Wonderfulareyourworks;thatIknowverywell.

15Myframewasnothiddenfromyou,whenIwasbeingmadeinsecret,intricatelywoveninthedepthsoftheearth.

16Youreyesbeheldmyunformedsubstance.Inyourbookwerewrittenallthedaysthatwereformedforme,whennoneofthemasyetexisted.

17Howweightytomeareyourthoughts,OGod!Howvastisthesumofthem!

18Itrytocountthem—theyaremorethanthesand;Icometotheend—Iamstillwithyou.

19Othatyouwouldkillthewicked,OGod,andthatthebloodthirstywoulddepartfromme—

20thosewhospeakofyoumaliciously,andliftthemselvesupagainstyouforevil!

21DoInothatethosewhohateyou,OLORD?AnddoInotloathethosewhoriseupagainstyou?

22Ihatethemwithperfecthatred;Icountthemmyenemies.

23Searchme,OGod,andknowmyheart;testmeandknowmythoughts.

24Seeifthereisanywickedwayinme,andleadmeinthewayeverlasting.

Whenyourfaithneedsstirring:callHebrews11.

1Nowfaithistheassuranceofthingshopedfor,theconvictionofthingsnotseen.2Indeed,byfaithourancestorsreceivedapproval.3ByfaithweunderstandthattheworldswerepreparedbythewordofGod,sothatwhatisseenwasmadefromthingsthatarenotvisible.

4ByfaithAbelofferedtoGodamoreacceptablesacrificethanCain’s.Throughthishereceivedapprovalasrighteous,Godhimselfgivingapprovaltohisgifts;hedied,butthroughhisfaithhestillspeaks.5ByfaithEnochwastakensothathedidnotexperiencedeath;and“hewasnotfound,becauseGodhadtakenhim.”Foritwasattestedbeforehewastakenawaythat“hehadpleasedGod.”6AndwithoutfaithitisimpossibletopleaseGod,forwhoeverwouldapproachhimmustbelievethatheexistsandthatherewardsthosewhoseekhim.7ByfaithNoah,warnedbyGodabouteventsasyetunseen,respectedthewarningandbuiltanarktosavehishousehold;bythishecondemnedtheworldandbecameanheirtotherighteousnessthatisinaccordancewithfaith.

8ByfaithAbrahamobeyedwhenhewascalledtosetoutforaplacethathewastoreceiveasaninheritance;andhesetout,notknowingwherehewasgoing.9Byfaithhestayedforatimeinthelandhehadbeenpromised,asinaforeignland,livingintents,asdidIsaacandJacob,whowereheirswithhimofthesamepromise.10Forhelookedforwardtothecitythathasfoundations,whosearchitectandbuilderisGod.11Byfaithhereceivedpowerofprocreation,eventhoughhewastooold—andSarahherselfwasbarren—becauseheconsideredhimfaithfulwhohadpromised.12Thereforefromoneperson,andthisoneasgoodasdead,descendantswereborn,“asmanyasthestarsofheavenandastheinnumerablegrainsofsandbytheseashore.”

13Allofthesediedinfaithwithouthavingreceivedthepromises,butfromadistancetheysawandgreetedthem.Theyconfessedthattheywerestrangersandforeignersontheearth,14forpeoplewhospeakinthiswaymakeitclearthattheyareseekingahomeland.15Iftheyhadbeenthinkingofthelandthattheyhadleftbehind,theywouldhavehadopportunitytoreturn.16Butasitis,theydesireabettercountry,thatis,aheavenlyone.ThereforeGodisnotashamedtobecalledtheirGod;indeed,hehaspreparedacityforthem.

17ByfaithAbraham,whenputtothetest,offeredupIsaac.Hewhohadreceivedthepromiseswasreadytoofferuphisonlyson,18ofwhomhehadbeentold,“ItisthroughIsaacthatdescendantsshallbenamedforyou.”19HeconsideredthefactthatGodisableeventoraisesomeonefromthedead—andfigurativelyspeaking,hedidreceivehimback.20ByfaithIsaacinvokedblessingsforthefutureonJacobandEsau.21ByfaithJacob,whendying,blessedeachofthesonsofJoseph,“bowinginworshipoverthetopofhisstaff.”22ByfaithJoseph,attheendofhislife,madementionoftheexodusoftheIsraelitesandgaveinstructionsabouthisburial.

23ByfaithMoseswashiddenbyhisparentsforthreemonthsafterhisbirth,becausetheysawthatthechildwasbeautiful;andtheywerenotafraidoftheking’sedict.24ByfaithMoses,whenhewasgrownup,refusedtobecalledasonofPharaoh’sdaughter,25choosingrathertoshareill-treatmentwiththepeopleofGodthantoenjoythefleetingpleasuresofsin.26HeconsideredabusesufferedfortheChristtobegreaterwealththanthetreasuresofEgypt,forhewaslookingaheadtothereward.27ByfaithheleftEgypt,unafraidoftheking’sanger;forheperseveredasthoughhesawhimwhoisinvisible.28ByfaithhekeptthePassoverandthesprinklingofblood,sothatthedestroyerofthefirstbornwouldnottouchthefirstbornofIsrael.

29ByfaiththepeoplepassedthroughtheRedSeaasifitweredryland,butwhentheEgyptiansattemptedtodosotheyweredrowned.30ByfaiththewallsofJerichofellaftertheyhadbeenencircledforsevendays.31ByfaithRahabtheprostitutedidnotperishwiththosewhoweredisobedient,becauseshehadreceivedthespiesinpeace.

32AndwhatmoreshouldIsay?FortimewouldfailmetotellofGideon,Barak,Samson,Jephthah,ofDavidandSamuelandtheprophets—33whothroughfaithconqueredkingdoms,administeredjustice,obtainedpromises,shutthemouthsoflions,34quenchedragingfire,escapedtheedgeofthesword,wonstrengthoutofweakness,becamemightyinwar,putforeignarmiestoflight.35Womenreceivedtheirdeadbyresurrection.Othersweretortured,refusingtoacceptrelease,inordertoobtainabetterresurrection.36Otherssufferedmockingandflogging,andevenchainsandimprisonment.37Theywerestonedtodeath,theyweresawnintwo,theywerekilledbythesword;theywentaboutinskinsofsheepandgoats,destitute,persecuted,tormented—38ofwhomtheworldwasnotworthy.Theywanderedindesertsandmountains,andincavesandholesintheground.

39Yetallthese,thoughtheywerecommendedfortheirfaith,didnotreceivewhatwaspromised,40sinceGodhadprovidedsomethingbettersothattheywouldnot,apartfromus,bemadeperfect.

Whenyouarelonelyandfearful:callPsalm23.

1TheLORDismyshepherd,Ishallnotwant.

2Hemakesmeliedowningreenpastures;heleadsmebesidestillwaters;

3herestoresmysoul.Heleadsmeinrightpathsforhisname’ssake.

4EventhoughIwalkthroughthedarkestvalley,Ifearnoevil;foryouarewithme;yourrodandyourstaff—theycomfortme.

5Youprepareatablebeforemeinthepresenceofmyenemies;youanointmyheadwithoil;mycupoverflows.

6Surelygoodnessandmercyshallfollowmeallthedaysofmylife,andIshalldwellinthehouseoftheLORDmywholelifelong.

Whenyougrowbitterandcritical:call1Cor.13.

1IfIspeakinthetonguesofmortalsandofangels,butdonothavelove,Iamanoisygongoraclangingcymbal.2AndifIhavepropheticpowers,andunderstandallmysteriesandallknowledge,andifIhaveallfaith,soastoremovemountains,butdonothavelove,Iamnothing.3IfIgiveawayallmypossessions,andifIhandovermybodysothatImayboast,butdonothavelove,Igainnothing.

4Loveispatient;loveiskind;loveisnotenviousorboastfulorarrogant5orrude.Itdoesnotinsistonitsownway;itisnotirritableorresentful;6itdoesnotrejoiceinwrongdoing,butrejoicesinthetruth.7Itbearsallthings,believesallthings,hopesallthings,enduresallthings.

8Loveneverends.Butasforprophecies,theywillcometoanend;asfortongues,theywillcease;asforknowledge,itwillcometoanend.9Forweknowonlyinpart,andweprophesyonlyinpart;10butwhenthecompletecomes,thepartialwillcometoanend.11WhenIwasachild,Ispokelikeachild,Ithoughtlikeachild,Ireasonedlikeachild;whenIbecameanadult,Iputanendtochildishways.12Fornowweseeinamirror,dimly,butthenwewillseefacetoface.NowIknowonlyinpart;thenIwillknowfully,evenasIhavebeenfullyknown.13Andnowfaith,hope,andloveabide,thesethree;andthegreatestoftheseislove.

ForPaul’ssecrettohappiness:callCol.3:12–17.

12AsGod’schosenones,holyandbeloved,clotheyourselveswithcompassion,kindness,humility,meekness,andpatience.13Bearwithoneanotherand,ifanyonehasacomplaintagainstanother,forgiveeachother;justastheLordhasforgivenyou,soyoualsomustforgive.14Aboveall,clotheyourselveswithlove,whichbindseverythingtogetherinperfectharmony.15AndletthepeaceofChristruleinyourhearts,towhichindeedyouwerecalledintheonebody.Andbethankful.16LetthewordofChristdwellinyourichly;teachandadmonishoneanotherinallwisdom;andwithgratitudeinyourheartssingpsalms,hymns,andspiritualsongstoGod.17Andwhateveryoudo,inwordordeed,doeverythinginthenameoftheLordJesus,givingthankstoGodtheFatherthroughhim.

ForunderstandingofChristianity:call2Cor.5:15–19.

15Andhediedforall,sothatthosewholivemightlivenolongerforthemselves,butforhimwhodiedandwasraisedforthem.16Fromnowon,therefore,weregardnoonefromahumanpointofview;eventhoughweonceknewChristfromahumanpointofview,weknowhimnolongerinthatway.17SoifanyoneisinChrist,thereisanewcreation:everythingoldhaspassedaway;see,everythinghasbecomenew!18AllthisisfromGod,whoreconciledustohimselfthroughChrist,andhasgivenustheministryofreconciliation;19thatis,inChristGodwasreconcilingtheworldtohimself,notcountingtheirtrespassesagainstthem,andentrustingthemessageofreconciliationtous.

Whenyoufeeldownandout:callRomans8:31-39.

31Whatthenarewetosayaboutthesethings?IfGodisforus,whoisagainstus?32HewhodidnotwithholdhisownSon,butgavehimupforallofus,willhenotwithhimalsogiveuseverythingelse?33WhowillbringanychargeagainstGod’select?ItisGodwhojustifies.34Whoistocondemn?ItisChristJesus,whodied,yes,whowasraised,whoisattherighthandofGod,whoindeedintercedesforus.35WhowillseparateusfromtheloveofChrist?Willhardship,ordistress,orpersecution,orfamine,ornakedness,orperil,orsword?36Asitiswritten,“Foryoursakewearebeingkilledalldaylong;weareaccountedassheeptobeslaughtered.”37No,inallthesethingswearemorethanconquerorsthroughhimwholovedus.38ForIamconvincedthatneitherdeath,norlife,norangels,norrulers,northingspresent,northingstocome,norpowers,39norheight,nordepth,noranythingelseinallcreation,willbeabletoseparateusfromtheloveofGodinChristJesusourLord.

Whenyouwantrest:callMatthew11:25–30.

25AtthattimeJesussaid,“Ithankyou,Father,Lordofheavenandearth,becauseyouhavehiddenthesethingsfromthewiseandtheintelligentandhaverevealedthemtoinfants;26yes,Father,forsuchwasyourgraciouswill.27AllthingshavebeenhandedovertomebymyFather;andnooneknowstheSonexcepttheFather,andnooneknowstheFatherexcepttheSonandanyonetowhomtheSonchoosestorevealhim.28“Cometome,allyouthatarewearyandarecarryingheavyburdens,andIwillgiveyourest.29Takemyyokeuponyou,andlearnfromme;forIamgentleandhumbleinheart,andyouwillfindrestforyoursouls.30Formyyokeiseasy,andmyburdenislight.”

WhenseekingGod’sassurance:callRomans8:1–30.

1ThereisthereforenownocondemnationforthosewhoareinChristJesus.2ForthelawoftheSpiritoflifeinChristJesushassetyoufreefromthelawofsinandofdeath.3ForGodhasdonewhatthelaw,weakenedbytheflesh,couldnotdo:bysendinghisownSoninthelikenessofsinfulflesh,andtodealwithsin,hecondemnedsinintheflesh,4sothatthejustrequirementofthelawmightbefulfilledinus,whowalknotaccordingtothefleshbutaccordingtotheSpirit.5Forthosewholiveaccordingtothefleshsettheirmindsonthethingsoftheflesh,butthosewholiveaccordingtotheSpiritsettheirmindsonthethingsoftheSpirit.6Tosetthemindonthefleshisdeath,buttosetthemindontheSpiritislifeandpeace.7ForthisreasonthemindthatissetonthefleshishostiletoGod;itdoesnotsubmittoGod’slaw—indeeditcannot,8andthosewhoareinthefleshcannotpleaseGod.

9Butyouarenotintheflesh;youareintheSpirit,sincetheSpiritofGoddwellsinyou.AnyonewhodoesnothavetheSpiritofChristdoesnotbelongtohim.10ButifChristisinyou,thoughthebodyisdeadbecauseofsin,theSpiritislifebecauseofrighteousness.11IftheSpiritofhimwhoraisedJesusfromthedeaddwellsinyou,hewhoraisedChristfromthedeadwillgivelifetoyourmortalbodiesalsothroughhisSpiritthatdwellsinyou.

12Sothen,brothersandsisters,wearedebtors,nottotheflesh,toliveaccordingtotheflesh—13forifyouliveaccordingtotheflesh,youwilldie;butifbytheSpirityouputtodeaththedeedsofthebody,youwilllive.14ForallwhoareledbytheSpiritofGodarechildrenofGod.15Foryoudidnotreceiveaspiritofslaverytofallbackintofear,butyouhavereceivedaspiritofadoption.Whenwecry,“Abba!Father!”16itisthatverySpiritbearingwitnesswithourspiritthatwearechildrenofGod,17andifchildren,thenheirs,heirsofGodandjointheirswithChrist—if,infact,wesufferwithhimsothatwemayalsobeglorifiedwithhim.

18Iconsiderthatthesufferingsofthispresenttimearenotworthcomparingwiththegloryabouttoberevealedtous.19ForthecreationwaitswitheagerlongingfortherevealingofthechildrenofGod;20forthecreationwassubjectedtofutility,notofitsownwillbutbythewilloftheonewhosubjectedit,inhope21thatthecreationitselfwillbesetfreefromitsbondagetodecayandwillobtainthefreedomofthegloryofthechildrenofGod.22Weknowthatthewholecreationhasbeengroaninginlaborpainsuntilnow;23andnotonlythecreation,butweourselves,whohavethefirstfruitsoftheSpirit,groaninwardlywhilewewaitforadoption,theredemptionofourbodies.24Forinhopeweweresaved.Nowhopethatisseenisnothope.Forwhohopesforwhatisseen?25Butifwehopeforwhatwedonotsee,wewaitforitwithpatience.

26LikewisetheSpirithelpsusinourweakness;forwedonotknowhowtoprayasweought,butthatverySpiritintercedeswithsighstoodeepforwords.27AndGod,whosearchestheheart,knowswhatisthemindoftheSpirit,becausetheSpiritintercedesforthesaintsaccordingtothewillofGod.

28WeknowthatallthingsworktogetherforgoodforthosewholoveGod,whoarecalledaccordingtohispurpose.29ForthosewhomheforeknewhealsopredestinedtobeconformedtotheimageofhisSon,inorderthathemightbethefirstbornwithinalargefamily.30Andthosewhomhepredestinedhealsocalled;andthosewhomhecalledhealsojustified;andthosewhomhejustifiedhealsoglorified.

Whenawayfromhome:callPsalm121.

1Iliftupmyeyestothehills—fromwherewillmyhelpcome?

2MyhelpcomesfromtheLORD,whomadeheavenandearth.

3Hewillnotletyourfootbemoved;hewhokeepsyouwillnotslumber.

4HewhokeepsIsraelwillneitherslumbernorsleep.

5TheLORDisyourkeeper;theLORDisyourshadeatyourrighthand.

6Thesunshallnotstrikeyoubyday,northemoonbynight.

7TheLORDwillkeepyoufromallevil;hewillkeepyourlife.

8TheLORDwillkeepyourgoingoutandyourcominginfromthistimeonandforevermore.

Whenyouneedcourage:callJoshua1.

1AfterthedeathofMosestheservantoftheLORD,theLORDspoketoJoshuasonofNun,Moses’assistant,saying,2“MyservantMosesisdead.NowproceedtocrosstheJordan,youandallthispeople,intothelandthatIamgivingtothem,totheIsraelites.3EveryplacethatthesoleofyourfootwilltreaduponIhavegiventoyou,asIpromisedtoMoses.4FromthewildernessandtheLebanonasfarasthegreatriver,theriverEuphrates,allthelandoftheHittites,totheGreatSeainthewestshallbeyourterritory.5Nooneshallbeabletostandagainstyouallthedaysofyourlife.AsIwaswithMoses,soIwillbewithyou;Iwillnotfailyouorforsakeyou.6Bestrongandcourageous;foryoushallputthispeopleinpossessionofthelandthatIsworetotheirancestorstogivethem.7Onlybestrongandverycourageous,beingcarefultoactinaccordancewithallthelawthatmyservantMosescommandedyou;donotturnfromittotherighthandortotheleft,sothatyoumaybesuccessfulwhereveryougo.8Thisbookofthelawshallnotdepartoutofyourmouth;youshallmeditateonitdayandnight,sothatyoumaybecarefultoactinaccordancewithallthatiswritteninit.Forthenyoushallmakeyourwayprosperous,andthenyoushallbesuccessful.9Iherebycommandyou:Bestrongandcourageous;donotbefrightenedordismayed,fortheLORDyourGodiswithyouwhereveryougo.”

10ThenJoshuacommandedtheofficersofthepeople,11“Passthroughthecamp,andcommandthepeople:‘Prepareyourprovisions;forinthreedaysyouaretocrossovertheJordan,togointotakepossessionofthelandthattheLORDyourGodgivesyoutopossess.’”

12TotheReubenites,theGadites,andthehalf-tribeofManassehJoshuasaid,13“RememberthewordthatMosestheservantoftheLORDcommandedyou,saying,‘TheLORDyourGodisprovidingyouaplaceofrest,andwillgiveyouthisland.’14Yourwives,yourlittleones,andyourlivestockshallremaininthelandthatMosesgaveyoubeyondtheJordan.Butallthewarriorsamongyoushallcrossoverarmedbeforeyourkindredandshallhelpthem,15untiltheLORDgivesresttoyourkindredaswellastoyou,andtheytootakepossessionofthelandthattheLORDyourGodisgivingthem.Thenyoushallreturntoyourownlandandtakepossessionofit,thelandthatMosestheservantoftheLORDgaveyoubeyondtheJordantotheeast.”

16TheyansweredJoshua:“Allthatyouhavecommandeduswewilldo,andwhereveryousenduswewillgo.17JustasweobeyedMosesinallthings,sowewillobeyyou.OnlymaytheLORDyourGodbewithyou,ashewaswithMoses!18Whoeverrebelsagainstyourordersanddisobeysyourwords,whateveryoucommand,shallbeputtodeath.Onlybestrongandcourageous.”

Whenyouaredepressed:callPsalm27.

1TheLORDismylightandmysalvation;whomshallIfear?TheLORDisthestrongholdofmylife;ofwhomshallIbeafraid?

2Whenevildoersassailmetodevourmyflesh—myadversariesandfoes—theyshallstumbleandfall.

3Thoughanarmyencampagainstme,myheartshallnotfear;thoughwarriseupagainstme,yetIwillbeconfident.

4OnethingIaskedoftheLORD,thatwillIseekafter:toliveinthehouseoftheLORDallthedaysofmylife,tobeholdthebeautyoftheLORD,andtoinquireinhistemple.

5Forhewillhidemeinhisshelterinthedayoftrouble;hewillconcealmeunderthecoverofhistent;hewillsetmehighonarock.

6Nowmyheadisliftedupabovemyenemiesallaroundme,andIwillofferinhistentsacrificeswithshoutsofjoy;IwillsingandmakemelodytotheLORD.

7Hear,OLORD,whenIcryaloud,begracioustomeandanswerme!

8“Come,”myheartsays,“seekhisface!”Yourface,LORD,doIseek.

9Donothideyourfacefromme.Donotturnyourservantawayinanger,youwhohavebeenmyhelp.Donotcastmeoff,donotforsakeme,OGodofmysalvation!

10Ifmyfatherandmotherforsakeme,theLORDwilltakemeup.

11Teachmeyourway,OLORD,andleadmeonalevelpathbecauseofmyenemies.

12Donotgivemeuptothewillofmyadversaries,forfalsewitnesseshaverisenagainstme,andtheyarebreathingoutviolence.

13IbelievethatIshallseethegoodnessoftheLORDinthelandoftheliving.

14WaitfortheLORD;bestrong,andletyourhearttakecourage;waitfortheLORD!

Whenmenfailyou,callPsalm27

1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

2 When evildoers assail me to devour my flesh— my adversaries and foes— they shall stumble and fall.

3 Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war rise up against me, yet I will be confident.

4 One thing I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: to live in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in his temple.

5 For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will set me high on a rock.

6 Now my head is lifted up above my enemies all around me, and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the LORD.

7 Hear, O LORD, when I cry aloud, be gracious to me and answer me!

8 “Come,” my heart says, “seek his face!” Your face, LORD, do I seek.

9 Do not hide your face from me. Do not turn your servant away in anger, you who have been my help. Do not cast me off, do not forsake me, O God of my salvation!

10 If my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will take me up.

11 Teach me your way, O LORD, and lead me on a level path because of my enemies.

12 Do not give me up to the will of my adversaries, for false witnesses have risen against me, and they are breathing out violence.

13 I believe that I shall see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.

14 Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!

Whenyouhavesinned,callPsalm51

1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.

2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.

4 Against you, you alone, have I sinned, and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are justified in your sentence and blameless when you pass judgment.

5 Indeed, I was born guilty, a sinner when my mother conceived me.

6 You desire truth in the inward being; therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart.

7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have crushed rejoice.

9 Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me.

11 Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take your holy spirit from me.

12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain in me a willing spirit.

13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you.

14 Deliver me from bloodshed, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your deliverance.

15 O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.

16 For you have no delight in sacrifice; if I were to give a burnt offering, you would not be pleased.

17 The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

18 Do good to Zion in your good pleasure; rebuild the walls of Jerusalem,

19 then you will delight in right sacrifices, in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings; then bulls will be offered on your altar.

Whenyourprayersgrownarroworselfish,callPsalm67

1 May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, Selah

2 that your way may be known upon earth, your saving power among all nations.

3 Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you.

4 Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth. Selah

5 Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you.

6 The earth has yielded its increase; God, our God, has blessed us.

7 May God continue to bless us; let all the ends of the earth revere him.

Foragreatinvention/opportunity,callIsaiah55

1 Ho, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you that have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.

2 Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food.

3 Incline your ear, and come to me; listen, so that you may live. I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David.

4 See, I made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander for the peoples.

5 See, you shall call nations that you do not know, and nations that do not know you shall run to you, because of the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he has glorified you.

6 Seek the LORD while he may be found, call upon him while he is near;

7 let the wicked forsake their way, and the unrighteous their thoughts; let them return to the LORD, that he may have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the LORD.

9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

10 For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there until they have watered the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,

11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

12 For you shall go out in joy, and be led back in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall burst into song, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

13 Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress; instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle; and it shall be to the LORD for a memorial, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.

Howtogetalongwithfellowmen,callRomans12

1I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.

3For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. 4For as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function, 5so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another. 6We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: prophecy, in proportion to faith; 7ministry, in ministering; the teacher, in teaching; 8the exhorter, in exhortation; the giver, in generosity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness.

9Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; 10love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. 11Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. 13Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.

14Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. 17Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. 18If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20No, “if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.” 21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Whenyouthinkofinvestments/returns,callMark10

1He left that place and went to the region of Judea and beyond the Jordan. And crowds again gathered around him; and, as was his custom, he again taught them.

2Some Pharisees came, and to test him they asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” 3He answered them, “What did Moses command you?” 4They said, “Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of dismissal and to divorce her.” 5But Jesus said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart he wrote this commandment for you. 6But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ 7‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, 8and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two, but one flesh. 9Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”

10Then in the house the disciples asked him again about this matter. 11He said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her; 12and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.”

13People were bringing little children to him in order that he might touch them; and the disciples spoke sternly to them. 14But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. 15Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.” 16And he took them up in his arms, laid his hands on them, and blessed them.

17As he was setting out on a journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 18Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. 19You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; You shall not defraud; Honor your father and mother.’” 20He said to him, “Teacher, I have kept all these since my youth.” 21Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, “You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” 22When he heard this, he was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many possessions.