“I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.” (Psalm 139:14 ESV)

God formed you 

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you…” (Jer. 1:5 ESV)

God made you in His own image 

“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” (Gen. 1:27 ESV)

You are God’s created masterpiece 

“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” (Eph. 2:10 NLT)

God  knows the number of hairs on your head

“But even the hairs of your head are all numbered.” (Matt. 10:30 ESV)

God’s has good plans for you 

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.” (Jer. 29:11-13 ESV)

Therefore…

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” (1 Pet. 2:9 ESV)

Quote:

“Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” – Jesus Christ  (Matt. 6:25)

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.” (John 14:1 ESV)

A different kind of “believe”

In the above passage we read the words of Jesus saying to “believe also in me.” This kind of “believe” is very different than what we usually understand the word to mean. It’s not like believing that something exists, such as believing that the president of the United States exists, or that God exists, because the Bible says that even devils believe that and aren’t saved (James 2:19). The kind of “believe” Jesus is talking about includes faith from the heart in Jesus and confession of the mouth. 

Believing and confessing 

“Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.” (Rom. 10:9-10 ESV)

Whoever believes in Jesus will be saved 

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God..” (John 3:16-18 ESV)

“But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” (John 1:12 ESV)

Therefore…

“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.” (John 14:12 ESV)

“And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” (Mark 16:15-16 ESV)

Quote:

“Believing and confessing go together; and you cannot be be saved without you take them both. "With the mouth confession is made unto salvation." If you ever see the kingdom of heaven you have to take this way.”   - Dwight L. Moody

“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” (Eph. 4:29 NIV)

Be careful what you say!

“After Jesus called the crowd to Him, He said to them, ‘Hear and understand. It is not what enters into the mouth that defiles the man, but what proceeds out of the mouth, this defiles the man.’” (Matt. 15:20-11)

“Why do you boast in evil, O mighty man? The lovingkindness of God endures all day long. Your tongue devises destruction, Like a sharp razor, O worker of deceit. You love evil more than good, Falsehood more than speaking what is right. You love all words that devour, O deceitful tongue.” (Is. 52:1-4)

Say only uplifting things 

Say uplifting and encouraging things to others to build them up in faith

“A soothing tongue is a tree of life, But perversion in it crushes the spirit.” (Prov. 15:4)

 Therefore…

 “A man has joy in an apt answer, And how delightful is a timely word!” (Prov. 15:23)

“Pleasant words are a honeycomb, Sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.” (Prov. 16:24)

Quote:

“Kind words produce their own image in men's souls; and a beautiful image it is. They soothe and quiet and comfort the hearer. They shame him out of his sour, morose, unkind feelings. We have not yet begun to use kind words in such abundance as they ought to be used.” - Blaise Pascal

“Who told you that you were naked?” the LORD God asked.” (Gen. 3:11 NLT)

The devil lies and deceives people

Since the very beginning, people have listened to lies directed at them from the devil. He spoke to Eve in the garden (Gen. 3:1) and influenced her to question God’s Word and to do what God had commanded not to do; she ate the forbidden fruit and then gave some to her husband, Adam, to eat. This resulted in sin, separation from God and to fear. 

Something dramatically changed after sin interred the world

 “Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.” And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?” (Gen. 3:2-11)

We aren’t unaware of the devil

“ … For we are not unaware of his schemes.” (2 Cor. 2:11 NIV)

Submit yourself to God and resist the devil

“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7 NIV)

“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.” (1 Peter 5:9-10 NIV)

Therefore…

“Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.” (Eph. 6:13 ESV)

“But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Cor. 15:57 ESV)

Quote:

“I'm not afraid of the devil. The devil can handle me - he's got judo I never heard of. But he can't handle the One to whom I'm joined; he can't handle the One to whom I'm united; he can't handle the One whose nature dwells in my nature.” - A. W. Tozer

“The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.” (Psalm 138:8 ESV)

It’s not about what you do

Typically, when people ask about knowing God’s purpose for their lives, it’s usually about them wanting to know what occupation they should be pursuing. But, God’s purpose isn’t about what you do, it’s about what you do ‘for and with’ whatever occupation you choose to do. God’s purpose for each one of us is to purposefully include Him in all that we do. It’s to work at whatever job we do as though we are working for Christ Himself and not for men. In other words, if you are a carpenter, you should be a carpenter with and for Jesus. If you are a home-maker, student, teacher, craftsman, lawyer, physician, ditch digger, or anything else, for that matter, you do it with and for Jesus. You work at it heartily as a representative of Jesus and you do it in such a way that it honors God and brings glory to Him. Then, you will be fulfilling God’s purpose in your life, no matter what your job may be. 

“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Cor. 10:31 ESV)

Work heartily, as for the Lord

“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men…” (Col. 3:23 ESV)

“Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.” (Prov. 19:21 ESV)

Therefore…

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Rom. 12:2 ESV)

“In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will…” (Eph. 1:11 ESV)

“I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me.” (Psalm 57:2 ESV)

Quote:

“The will of God will not take us where the grace of God cannot sustain us.” – Billy Graham

“Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love, that he may deliver their soul from death and keep them alive in famine. Our soul waits for the Lord; he is our help and our shield.” (Psalms 33:18-20)

God can bring you unusual help 

• From Hidden things unknown to you 

“You have heard these things; look at them all. Will you not acknowledge it? From now on I will tell you of new things, hidden things unknown to you.” (Isa. 48:6)

• Flowing springs from dry land

“I will open rivers on the barren heights, and fountains in the middle of the valleys. I will turn the desert into a pool of water, and the dry land into flowing springs.” (Isa. 41:18)

• Water from a rock

“He led you through the vast and terrifying wilderness with its venomous snakes and scorpions, a thirsty and waterless land. He brought you water from the rock of flint.” (Deut. 8:15)

• Streams from every high mountain 

“And from every high mountain and every raised hill, streams of water will flow in the day of great slaughter, when the towers fall.” (Isa. 30:25)

Therefore…

“The Lord will open for you His good storehouse, the heavens, to give rain to your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hand (Deut. 28:12).

“The Lord knows the days of the blameless, and their heritage will remain forever; they are not put to shame in evil times; in the days of famine they have abundance. But the wicked will perish; the enemies of the Lord are like the glory of the pastures; they vanish—like smoke they vanish away.” (Psalms 37:18-20)

”Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” (Isa 43:19 ESV)

Quote:

“We can be certain that God will give us the strength and resources we need to live through any situation in life that he ordains. The will of God will never take us where the grace of God cannot sustain us.” - Billy Graham

“After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” (Gen. 15:1 ESV)

Shield: Something or someone which provides protection against a particular danger or risk. 

The Lord is your shield and strength

“The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.” (Psalm 28:7 ESV)

“But you, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head.” (Psalm 3:3 ESV)

Therefore…

“For the LORD God is a sun and shield; The LORD gives grace and glory; No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.” (Psalm 84:11) 

“Every word of God is tested; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.” (Prov. 30:5)

Quote:

“The safest place in all the world is in the will of God, and the safest protection in all the world is the name of God.” -  Warren Wiersbe

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1 (NIV)

Remember “God is” promises

The above passages gives us four  “God is” promises to remember when in trouble.

1. God is our refuge. A refuge is defined as a shelter or protection from danger or distress. Psalm 91:2 says, “I will say to the LORD, ‘My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!’” 

2. God is our strength. Strength is the quality or state of being strong. Phil. 4:13 says, “I can do all things through him who strengthens me. “

3. God is ever present. Josh. 1:9  says,  “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

4. God is our help. Isa. 41:10 says, “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Therefore…

“Our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Cor. 4:17-18 NIV)

Quote:

“You have need to pray to God, not only to help you in your troubles--but to help you in your blessings.” - Charles Spurgeon

“Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Matt. 9:13 ESV) 

Mercy: compassion or forbearance shown especially to an offender or to one subject to one’s power; lenient or compassionate treatment.

All of us need God’s mercy!

According to the Bible, our own righteousness is like filthy rags when compared with God’s righteousness (Isa. 64:6). And no matter how hard we may try, because we’ve all been born with a sin nature, we will still fall way short of God’s glory (Rom. 3:23). That’s why we are all in need of God’s mercy without exception. And, the good news is that we have received great mercy from Him through Jesus Christ!

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,” (1 Peter 1:3 ESV)

Be merciful to others and be blessed

“Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven.” (Luke 36:37 ESV)

“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.” (Matt. 5:7 ESV)

Therefore…

“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Heb. 4:16 ESV) 

“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 ESV)

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” (Psalm 23:6 ESV)

Quote:

“The wonderful news is that our Lord is a God of mercy, and He responds to repentance.” - Billy Graham