“Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.” (Prov. 23:18 ESV)

When things look dark

Sometimes, fearful and disappointing things happen making the future appear very dark and foreboding. During times like these it’s important to look at the big picture and understand that what we see is only temporary! It’s also important to understand who we belong to. As God’s children our future is actually very bright no matter how things may look here, or no matter what may happen around us or to us. During a national crisis, someone asked Billy Graham what his thoughts were and he said, “I’m not worried, I have read the last page of the Bible and we win!” Someone else has said, “I stopped worrying about what the future holds when I put my trust in the One who holds the future.”

We are God’s children

“Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.” (1 John 3:2-3 ESV)

God is in control

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” (Rom. 8:28 ESV)

Therefore…

“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, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.” (Eph. 1:11-12 ESV)

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” (Rom. 15:13 ESV)

“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” (Rom. 12:12 ESV)

 Quotes:

“Where there is no hope in the future, there is no power in the present.” – John Maxwell

 “Hope itself is like a star – not to be seen in the sunshine of prosperity, and only to be discovered in the night of adversity.” – Charles Haddon Spurgeon

“I am not really alone, because the Father is with me.” (John 16:32 GNT)

You are never alone

“I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Heb. 13:5 ESV)

“The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.” (Zeph. 3:17 ESV)

God’s steadfast love is with you

“For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you.” (Isa. 54:10 ESV)

Therefore…

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” (Psalm 23:4 ESV)

“For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom. 8:38-39 ESV)

Quote: 

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” – Jesus Christ  (John 10:27)

“But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him.” (1 Cor. 6:17)

God is Spirit

God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” (John 4:24 ESV)

The Spirit is alive and dwells in you

“However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.” (Rom. 8:9)

“If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness.” (Rom. 8:10)

The mind set on the Spirit is life and peace

“For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace…” (Rom. 8:6)

“…the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.” (Gal. 6:8)

Strength and power through His Spirit

“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love.” (Eph. 3:16-17 NIV) 

Therefore…

“This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit.” (1 John 4:13 NIV)

“…you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 2:5)

“If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.” (Gal. 5:29)

Quote:

”It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.” - Jesus Christ (John 6:63 ESV)

The six verses of Psalms 150 is a doxology that closes the entire Book of Psalms and it is a general exhortation to praise God. The psalmist urges the congregation to praise God with music and dancing, naming nine types of musical instruments. For this reason it is also called "the musicians' psalm. 

“1  Praise the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens. 

2  Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness.

3  Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre,

4  praise him with timbrel and dancing, praise him with the strings and strings and pipe,

5  praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals. 

6  Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord.” (Psalms 150:1-6 NIV)

Therefore…

“Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.” (Psalm 145:3 NIV)

 Quote:

“Praise is the rehearsal of our eternal song. By grace we learn to sing, and in glory we continue to sing. What will some of you do when you get to heaven, if you go on grumbling all the way? Do not hope to get to heaven in that style. But now begin to bless the name of the Lord.” - Charles Spurgeon

“Do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before unknown men.” (Prov. 22:29 NKJV)

Excellence: The state, quality, or condition of excelling; superiority; to take the lead; to be the best; possessing good qualities in high degree.  

Christians must always strive for excellence 

What you do represents who you are and who you’re connected to. God is your father, Jesus is your Savior and Lord. Why would you want to settle for less?

Excellence examples in the Bible 

• Daniel’s excellent spirit

“Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.” (Dan. 6:3 KJV)

• Joseph’s excellent work 

“You shall be in charge of my house, and all my people are to obey your commands. Only with regard to the throne will I be greater than you. Pharaoh also told Joseph, "I hereby place you over all the land of Egypt." (Gen. 40-41)

• Mordecai’s excellent behavior 

“For Mordecai the Jew was second only to King Xerxes, preeminent among the Jews and highly favored by his many kinsmen, seeking the good of his people and speaking peace to all his countrymen.” (Est. 10:3)

Therefore…

“And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ; having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. (Phil. 1:9-11)

“And may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we do for you, so that your hearts are strengthened in holiness to be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.” (1 Thes. 3:12-13)

Quotes:

“The quality of a person's life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence, regardless of their chosen field of endeavor.” - Vince Lombardi

 “The secret of living a life of excellence is merely a matter of thinking thoughts of excellence. Really, it's a matter of programming our minds with the kind of information that will set us free.” - Charles R. Swindoll

“Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1:4 NIV)

Perseverance: endurance, tenacity, determination; continued effort to do or achieve something despite difficulties, failure, or opposition : steadfastness.

Don’t grow wearing of doing good

“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” (Gal. 6:9 ESV)

Endurance produces character

“More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” (Rom. 5:3-5 ESV)

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast

Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.

“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” (James 1:12 ESV)

Therefore…

“For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.” (Heb. 10:36 ESV)

“If we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us…” (2 Tim. 2:12 ESV)

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us…” (Heb. 12:1 ESV)

“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely, and may your entire spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thess. 5:23)

Quotes:

“God knows our situation; He will not judge us as if we had no difficulties to overcome. What matters is the sincerity and perseverance of our will to overcome them.” - C.S. Lewis

“Nothing paralyzes our lives like the attitude that things can never change. We need to remind ourselves that God can change things. Outlook determines outcome. If we see only the problems, we will be defeated; but if we see the possibilities in the problems, we can have victory.” - Warren Wiersbe

“Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise.” (Prov. 6:6 ESV)

Responsibility: the state or fact of being responsible, answerable, or accountable for something within one's power, control, or management; duty, obligation, role, assignment, mission, job. 

Be responsible to God in whatever you do 

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

Be responsible in doing little things 

“One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.” (Luke 16:10 ESV) 

Train up your children to be responsible

“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” (Prov. 22:6 ESV) 

Therefore…

“And if you faithfully obey the voice of the Lord your God, being careful to do all his commandments that I command you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the Lord your God. Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the field. Blessed shall be the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your ground and the fruit of your cattle, the increase of your herds and the young of your flock. Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl. Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out.” (Deut. 28:1-6 ESV)

Quotes: 

“The greatest day in your life and mine is when we take total responsibility for our attitudes. That's the day we truly grow up.”

- John C. Maxwell

“We need to realize that in all things our first duty and responsibility is to God Himself.” - Harry Ironside

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.” (John 14:1 NKJV)

 With so much negativity present in the news and all over social media platforms, it would be easy to become troubled if you let yourself be. But, don’t let your heart be troubled because you can control your heart! The above statement by Jesus, says, “Don’t let your heart be troubled.” That statement is a command by Jesus and He would never command you to do anything  you could not do! In fact, He will help you do it if you ask Him!

 “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” (Psalm 51:10 ESV)

 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” (John 14:27 ESV)

 Draw near to God with trust 

 “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” (James 4:8 ESV)

 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” (Prov. 3:5-6 ESV)

God will put a new heart and Spirit within you

“And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.” (Eze. 36:26 ESV)

Therefore…

“Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.” (Prov. 4:23 ESV)

“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:7 ESV)

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 6:12 ESV)

Recognize the enemy at work 

“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8 ESV)

“And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.” (2 Cor. 11:14 ESV)

We have been given divine power for spiritual battles 

“For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.” (2 Cor. 10:4 ESV) 

“And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 11:32 ESV)

“For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.” (1 John 5:4 ESV)

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.  Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;  and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints…” (Eph 6:13-18 ESV)

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

Quotes:

"Enemy-occupied territory…… that is what this world is. Christianity is the story of how the rightful king has landed, you might say landed in disguise, and is calling us all to take part in a great campaign in sabotage." C.S. Lewis

“The trumpet still plays the notes of war. You cannot sit down and put the victory wreath on your head. You do not have a crown. You still must wear the helmet and carry the sword. You must watch, pray, and fight. Expect your last battle to be the most difficult, for the enemy’s fiercest charge is reserved for the end of the day.”Charles Spurgeon