“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.” (Heb. 10:23 NASB) 

Faithful: loyal, steadfast, committed, devoted, dedicated, dependable, reliable, constant, and unwavering.

God is faithful to all generations!

“For the LORD is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting And His faithfulness to all generations.” (Psalm 100:5 NASB)

“Know therefore that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God, who keeps His covenant and His lovingkindness to a thousandth generation with those who love Him and keep His commandments.” (Deut. 7:9 NASB) 

“God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” (1 Cor. 1:9 NASB)

All His Work is done in faithfulness

“For the word of the LORD is upright, And all His work is done in faithfulness.” (Psalm 33:4 NASB)

Therefore

“Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.” (1 Cor. 4:2 NIV)

“So you shall observe to do just as the LORD your God has commanded you; you shall not turn aside to the right or to the left.” (Deut. 5:32-33 NASB)

^“16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, ¹⁷ that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him,¹⁸ having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, ¹⁹ and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might ²⁰ that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places,” (Eph 1:16-20 ESV)

How you should pray

If you ever wonder how you should pray for those you’d like to become followers of Christ, the above passage has some guidelines for you to follow.

• Begin by thanking God for them in prayer  (verse 16)

“I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.” 

• Pray that God will give them revelation in the knowledge of Him (verse 17)

“that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him,”

• Pray that God will open the eyes of their heart so that they will become enlightened concerning the hope He has called them to (verse 18)

“having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,” 

• End by thanking God for His immeasurable power towards those who believe (verses 19-20)

“and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places…”

Therefore

“The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.” (James 516b NLT)

“And He said to them, ‘When I sent you out without money belt and bag and sandals, you did not lack anything, did you?’ They said, ‘No, nothing.’” (Luke 22:35 NASB)

You Will Not Lack Anything

Hudson Taylor, the great missionary to China, once said, “God’s work, done in God’s way, will never lack God’s supply.” How true that is!

When I was hired in August of 1971 to be the director of Whatcom County Youth For Christ (YFC), I was told they didn’t have the funds to hire me. However, they assured me they would pay me each month—if the money was available. I accepted the position, fully aware of those conditions, and stood on God’s promise in Philippians 4:19:

“And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

And He certainly did!

I served as the YFC director for twenty years and never missed a single paycheck. God was always faithful to meet every need, often in remarkable ways. More than once, several checks would arrive in the mail on the last day of the month—each for a different, seemingly random amount—that together equaled exactly what was needed.

Even beyond finances, we would sometimes wake up to find bags of fresh fruit, vegetables, and groceries left on our porch. What a blessing those times were!

Therefore

God Equips You for Every Good Work!

“And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.” (2 Cor. 9:8 ESV)

“Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.” (Heb. 13:20-21 NASB)

“My child, if you have put up security for a friend’s debt or agreed to guarantee the debt of a stranger— if you have trapped yourself by your agreement and are caught by what you said—follow my advice and save yourself, for you have placed yourself at your friend’s mercy. Now swallow your pride; go and beg to have your name erased. Don’t put it off; do it now! Don’t rest until you do. Save yourself like a gazelle escaping from a hunter, like a bird fleeing from a net.” (Prov. 6:1-5 NLT)

My Answer Is Always No

Over the years, several friends have asked me to co-sign for them. My answer has always been no. The reason is simple: the Bible makes it very clear that you should never co-sign for anyone! And quite frankly, there are many practical reasons not to co-sign.

Here are just a few:

1. Co-signing means taking on full responsibility if the loan isn’t repaid.

Remember, the person asking you to co-sign was already considered a credit risk. That’s why the lender wouldn’t approve the loan without someone else—someone with better credit and assets—to guarantee it.

2. You are agreeing to repay the entire loan if they default.

Even missing a single payment can trigger the lender to come after you—the co-signer—for the full remaining balance. You are 100% liable for any loan you co-sign.

3. Co-signing can negatively affect your own credit.

It could also disqualify you from getting a loan for your own needs in the future. Your credit usage and debt-to-income ratio are both impacted the moment you co-sign.

4. If you can’t afford to give them the money outright, you certainly can’t afford to co-sign.

It’s just not worth the risk!

Therefore

If you truly want to help someone and you can afford to do so, give them a gift—don’t sign for their debt. The Bible promises a blessing to those who give.

“Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.” (Luke 6:38 ESV)

“The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel: To know wisdom and instruction, To perceive the words of understanding, To receive the instruction of wisdom, Justice, judgment, and equity;” (Prov. 1:1-3 NKJV)

The Bible says in Proverbs 4:7 (NLV), “Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do! And whatever else you do, develop good judgment.” The passage from Proverbs at the top of the page tells us how: “To know wisdom and understanding,” the instruction comes from the Proverbs themselves. That’s why you must study them!

Read Proverbs Every Day!

The book of Proverbs is a wonderful and profitable part of the Bible to read daily. There are 31 chapters—one for each day of the month. I enjoy reading it in different translations: one year in the KJV, another in the NKJV, then in the NIV, NASB, NLT, and others. Even though I’ve read it many times over the years, I continue to receive new and fresh insights each time.

Proverbs Will Give Prudence to the Simple and Help the Young

“To give prudence to the simple, To the young man knowledge and discretion…” (Prov. 1:4 NKJV)

Proverbs Will Increase the Wise

“A wise man will hear and increase learning, And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel,” (Prov. 1:5 NKJV)

Proverbs Will Increase Your Understanding of Things

“To understand a proverb and an enigma, The words of the wise and their riddles.” (Prov. 1:6 NKJV)

“The steadfast love of the  Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” (Lam. 3:22-24 ESV)

With every day comes a fresh start for you!

That’s because God’s Love is steadfast and NEVER ceases. Therefore, no matter what things may look like, the Lord Himself, is truly your portion! So you can put your hope securely in Him!

Don’t fear, God is with you!

“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.” (Isa. 41:10 ESV)

Hold fast, God is faithful!

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.” (Heb. 10:23 ESV)

He has called you into Christ’s fellowship!

“God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” (1 Cor. 1:9 ESV)

Therefore, He supplies your every need in Christ Jesus!

“And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:19 ESV)

You are wonderfully made!

“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” (Psalm 139:14 NIV) 

You won a very big race!

On the day you were conceived over a million of your “brothers and sisters” raced to reach your mother’s egg. And you got there first! You won! That’s right, you were truly the winner that day! And you are still a winner today! (Psalm 139:15 NKJV)

You were skillfully made in secret

“My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.” (Psalm 139:16 NKJV)

God’s thoughts are still with you today, and they are precious!

“How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; When I awake, I am still with You.” (Psalms 139:17-18 NKJV)

“The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.” (John 10:10 NLT)

As described in the passage above, there are two purposes, one is from God and the other is from the devil. 

The devil’s purpose

Billy Graham said, “Don’t think of Satan as a harmless cartoon character with a red suit and a pitchfork. He is very clever and powerful, and his unchanging purpose is to defeat God’s plans at every turn—including His plans for your life.”

“You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” (John 8:44)

 “You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God.” (Eph. 2:2)

The devil’s purpose will be crushed

“The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.” (Rom. 16:20)

“Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming.” (2 Thess. 2:8)

God’s purpose

“My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.” (John 10:10b)

“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.” (Jer. 29:11 ESV)

“He predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,” (Eph. 1:5 ESV)

“Who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,” (2 Tim. 1:9 ESV)

God’s purpose will succeed

“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)

“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 shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” (Isa. 55:12 ESV)

Therefore

“The one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” (1 John 4:4)

“When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone;” (James 1:13)

“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.” (1 Peter 5:8-9)

“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.” (1 Cor. 16:13)

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

“Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.” (Eph. 6:11)

“in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.” (Eph. 6:16)

And finally

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

“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)

Quote

“As Christ has a Gospel, Satan has a gospel too; the latter being a clever counterfeit of the former. So closely does the gospel of Satan resemble that which it parades, multitudes of the unsaved are deceived by it.” - A.W. Pink

“Rejoice always,” (1 Thess. 5:16)

Rejoice: To experience joy and gladness in a high degree; to be exhilarated with lively and pleasurable sensations; to exult. 

Rejoice always!

We are exhorted in the Bible to rejoice always and we should and must! As God’s redeemed children and followers of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, we do have a lot to rejoice about! And, no matter our circumstances, we can always choose to rejoice and praise the Lord. Joy is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22). If we are always filled with the Spirit, and the Spirit causes us to rejoice, then it follows that we will rejoice always.

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.” (Phil. 4:4 ESV)

Reasons to rejoice always

·      Rejoice always because you trust in His holy Name

“For our heart rejoices in Him, Because we trust in His holy name.” (Psalm 33:21) 

·      Rejoice always because you love Him 

“You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy.” (1 Peter 1:8 NLT) 

·      Rejoice always because God has clothed you with the garments of salvation and righteousness

 “I will greatly rejoice in the Lord; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.” (Isa. 61:10 ESV) 

·      Rejoice always in God’s creation

“Be glad; rejoice forever in my creation!” (Isa. 65:18 NLT)

·      Rejoice always because your name is written in heaven

“Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” (Luke 10:20)

·      Rejoice always in your undertakings and blessings

“There also you and your households shall eat before the Lord your God, and rejoice in all your undertakings in which the Lord your God has blessed you.” (Deut. 12:7 ) 

·      Rejoice always in times of suffering

“More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance,” (Rom. 5:3 ESV)

Therefore

“But let the righteous be glad; let them exult before God; Yes, let them rejoice with gladness.” (Psalm 68:3)

“Praise the Lord! Praise, O servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord! Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and forevermore! From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the Lord is to be praised! The Lord is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens! Who is like the Lord our God, who is seated on high, who looks far down on the heavens and the earth? He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap, to make them sit with princes, with the princes of his people. He gives the barren woman a home, making her the joyous mother of children. Praise the Lord! (Psalms 119:1-9 ESV)