SECURITY

We strive to feel secure. We want to remove uncertainty.

My pastor at church said this one week and it stuck with me. Yes, I would have to agree...I want security. I want to know what is going to happen in my life. But much of life is dealing with the unknown. And trusting God to be our security.

I have been waiting for these new windows to be installed in my house and they aren't in yet and it's been causing me stress...I don't like waiting or being patient it seems. And at first my prayers have been 'God please have the windows come in soon for everything to turn out perfectly.'

And the other night I stopped myself and changed my prayer 'Lord help me rest in you and not be worried about these windows. No matter what happens with them, if they are late or never come, give me peace. I trust you.'

Instead of asking God to take away what was bothering me, I asked Him to go with me through it. After all, rest and peace is better than perfect windows, right?! God is the only thing in our lives that is certain...

Jeremiah 33:6

Nevertheless, I will bring health and healing to it; I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security.

SUCCESS

Success.. I think success would be winning a tennis match, being able to do 10 real push ups, being the best at my job, being able to buy what I want...

When I think of successful people in the world today, I think of  Bill Gates, Oprah Winfrey, and Michael Jordan.

Merriam-Webster says success is 'favorable or desired outcome; attainment or wealth, favor.'

But God's definition may be different...

Genesis 39:20-23
But while Joseph was there in the prison, the LORD was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden...The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph's care, because the LORD was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did.

The LORD gave Joseph success...really? But Joseph was in prison! How is that kind?

Maybe success isn't as the world sees it, but instead it's having God's favor and his presence.

So here's a better list of successful people: Billy Graham, Beth Moore, and Tommy Nelson.

NEW

A new year! There is something about a new year that is exciting. A clean slate. A year full of unknown possibilities and adventures. God promises many NEW things to us this year...

New Life
Ezra 9:9
Though we are slaves, our God has not forsaken us in our bondage. He has shown us kindness in the sight of the kings of Persia: He has granted us new life to rebuild the house of our God and repair its ruins, and he has given us a wall of protection in Judah and Jerusalem.

New Song
Psalm 40:3
He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him.

New Compassions
Lamentations 3:22-23

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning..

 

New Spirit

Ezekiel 11:19

I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. great is your faithfulness.

 

New Command

John:13:34

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.

 

New Creation

2 Corinthians 5:17

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

 

New Self

Ephesians 4:24

and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

 

New Birth

1 Peter 1:3

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead..

New Name
Revelation 2:17

To the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it.

 

New Everything!

Revelation 21:5

He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”