A Scripture a Day...

Mark‬ ‭9:20-27‬​

“And they brought the boy to him. And when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. And Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, “He is dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose.”‬‬

 

Great observation Tao! Thank you. I am reading (far too slowly) Fulton Sheen's book, "Life of Christ". Throughout this inspirational book, he makes the case for Christ's divinity. Among other points, he notes that the beautiful, simple but incredibly powerful message of love which Christ taught, is something that no mere human could ever have thought out. It came from a being descended from heaven and who returned to heaven. Although I have long espoused it, I don't think I have believed it so fervently as I do now. Jesus Christ is truly God and His words recorded in the bible are straight from the mouth of God!

 

‭‭Lamentations‬ ‭3:19-25
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“Remember my affliction and my wanderings, the wormwood and the gall! My soul continually remembers it and is bowed down within me. But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: 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.” The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.”‬ ‭

 

‭‭Colossians‬ ‭2:6-7
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“Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.”‬

 

‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5:16-22‬
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“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.”

I read this verse yesterday and it made me think more on the importance of being close to God: praying without ceasing, giving thanks in all circumstances, and rejoicing always. It is Gods will that we do these things so that we can remain in close proximity to him. When we stray from him, we are tempted to fall into doubt and therefore sin. I fell into sexual impurity today and yesterday, please pray for me as I am disciplined in keeping close to God.

 

I experience the same thing like Akeakua. Whenever I forget the Lord, I tend to back to porn. So I find the way to remind me of my God. I put on my favorite Bible verses at the place that I can read them everyday. Praying every morning and night is my habit. I ask God to protect me one day at a time. I focus on meeting that goal everyday. God said if you love me, keep my commandments. And faith without works is dead. Guys, we have to resist the devil, the temptation by dwelling in God and his words only.

 

Same here, through this fight I've just noticed how incredibly weak I am, and how much I need God. I notice often that when I've had a couple of good days with a lot of prayer and no PMO, instead of praising God, I start feeling good about myself. Then before I know it I relapse again because I start relying on myself instead of God. I started to follow a ''read through the bible 2 year plan'' and intend to finish it. Hope that will bring me closer to him.

 

You humble me, my friend. Your words here show you grasp the Truth and love the Son. My greatest desire and most sincere prayer is that your love for him and your desire for his peace within would only grow.

I was just reflecting on some challenging issues this morning, and I thought: "This is a hard thing, God, but I trust you completely and without hesitation or doubt." I could not always say this, and I can only say it now with sincerity because of his great patience in revealing himself to me and proving himself faithful over the course of many years. He owed me no explanation, but he chose to wait beside me while I learned to trust.

There is no love like his. It is the engine that drives the universe and all reality. It is what makes him worthy to be served. It is why He is the Master. He is good! May our eyes be opened to see clearly into the deep water of that goodness. If we drink from it, we will never thirst again!

 

1 John 2:16

For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world.

I have a very strong urge today to check porn. But I resist the devil by praying to my Lord Jesus Christ and the temptation soon loses its grip on me. Thanks God for keeping his promise. Amen.

 

Good job.

 

John 3:14-15
As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

 

Proverbs 5:3-8

For the lips of a forbidden woman drip honey,
and her speech is smoother than oil,
but in the end she is bitter as wormwood,
sharp as a two-edged sword.
Her feet go down to death;
her steps follow the path to Sheol;
she does not ponder the path of life;
her ways wander, and she does not know it.
And now, O sons, listen to me,
and do not depart from the words of my mouth.
Keep your way far from her,
and do not go near the door of her house,

 

One of my favorite encouraging verses that shows our potential in Christ and His Spirit to keep us and strengthen us:

1 John 2:1

My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not.
And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

 

Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word.
Psalms 119:37

 

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions – it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no-one can boast.
Ephesians 2:1‭-‬9

 

John 16:33

In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.

 

One of my most favorite verses. So good!

 

7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

Mathew 7:7-8