Category: Treasures for the Heart

Everyone can use encouragement!

Posted on

Faith

photo courtesy of clipartkey.com

KJV Dictionary defines faith as the “Belief; the assent of the mind to the truth of what is declared by another, resting on his authority and veracity, without other evidence; the judgment that what another states or testifies is the truth. I have strong faith or no faith in the testimony of a witness, or in what a historian narrates.”

Webster Dictionary Defines faith as the “belief and trust in and loyalty to God; belief in the traditional doctrines of a religion.”

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.  Hebrews 11:1

Faith is a vital part of our relationship with God.  Through faith, we have eternal life.  Without faith we cannot please God. 

Faith through the Holy Spirit will help the truth to be received.  Faith is the firm persuasion and belief that God will perform all He has promised.

Faith goes beyond the physical senses.  We cannot hear, smell, see, taste, or touch it.  Faith allows us to believe that a God that we cannot currently see can do what seems humanly impossible.  Therefore, our faith grows spiritually rather than physically.

Faith trusts that when we cannot see God working we can have the confidence that no matter what our situation may be God is working on it for our good and His glory.

Additional Scripture: Genesis 15:6, Matthew 21:21-22, Romans 10:17, Hebrews 11:1-6, Ephesians 2:8-10, Proverbs 3:5-10, 1 Corinthians 2:1-5, 2 Corinthians 5:7, James 2:14-26, James 1:5-6, Mark 11:22-24, Ephesians 2:16-17, Romans 16:13, John 11:40, James 1:1-5, Mark 9:23,

Prayer:

Lord, please help my family & me to fight the good fight of faith, taking hold of the eternal life to which we are called, and help us to be a faithful witness to all who cross our paths.  1 Timothy 6:12

Songs of Praise:

  1. Blessed Assurance
  2. Faith of our Fathers
  3. How Firm a Foundation
  4. The Solid Rock
  5. ‘Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus
Posted on

Diligence

DILIGENCE, n. L., to love earnestly; to choose.

Steady application in business of any kind; constant effort to accomplish what is undertaken; exertion of body or mind without unnecessary delay or sloth; due attention; industry; assiduity.1

steady, earnest, and energetic effort : persevering application 2

Scripture:

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.   1 Corinthians 15:58

Many times a newly assigned task seems easy to accomplish, but as time transpires one may grow increasingly impatient with completing it. Distractions may appear or one may grow weary and discouraged. It is important to keep moving forward and and to keep in mind that our labour is not in vain for the Lord.

Our motivation for being diligent should come from the understanding that our treasures will be laid up in heaven. Christ knows all we do and will reward our diligent efforts.

Just as God equips you to be diligent in doing the small tasks, He will be faithful to provide the energy to complete the bigger jobs as well.

Diligence is a mental disposition that drives us to complete a task successfully.

“The lazy Christian hath his mouth full of complaints, when the active Christian hath his heart full of comforts.” —Thomas Brooks

Additional Scripture: 

Deuteronomy 6:17, Proverbs 22:29, Proverbs 13:4, Galatians 6:9, Proverbs 21:5, James 1:12, Colossians 3:23, Ecclesiates 9:10, Proverbs 6:6-8, Philippians 3:14, 2 Peter 1:5-7, 2 Corinthians 8:7, Proverbs 4:23, Hebrews 6:11-12, 2 Peter 1:10-11, Proverbs 12:27

Prayer:

Lord, Help me to desire to eagerly search and learn the rich treasures of Your Word that I may learn to apply them to daily life. Help me to envision each task as a special mission from You. Help me to diligently complete each mission using all the talents You have bestowed upon me. Thank You for who You are and all You do.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Songs of Praise:

  • Work for The Night Is Coming (Annie L. Coghill)
  • Rescue the Perishing (Fanny Crosby)
  • Bringing In The Sheaves (Knowles Shaw)
  • Have I Done My Best for Jesus? (Ensign Edwin Young)
  • Give of Your Best to The Master (Howard B. Grose)
  • To The Work (Fanny Crosby)
  1. Av1611.com
  2. Miriam-Webster Dictionary
Posted on

Courage

Definition:

Av1611.com defines Courage as that quality of mind which enables men to encounter danger and difficulties with firmness, or without fear or depression of spirits; valor; boldness; resolution. It is a constituent part of fortitude; but fortitude implies patience to bear continued suffering.

This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.  Joshua 1:8-9

Courage comprehends that God gives us the strength to face any situation, trail, or affliction.  It is the ability to recognize that God is in control of all things. 

Courage is meeting the opposition with confidence knowing that greater is He that is in you than He that is in the world (1 John 4:4).

We should encourage ourselves with the promise and presence of God.  Don’t allow the sense of your own faults and insecurities discourage you.  God is omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent.  God will be with us wherever we go.

If we are to be successful, we must be willing to focus daily on God’s Word,  determine to obey God’s commands, and trade our fear for courage.

Additional Scripture:

Deuteronomy 31:6, 1 Chronicles 28:20, Psalm 27:14, Psalm 31:4, Ephesians 6:10,  John 1:27, Psalm 27:1, Psalm 56:3-4, Isaiah 41:10-13, 1 Corinthians 16:13, Proverbs 3:5-6, Psalm 31:24, 1 Corinthians 15:58, 2 Timothy 1:7, John 16:33

Prayer:

Dear Lord, please help me to always be strong and courageous in my character and actions.  Give me courage to be a bold witness with whomever I come in contact.  Use my life as a faithful testimony for You.  Help me whenever I tempted to quit to keep going on.  Help me to always have a cheerful spirit even when things don’t go as expected.  Please give me courage to accomplish what needs to be done.  In Jesus’ name, Amen!

Hymns of Praise:

  1. Stand Up Stand Up For Jesus
  2. Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah
  3. Dare To Be A Daniel
  4. Swing Low, Sweet Chariot
  5. Faith of our Fathers
  6. My  Country, ‘tis of Thee
  7. Nearer, My God, to Thee
Posted on

Goodness

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,” Galatians 5:22

Webster defines Goodness as the state of being good the physical qualities which constitute value, excellence, or perfection; as the goodness of timber; the goodness of soil.  1. The moral qualities which constitute Christians excellence; moral virtue; religion.

Easton’s Bible Dictionary defines Goodness as In man is not a mere passive quality, but the deliberate preference of right to wrong, the firm and persistent resistance of all moral evil, and the choosing and following of all moral good.

The word good appears 720 times in the Bible. Goodness appears 51 times.  God is good.  It pleases Him to bestow goodness on His people.

Matthew 7:11 tells us that every good tree bringeth forth good fruit.  In order for goodness of God to overflow in our lives, goodness must abound in our hearts (Matthew 6:45).

If I am controlled by the Holy Spirit, I will do good unto others hoping for nothing again (Luke 6:35).

Whatever your occupation in life, God intends us to display goodness to those around us.  Galatians 6:10 tells us that we are to do good unto all men, especially unto them that are of the household of faith.

Goodness is kindness in action.  It has been said that “kindness is a language the deaf can hear and the blind can see”.  It is allowing God’s Spirit to work through you to be of help and bring a bit of hope and happiness to others.

Goodness is simply a heart that works at meeting the needs of others. 

Posted on

Humility

photo courtesy of clipart.email

Av1611.com defines humility as in ethics, freedom from pride and arrogance; humbleness of mind; a modest estimate of one’s own worth. In theology, humility consists in lowliness of mind; a deep sense of one’s own unworthiness in the sight of God, self-abasement, penitence for sin, and submission to the divine will.

But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. James 4:6

God chooses the simple things to confound the wise (1 Corinthians 1:27).  He does so to achieve His plans and bring honor and glory to Himself. 

Jesus was the greatest example of humility as He chose to obey God’s plan by becoming a man, dying on the cross, and raising again the third day to pay our penalty of sin.  Those who believe on Him and confess their sin will have eternal life (John 3:16-17). 

The Holy Spirit will nudge our hearts when we need to humble ourselves before God.  It is our choice to choose to become humble and obedient or persist in our prideful ways.

Additional Scripture:

1 Peter 5:5-6,  Luke 22:27, Philippians 2:6-8, Philippians 2:3-4, Titus 3:2, Psalm 113:5-6, Proverbs 15:33, Proverbs 18:12, John 13:13-17, Micah 6:8, 2 Chronicles 7:14, Romans 2:1, Psalm 9:12, Proverbs 40:11, Proverbs 6:16-19

Prayer:

Lord, You have instructed us in Micah 6:8 to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly before You.  Please cultivate in our hearts the understanding that You are the reason for our accomplishments. Keep us from selfish pride and help us to learn of Your gentle and humble spirit.  You alone are worthy of the praise, honor, and glory.  In Jesus, name, Amen

Hymns of Praise:

  1. Amazing Grace
  2. Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior
  3. Have Thine Own Way, Lord
  4. Only a Sinner
  5. Nothing But the Blood
Posted on

Kindness

photo courtesy of clipart.email

Character Trait: Kindness

Definition:

av1611.com defines kindness as disposed to do good to others; and to make them happy by granting their requests, supplying their wants or assisting them in distress; having tenderness or goodness of nature

And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you. Ephesians 4:32

It is easy to be kind to those who are kind to us. Showing kindness especially to those who are undeserving speaks volumes about how we are allowing God to work in our lives. 

Being kind is much more than giving a simple smile or being polite. It’s exemplifying a Christ-like attitude by looking for ways to be a blessing to others.

Additional Scripture:

1 Thessalonians 5:15, Galatians 5:22-23, Luke 6:35, Proverbs 21:21, Psalm 117:2, Proverbs 19:22, Proverbs 31:26, Isaiah 54:8, Ephesians 2:7, Hebrews 13:2, Galatians 6:10, Luke 6:35, 1 Corinthians 13:4, Matthew 7:12, Colossians 3:12

Prayer:

Lord, help us to be kind in thought, in word, and in deed. Teach us to humbly follow in Your footsteps as we search the Scriptures. Allow Your gentle Spirit of kindness to dwell within us that we may be a light shining brightly drawing others to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen!

Hymns of Praise:

1. He Lifted Me

2. Bringing in the Sheaves

3. Others

4. O to Be Like Thee

5. Rescue the Perishing

Posted on

Dry Bones

Read this verse during my devotions time yesterday. I immediately began to envision Christ talking to the bones and bringing them back to life.

I imagined a valley of dry bones and Christ standing just above. As He spoke the bones jiggled at little at first as the skin and organs began to form. The more life was restored the more those bones got up and leaped rejoicing before the Lord for the lives that were restored.

Next I remember part of a song I learned as a child and the notes dancing in the sky above them. “…Them bones, them bones, them dry bones now hear the word of the Lord….”

This song and verse has stuck with me ever since. I woke up with idea to create a Scripture art to go with the verse.

Thankful that regardless of our situation there is always hope for new life in Christ! Many times we get weary in the battle and our light begins to dim, but God can regenerate our lives to be a burning light for His glory!

Posted on

Compassion

photo courtesy of: clipart.email

Character Trait: Compassion

Compassion  is a mixed passion, compounded of love and sorrow; sympathetic consciousness of others’ distress along with a desire to alleviate it without experiencing anything in return.

But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? 1 John 3:17

God wants us to be uniquely different from the world especially in our compassion for others.  Jesus lived a life of compassion for others.  He not only saw the needs of others, but also responded to their needs.

True compassion comes from being fully surrendered to the Lord.  Many times the trials that we endure in our lives will spiritually strengthen us.  This will help to grow our faith and  allow us to help others who come behind us to go through it as well.

Additional Scripture:

Matthew 15:32, Matthew 20:34, John 13:35, 1 John 3:16-17, 1 Peter 3:8, Galatians 6:10, Jude 1:22, Luke 10:33-35, John 17:20-23, Proverbs 29:11, 1 Peter 2:21, Psalm 78:38, Psalm 86:15, Luke 15:20, Psalm 145:8,  Micah 7:18-19, Matthew 9:36, Ephesians 4:32, Colossians 3:12-13

Prayer:  Father, Thank you for all Your provisions in our lives.  Please help us to see those around us that are in need of compassion.  Help us to be an example of Your compassion that will make an eternal difference in the lives of others.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Hymns of Praise:

  1. The Saviour Is Waiting
  2. He Careth For You
  3. Love Divine
  4. A Tender Heart
  5. Blest Be the Tie

Verified by MonsterInsights