DO
NOT LOSE HEART
BREAD
16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we
are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For
our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far
outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is
unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians
4:16-18 (NIV)
1 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them
that they should always pray and not give up. 2 He
said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither
feared God nor cared about men. 3 And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with
the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’ 4 “For some time he refused. But finally he
said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care about men, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she
gets justice, so that she won't eventually wear me out with her coming!’” 6 And the Lord said, “Listen to
what the unjust judge says. 7 And will not God bring about justice for his
chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly.
However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” Luke
18:1-8 (NIV)
28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator
of the ends of the earth. He will not
grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. 29 He
gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. 30 Even
youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 31 but
those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will
run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:28-31 (NIV)
11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual
fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in
prayer. Romans 12:11-12 (NIV)
1 Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being,
praise his holy name. 2 Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his
benefits-- 3 who forgives all your sins and heals all your
diseases, 4 who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with
love and compassion, 5 who satisfies your desires with good things so that
your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. Psalms
103:1-5 (NIV)
8 We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about
the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great
pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. 9 Indeed,
in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might
not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. 10 He
has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we
have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, 11 as
you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the
gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many. 2 Corinthians 1:8-11 (NIV)
13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as
you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy
Spirit. Romans 15:13 (NIV)
BUTTER
“At any given time,
things can look very discouraging. Our vantage point is always very limited.
Depending on when and where we’re living, it can appear as if satanic evil is
going to defeat God’s good. But don’t lose heart. Don’t forget the storyline.
There’s a bigger story playing out than just the one we’re watching.” Jon Bloom
“In the wait, whatever you lose, don’t
lose heart — you never lose what lasts forever. You’ve got to believe
it: whatever is being lost momentarily, more is being
gained eternally. In the wait, if you shift the
way you see — and see that the wait could make
you into the person you’ve been waiting to become. If you’re waiting on God — do what waiters
do: serve. In serving, you are served a feast of what you’re longing for. Because the One who loves you steadfastly,
stood fast at the cross for you, so now stand fast for Him.” Ann Voskamp
“God has willed that we should seek
him and find his living word in the witness of a brother, in the mouth of a
man. Therefore, a Christian needs another Christian who speaks God’s word to
him. He needs him again and again when he becomes uncertain and discouraged,
for by himself he cannot help himself without belying the truth. He needs his
brother man as a bearer and proclaimer of the divine word of salvation.” Dietrich Bonhoeffer
“If we are consistent men
and women who take God at His word, who believe that prayer changes things, who
will pray without ceasing, who will not lose heart at our praying, who day
after day will pray no matter what seems to be happening around us, who keep
trusting God, then there will come a time when God will say, ‘I can answer
that believer's prayer because that's a person who can handle the answer.’” David
Jeremiah
“God knows what
the end will be, and He promises that He, who began a good work in us, will
complete it until the day of Jesus Christ. Regardless of what the enemy threats might be,
regardless of how discouraged you may feel, God knows if we stay faithful, we
stay focused. God has called each of us to do great work. You have been called to the kingdom for such a
time as this. Do you know what that
is? Are you focused on it? Are you trusting in the One that began this
work in you who says He will complete it?
And we focus on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith. That’s how we know we can do this great work.
We can stay focused, and we can believe that God will do what He said He will.
And when some try to dishearten you, stay firm.
His word is true, and His word is true to us today.” Cathe
Laurie
HEART
SAVOR
- ·
We do
not lose heart by fixing our eyes on Jesus the Author and Perfecter of our
faith.
- ·
“No
good thing does He withhold from those whose walk in blameless.” Psalms 84:11B
- ·
“He
will not let your foot slip.” Psalms
121:3A
