God is ever faithful.

So why was I so upset yesterday? Check out Why am I Concerned from yesterday and then read the verses that God has provided the past several days.

Matthew 7:7-11 (New International Version, ©2010)
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.
9 “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

Psalm 55:16-22 (New International Version, ©2010)
16 As for me, I call to God, and the LORD saves me. 17 Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice. 18 He rescues me unharmed from the battle waged against me, even though many oppose me. 19 God, who is enthroned from of old, who does not change— he will hear them and humble them, because they have no fear of God.
20 My companion attacks his friends; he violates his covenant. 21 His talk is smooth as butter, yet war is in his heart; his words are more soothing than oil, yet they are drawn swords.
22 Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.

Romans 5:1-5 (New International Version, ©2010)
1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

Romans 15:4-6 (New International Version, ©2010)
4 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.
5 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, 6 so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 6:5-7 (New International Version, ©2010)
5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— 7 because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.

Isaiah 41:10 (New International Version, ©2010)10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

1 Peter 5:6-7 (New International Version, ©2010)
6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Matthew 28:20b (New International Version, ©2010)
20b And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

So last night I am on my way home (after the stuff I was so worried about was over) and I'm listening to the book of Mathew on the radio. I was as if Jesus was asking this very question dirrectly to me.

Matthew 14:29-31 (New International Version, ©2010)
29 “Come,” he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

I hope you may be blessed by His word.

Why am I concerned?

I have some personal stuff going on that has my mind working overtime. Today's Bible reading started with Isaiah 41:10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

So why am I still worrying about this? I know that Luke 12:25 says Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life?

This past week I read 1 Peter 5:6-7 and I think the answer is found there.

6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

I've never truely humbled myself before God. At least not entirely, I always held some back and now that bit of unblief is tearing me up.

Mark 9:24 (New International Version, ©2010)
24 Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”

Forgive me father. My nervous heart is a sin before you. Help my unbelief.

Hope in 2011

Proverbs 13:12 (New International Version, ©2010)
12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.

When our dreams and hopes are not fullfilled our hearts are broken. Yet when a dream comes true we are fullfilled.

What are your dreams for 2011? Is it for political party A to crush political party B? Or perhaps political party C come in and crush them all? Perhaps a better job with more money so you can get a bigger house or better car. Perhaps you want to lose weight or get out of debt. Some of you will want to quit smoking or swear off some habit they've been unable to shake.

Points to ponder:

1. What is the source of your hope?
2. How does God fit into your dreams for 2011?

Isaiah 40:28-31 (New International Version, ©2010)
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.

Your hope needs to be in the LORD. God did create government, but they are not to be the source of our hope. Governments will fail us. If you're relying on your own strength, it will eventually fail and your dreams with it.

Psalm 37:4-5 (New International Version, ©2010)
4 Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. 5 Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this:

When you commit your way to the LORD, your desires will change. That bigger car becomes unimportant. The movie you "have to see" become secondary. All the stuff that the marketing industry has shoved down your throat as important will been seen for the tempory tripe that it is.

As we enter 2011, let's remember the words of Paul when he wrote to the church at Colossae. Only then will our hopes and dreams be fulfilled.

Colossians 3:1-3 (New International Version, ©2010)
1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.