Some positive thoughts of encouragement to share in a thirsty land.
encouragement for today
part one
all quotations are from the NET Bible
based on the HOPE booklet
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know what I have planned for you,' says the LORD. 'I have plans to prosper you, not to harm you. I have plans to give you a future filled with hope.
John 3:16 For this is the way God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.
2 Peter 1:4 Through these things He has bestowed on us His precious and most magnificent promises, so that by means of what was promised you may become partakers of the divine nature, after escaping the worldly corruption that is produced by evil desire.
not a tired, sick, dying human nature
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow concerning His promise, as some regard slowness, but is being patient toward you, because He does not wish for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.
Habakkuk 2:14 For recognition of the LORD's sovereign majesty will fill the earth just as the waters fill up the sea.
Numbers 14:21 But truly, as I live, all the earth will be filled with the glory of the LORD.
Genesis 1:26 Then God said, "Let us make humankind in our image, after our likeness, so they may rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move on the earth."
unlike the animals
Psalms 103:12-14 As far as the eastern horizon is from the west, so He removes the guilt of our rebellious actions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on His faithful followers. For He knows what we are made of; He realizes we are made of clay.
Exodus 34:6-7 The LORD passed by before him and proclaimed: "The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, and abounding in loyal love and faithfulness, keeping loyal love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin. But he by no means leaves the guilty unpunished, responding to the transgression of fathers by dealing with children and children's children, to the third and fourth generation."
Nahum 1:7 The LORD is good– indeed, He is a fortress in time of distress, and He protects those who seek refuge in Him.
1 Peter 5:7 by casting all your cares on God because He cares for you.
also read Psalm 103 and Psalm 145
Psalm 34:8 Taste and see that the LORD is good! How blessed is the one who takes shelter in Him!
Psalm 33:18-22 Look, the LORD takes notice of His loyal followers, those who wait for Him to demonstrate His faithfulness by saving their lives from death and sustaining them during times of famine. We wait for the LORD; He is our deliverer and shield. For our hearts rejoice in Him, for we trust in His holy name. May we experience your faithfulness, O LORD, for we wait for You.
Lamentations 3:21-25 But this I call to mind; therefore I have hope: The LORD's loyal kindness never ceases; His compassions never end. They are fresh every morning; Your faithfulness is abundant! "My portion is the Lord," I have said to myself, so I will put my hope in Him. The LORD is good to those who trust in Him, to the one who seeks Him.
John 17:3 Now this is eternal life– that they know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You sent.
Romans 6:23 For the payoff of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Ephesians 4:32 Instead, be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ also forgave you.
Mark 16:16 The one who believes and is baptised will be saved, but the one who does not believe will be condemned.
1 John 1:9 But if we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous, forgiving us our sins and cleansing us from all unrighteousness.
Psalm 32:1 How blessed is the one whose rebellious acts are forgiven, whose sin is pardoned!
John 8:12 Then Jesus spoke out again, "I am the light of the world. The one who follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
Lamentations 3:21-26 But this I call to mind; therefore I have hope: The LORD's loyal kindness never ceases; his compassions never end. They are fresh every morning; your faithfulness is abundant! "My portion is the Lord," I have said to myself, so I will put my hope in Him. The LORD is good to those who trust in Him, to the one who seeks Him. It is good to wait patiently for deliverance from the LORD.
Guide me in the path of your commands, for I delight to walk in it. Psalm 119:35 NET
For all flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of the grass; the grass withers and the flower falls off,
but the word of the Lord endures forever.
1 Peter 1:24-25 NET
Your words are sweeter in my mouth than honey!
Psalm 119:103 NET
Blessed are those who wash their robes so they can have access to the tree of life and can enter into the city by the gates.
Revelation 22:14 NET
What does a man acquire from all his labour and from the anxiety that accompanies his toil on earth?
Ecclesiastes 2:22 NET
When I look up at the heavens, which your fingers made, and see the moon and the stars, which you set in place, of what importance is the human race, that you should notice them?
Psalm 8:3-4 NET
Let the fields and everything in them celebrate! Then let the trees of the forest shout with joy before the LORD, for he comes!
Psalm 96:12-13 NET
He made the moon to mark the months,
and the sun sets according to a regular schedule.
Psalm 104:19 NET
Do you know about the balancing of the clouds,
that wondrous activity of Him who is perfect in knowledge?
Job 37:16 NET
You are the light of the world.
A city located on a hill cannot be hidden.
Matthew 5:14 NET
Let the whole earth fear the LORD!
Let all who live in the world stand in awe of him!
Psalm 33:8 NET
You are the God who does amazing things;
you have revealed your strength among the nations.
Psalm 77:14 NET
let the one who is thirsty come;
let the one who wants it take the water of life free of charge
Revelation 22:17 NET
“the Lamb in the middle of the throne will shepherd them
and lead them to springs of living water,
and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."
Revelation 7:17 NET
Wisdom is like a tree of life to those who obtain her,
and everyone who grasps hold of her will be blessed.
Proverbs 3:18 NET
encouragement for today
part two
all quotations are from the NET Bible
based on the HOPE booklet
John 6:40 For this is the will of My Father– for everyone who looks on the Son and believes in Him to have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day."
Psalm 17:15 As for me, because I am innocent I will see Your face; when I awake You will reveal Yourself to me.
Philippians 3:10-11 My aim is to know Him, to experience the power of His resurrection, to share in His sufferings, and to be like Him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.
1 Thessalonians 4:16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a shout of command, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
Acts 1:11 … "Men of Galilee, why do you stand here looking up into the sky? This same Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will come back in the same way you saw Him go into heaven."
Luke 21:25-28 "And there will be signs in the sun and moon and stars, and on the earth nations will be in distress, anxious over the roaring of the sea and the surging waves. People will be fainting from fear and from the expectation of what is coming on the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man arriving in a cloud with power and great glory. But when these things begin to happen, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."
Isaiah 11:6-10 A wolf will reside with a lamb, and a leopard will lie down with a young goat; an ox and a young lion will graze together, as a small child leads them along. A cow and a bear will graze together, their young will lie down together. A lion, like an ox, will eat straw. A baby will play over the hole of a snake; over the nest of a serpent an infant will put his hand. They will no longer injure or destroy on my entire royal mountain. For there will be universal submission to the LORD's sovereignty, just as the waters completely cover the sea. At that time a root from Jesse will stand like a signal flag for the nations. Nations will look to Him for guidance, and His residence will be majestic.
Zechariah 14:9 The LORD will then be king over all the earth. In that day the LORD will be seen as one with a single name.
Isaiah 25:8 He will swallow up death permanently. The sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears from every face, and remove His people's disgrace from all the earth. Indeed, the LORD has announced it!
Revelation 21:3-4 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying: "Look! The residence of God is among human beings. He will live among them, and they will be His people, and God himself will be with them. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death will not exist any more– or mourning, or crying, or pain, for the former things have ceased to exist."
Psalm 4:1 ... When I call out, answer me, O God who vindicates me! Though I am hemmed in, You will lead me into a wide, open place. Have mercy on me and respond to my prayer!
Psalm 102:17 when the LORD responds to the prayer of the destitute, and does not reject their request.
Philippians 4:6-7 Do not be anxious about anything. Instead, in every situation, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, tell your requests to God. And the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Psalm 142:5-7 I cry out to you, O LORD; I say, "You are my shelter, my security in the land of the living." Listen to my cry for help, for I am in serious trouble! Rescue me from those who chase me, for they are stronger than I am. Free me from prison, that I may give thanks to Your name. Because of me the godly will assemble, for You will vindicate me.
Psalm 116:2 and listened to me. As long as I live, I will call to Him when I need help.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 Therefore we do not despair, but even if our physical body is wearing away, our inner person is being renewed day by day. For our momentary, light suffering is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison because we are not looking at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen. For what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal.
Matthew 11:28 Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to walk by, and a light to illumine my path.
Psalm 130:5 I rely on the LORD, I rely on Him with my whole being; I wait for His assuring word.
Matthew 6:10 may Your kingdom come, may Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Lamentations 3:21-26 But this I call to mind; therefore I have hope: The LORD's loyal kindness never ceases; his compassions never end. They are fresh every morning; your faithfulness is abundant! "My portion is the Lord," I have said to myself, so I will put my hope in Him. The LORD is good to those who trust in Him, to the one who seeks Him. It is good to wait patiently for deliverance from the LORD.