Robert

 Romans 5:3-4 ESV 
          
          Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope
          
           
          
          We might think we have to lie down under a rock when we suffer, but Paul insists we can rejoice. Suffering isn't meaningless. It can produce endurance.
          
          If we never suffered, we'd have precious little endurance. The slightest little bump in the road would knock us for six. If we want to develop good characters, we need to endure suffering.
          
          Good character is developed in the furnace of affliction. Our dross is skimmed away. We come out purer than gold.
          
          If we can see that our characters are developing positively, we can have hope that God is working on us. He wants to transform us into the likeness of Christ. If we can see him doing that, we can be encouraged.
          
          'Sovereign Lord God, please help us to see that you work all things together for good for those that love you, who are called according to your purpose. In Jesus' name we ask this, amen'.
          
          

 Psalm 143:10 ESV 
          
          Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground! 
           
          
          In the past, I have sometimes agonised as I have sought to discern God's will. We can ask God to teach us. His word reveals that we are to trust him and to do as we please, mindful that there's judgement for what we do in the end.
          
          If the Lord is our God, we needn't fear his judgment. When we believe in Jesus, we're not judged for punishment, but for how God's going to reward us for our (God given) faith and obedience towards him. Jesus took our punishment on the cross.
          
          God's will in summary is for us to love him wholeheartedly, and to love one another as we love ourselves. So if what we're considering isn't loving, it isn't God's will for us. If we have a choice between two legitimate options, we can prayerfully trust God with the outcome of whatever we decide.
          
          God doesn't abandon us to our own devices. He pours out his Spirit upon us, who leads us on the way to go. It's a narrow road to glory, but with God alongside, he'll lead us safe home to glory.
          
          'Our God, please teach us your ways, and lead us by your Spirit on your path. In Jesus' name we ask, amen'.  
          
          

Psalm 8:3-4 ESV 
          
          When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? 
           
          
          There's a lot of talk about mindfulness nowadays. Yet do we ever stop to consider what God himself is mindful of? Amazingly, these verses reveal him to be mindful of us!
          
           When we consider the majesty of the heavenly bodies- sun moon and stars- it should amaze us that God is preoccupied with us. Of course, God is primarily and rightfully concerned with his own glory, for he is worthy, but he loves to display his glory in humble people.
          
          The Psalm goes on to prophesy that God himself became a man so that mankind can be reconciled to God. God himself humbled himself to a lower state than angelic. He became human so that we can know God personally.
          
           We can't do justice to an answer to the questions in these verses. We know that we are naturally unworthy of God's consideration. Yet we delight in his condescension to think of us!
          
           'Lord God Almighty, how awesome your love for us is, and how we delight in it. May we ever live to make you rightfully famous, for your honour we ask this, amen'.

 Lamentations 3:25 ESV 
          
           The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. 
           
          
          I feel God speaking very directly to me through this verse this morning. I've left it late today to 'wait for him' in prayer and Biblical meditation. I was tempted to crack on with the day's other tasks.
          
           There's a sense in which God is good to all. He provides all our needs. Yet if we want an intimate relationship with him as our Father, spiritual lover, and indwelling Holy Spirit, we need to wait for him.
          
          God wants us to seek him in a wholehearted manner. He doesn't just want half an hour every morning. He's a jealous God: he wants our everything.
          
          'Lord, we're thankful for your goodness as we wait upon you, and seek you wholeheartedly. In the lovely name of Jesus, amen'.
          
          

 Romans 8:1 ESV
          
          There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.  
           
          
          Romans seven is about how we continue to struggle with sin as Christians. So Romans 8:1 comes as a breath of fresh air. Despite our sinfulness, we're safe in Christ Jesus.
          
           Romans eight goes on to say that we are to live by the Spirit, not by the flesh. This doesn't mean to say we'll be perfect. Nevertheless, we should be seeking to kill sin with God's help.
          
          The devil wants us to feel condemned. Thankfully he only has power to accuse us. God is willing and able to acquit us of the punishment we deserve for our sinfulness.
          
          There's no condemnation in Christ. He didn't come to condemn us, but to save us. He will return as Judge, but if we're trusting in him we'll be accepted by him.
          
          'Almighty God, we're so grateful that you don't condemn us when we're in Christ. We entrust ourselves to him. For your honour and praise, amen'. 
          
          

 Psalm 133:1 ESV 
          
           Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! 
          
          
           
          Division makes headlines. Unity quietly envelops us like a warm comfort blanket. I'm sure there's a sense here of 'shalom': holistic wellness, not just the absence of hostilities.
          
           Our heavenly Father wants us to get on well. He doesn't want us to be a dysfunctional family. He wants what's best for us.
          
          Discord might be entertaining for dramas. In real life however, it's better to live in harmony. It's good and pleasant to enjoy unity in diversity.
          
          We're different. Yet we can know unity in connection with the Lord God. We can respect our differences and appreciate that we're all made in the image of God.
          
          'O Lord our God, may we dwell in unity, and know the goodness and pleasantness of such a state. In Christ's name we ask, amen'. 
          
          

Zephaniah 3:17 ESV 
          
           The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. 
           
          
          Maybe the thought of the Lord God being in our midst fills us with terror. Maybe our troubled consciences make us think that he would smite us in his wrath, to condemn us to hell as we rightfully deserve. This verse reassures us.
          
          Perhaps the opposite reaction to the thought of God's presence is indifference. We might wonder what difference God being with us would make. This verse challenges our apathy.
          
           God is mighty to save, yet he doesn't do so begrudgingly. He delights to deliver us. He calms our troubled hearts with his unfailing loving kindness.
          
          Amazingly, God himself celebrates us with loud singing. He is after all the Source of all goodness, music included. Nevertheless, his delight in us is astounding!
          
          'O Lord our God, as you amazingly delight in us, so we delight in you, the Lover of our souls. May we never lose the wonder of your love for us, in Christ's name we ask, amen'.

If any of you are on Spotify, check out my show:
          
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Proverbs 22:4 ESV 
          
          The reward for humility and fear of the Lord is riches and honour and life. 
           
          
          This is a surprising verse. We might assume that worldly people who idolise Mammon gain riches and honour and life in this world. Solomon suggests otherwise.
          
          Solomon, certainly early in his reign, was a humble man. God blessed him with riches and honour and life. He initially, and I believe in the end, feared the Lord, at the dedication of the temple and in his repentant swansong of Ecclesiastes.
          
          The Bible teaches the opposite of the world. The world celebrates pride. The Bible says that pride goes before a fall.
          
          If we are humble and fear the Lord, not only do we tend to have good lives in this world. We also gain eternity where the streets are paved with gold. Even if we muddle through this life, there's a glorious destiny for those of us who belong to Jesus.
          
          'Dear Lord God, may we be humble and fear you as we ought. Please bless us as we do so. For your honour we ask this, amen'.

 Mark 8:35 ESV 
          
          For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it.  
          
          
          This seems a counterintuitive verse. If we want to save our lives, we would hope and assume we'd save them. If we lose our lives we wouldn't expect to save them.
          
          I think what Jesus is doing is contrasting selfishness (trying to save ourselves) and 'otherishness' (living for Jesus and the gospel). We're not to simply be out to save our own skins. We're to care for others.
          
          If we live and die for the gospel, we're telling the good news to others, whatever the consequences. We're doing our duty to tell of salvation in Christ. Even if we get persecuted, it's worth it.
          
          We can either live selfishly or self-sacrificially. Jesus is calling us to the latter. By his grace we can do this.
          
          'Dear Lord God, please help us to be selfless and loving, not selfish. For your honour and praise we ask this, amen'.