One Minute with God

When we are nice to people,
chances are, they will be nice back.

A soft answer turns away wrath, 
but a harsh word stirs up anger. 
Proverbs 15:1 ESV

It’s just as important to think about eternal things,
as it is not to obsess over things that won’t last.

Set your minds on things that are above,
not on things that are on earth. 
Colossians 3:2 ESV

We will never be adults of God,
but always children…
always growing,
always learning,
always maturing,
always needing discipline,
love, encouragement
and instruction from
the One who knows us best,
but still loves us most.

See what kind of love the Father has given to us, 
that we should be called children of God; and so we are. 
1 John 3:1 ESV

God is so invested in His people,
He meets with them whenever they wish.

This is true of Israel:
“For you are a people holy to the Lord your God.
The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people
for his treasured possession, out of all the people
who are on the face of the earth.”
Deuteronomy 7:6 ESV

And the Church:
Galatians 3:7-9, James 4:8, Titus 2:11-14, and 1 Peter 2:9!

We need not live under the guilt of our sin,
when there is a Savior who is ready to restore.

Have mercy on me, O God, 
according to your steadfast love; 
according to your abundant mercy 
blot out my transgressions. 
Restore to me the joy of your salvation. 
Psalm 51:1, 12a ESV

Psalm 51 is a must read,
for those suffering because of their sin.

Also: Micah 7:18-19, Psalm 103:8-14

We praise the Lord
for His many blessings,
and we enjoy to the fullest
every good thing He gives.
But our deepest delight
is not in the gift, but the Giver,
and our joy in the treasure of His Word.

In the way of your testimonies I delight 
as much as in all riches. 
I will delight in your statutes; 
I will not forget your word. 
Psalm 119:14, 16 ESV

The faith God gives is a
saving sincere stubborn faith
that will not let go of God.

For by grace you have been saved through faith. 
And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God. 
Ephesians 2:8 ESV

Also: First Peter 1:3-9, Ephesians 2:1-10

When past sins haunt us,
and the devil taunts us,
we have One to whom we can run!

The name of the LORD is a strong tower; 
The righteous run to it and are safe.
Proverbs 18:10 NKJV

Also: Psalm 103

The Bible is best read slowly,
verse by verse, and with each one
asking God why these words
are so important that He
included them in His Book.

Open my eyes, that I may behold 
wondrous things out of your law. 
Psalm 119:18 ESV

There is no joy in an uncertain salvation,
or confidence in a Savior who partially saves.

Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost
those who draw near to God through him,
since he always lives to make intercession for them. 
Hebrews 7:25 ESV

Great peace have those who love your law; 
nothing can make them stumble. 
Psalm 119:165 ESV

That’s one powerful promise!
It’s not that those who love God’s law
never stumble; they do stumble.
However, they are never made to stumble.
They stumble on their own, because they,
at times, take their eyes off the law they love.
So, we pray verse 176 of the same chapter:

I have gone astray like a lost sheep; 
seek your servant, for I do not forget 
your commandments.

God’s Word
is the source
of our joy,
our comfort,
our hope,
our security,
our passion,
our purpose,
our deliverance!

When we read the Bible regularly,
these treasures will be ours–
in abundance.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. 
I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. 
These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may 
be in you, and that your joy may be full. 
John 10:10, 15:11 ESV

God’s prescription for a happy life:

“Whoever desires to love life and see good days,
let him keep his tongue from evil
and his lips from speaking deceit;
let him turn away from evil and do good;
let him seek peace and pursue it.
For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
and His ears are open to their prayer.
But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
1 Peter 3:10-12 ESV

For more good news see: Psalm 34

When we truly believe Jesus is the Savior
God promised, after the first sin (Genesis 3:15),
that He is the Messiah God promised
through the prophets (Isaiah 7:14, 9:6-7),
and the One true God commissioned by God
to save His people from their sins (Matthew 1:21);
when we believe He created all things (John 1:3),
holds all things together (Romans 11:36),
and is the only One with power and authority
to rule all things (Matthew 28:18);
when we know His death alone paid the penalty
in full for our sin (Ephesians 2:8-9),
and realize that upon believing in Him,
repenting of our sins, and submitting to His authority,
we entered into His eternal kingdom (Ephesians 2:4-6),
the world loses its power over us.

For everyone who has been born of God
overcomes the world. And this is the victory
that has overcome the world–our faith.
Who is it that overcomes the world except the one
who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
1 John 5:4-5 ESV

A long time ago,
God promised the people of Israel
that He would give them a King.
The King would love them,
and forgive them,
and show them how to live.
His name would be Jesus.
The people waited, and waited,
and waited for their King.
Year after year the people prayed
He would come.
Day after day they hoped
He would come.
And night after night
they looked for the star
that would shine
on the night of His birth.
And then, one night,
in a tiny town,
in a stinky stable,
with no one helping,
and no one praying,
and no one caring…
Mary gave birth to Jesus—
the Messiah and King.
And God was right!
Jesus grew up,
and He loved His people
more than anyone ever could.
That same Jesus loves you too!
That same Jesus is the one
whose birthday we celebrate,
every Christmas.

And [Mary] gave birth to her firstborn son
and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and
laid him in a manger, because there was no place
for them in the inn. And in the same region
there were shepherds out in the field,
keeping watch over their flock by night.
And an angel of the Lord appeared to them,
and the glory of the Lord shone around them,
and they were filled with great fear.
And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold,
I bring you good news of great joy
that will be for all the people. For unto you
is born this day in the city of David
a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”
Luke 2:7-11 ESV

For thousands of years, men and women waited
for their Messiah–the One who would save His people
from their sins. And then, at just the right time, Jesus came.
Today, men and women wait for the second-coming
of their Messiah–the One who saved them from their sins.
And at just the right time, Jesus will come, again.

It will be said on that day, “Behold, this is our God;
we have waited for him, that he might save us.
This is the LORD; we have waited for him;
let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.” 
Isaiah 25:9 ESV

Also: 1 Peter 1:10-12, Isaiah 25, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18

May Jesus be your joy.

I say to the LORD, “You are my Lord; 
I have no good apart from you.”
You make known to me the path of life: 
in your presence there is fullness of joy; 
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. 
Psalm 16:2, 11 ESV

And she gave birth to her firstborn son
and wrapped him in swaddling cloths
and laid him in a manger, because
there was no place for them in the inn.
Luke 2:7 ESV

The baby in that manger is God.

Also: Philippians 2:5-8

I’ve found this to be true:
Every conflict in life is settled
in the heart of the believer
by obedience to God’s Word.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything
by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving
let your requests be made known to God.
And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,
will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 
Philippians 4:6-7 ESV

God so loves His children
that He longs to hear them say,
when they consider all the people
and possessions in their lives,
“I love God more!”

And [Jesus] said to him, 
“You shall love the Lord your God 
with all your heart and
with all your soul and
with all your mind.
This is the great
and first commandment.” 
Matthew 22:37 ESV