About setting priorities

Respecting the Lord and not being proud will bring you wealth, honor and life. Proverbs 22:4Proverbs 22:4
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4 By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life. By...: or, The reward of humility, etc  

In every way be an example of doing good deeds. When you teach, do it with honesty and seriousness. Speak the truth so that you cannot be criticized….Grace teaches us to live now in a wise and right way and in a way that shows we serve God. We should live like that while we wait for our great hope and the coming of the glory of our Great God and Savior Jesus Christ. Titus 2:7-8, 12-13Titus 2:7-8, 12-13
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7 In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, ⁸ Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you. ¹² Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; ¹³ Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; glorious...: Gr. the appearance of the glory of the great God, and of our Saviour Jesus Christ  

God is fair; he will not forget the work you did and the love you showed for him by helping his people. And he will remember that you are still helping them. We want each of you to go on with the same hard work all your lives so you will surely get what you hope for. Hebrews 6:10-11Hebrews 6:10-11
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10 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. ¹¹ And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:  

“Blessed are the meek,” Jesus said. The word meek does not mean weak. It means focused. It is a word used to describe a domesticated stallion. Power under control. Strength with a direction.

Bless are those who recognize their God-given responsibilities. Blessed are those who acknowledge that there is only one God and quit applying for his position. Blessed are those who know what on earth they are on earth to do and set themselves about the business of doing it.

Father, help us to say no to the and world and yes to you. Help us to hear the true voice of Jesus Christ amid the voices of pressure and success and power.

About finding rest

Remember to keep the Sabbath holy. Work and get everything done during six days each week ,but the seventh day is a day of rest to honor the Lord your God. On that day no one may do any work…The reason is that in six days the Lord made everything—-the sky, the earth, the sea, and everything in them. On the seventh day he rested. So the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. Exodus 20:8-11Exodus 20:8-11
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8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. ⁹ Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: ¹⁰ But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: ¹¹ For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.  

God will do what is right. He will give trouble to those who trouble you. And he will give rest to you who are troubled…. 2 Thessalonians 1:6-72 Thessalonians 1:6-7
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6 Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; ⁷ And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, his...: Gr. the angels of his power  

We who have believed are able to enter and have God’s rest. Hebrews 4:3Hebrews 4:3
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3 For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.  

I took piano lessons and thirty minutes every afternoon was a torture. Some of the music I enjoyed but I could never obey to the teacher’s satisfaction, the rest. The command to do nothing, what sense does that make? My teacher explained, “music is always sweeter after a rest.” It didn’t make sense then but it does now as the words ring with wisdom – divine wisdom.

Father, help us to use our time wisely, to take advantage of the opportunities we have to be just the type of Christians you want us to be.

About repenting of wrong

The Lord is not slow in doing what he promised–the way some people understand slowness. But God is being patient with you. He does not want anyone to be lost, but he wants all people to change their hearts and lives. 2 Peter  3:9

[God] has been very kind and patient, waiting for you to change, but you think nothing of his kindness. Perhaps you do not understand that God is kind to you so you will change your hearts and lives. Romans 2:4Romans 2:4
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4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?  

Whoever accepts correction is on the way to life, but whoever ignores correction will lead others away from life. Proverbs 10:17Proverbs 10:17
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17 He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction: but he that refuseth reproof erreth. erreth: or, causeth to err  

No one is happier than the one who has sincerely repented of wrong. Repentance is the decision to turn from selfish desires and seek God. It is a genuine, sincere regret that creates sorrow and moves us to admit wrong and desire to do better.

It’s an inward conviction that expresses itself in outward actions.

You look at the love of God and you can’t believe he’s loved you like he has, and this realization motivates you to change your life. That is the nature of repentance.

Blessed Lord and God, we come to you, aware that you have pierced our world. You became flesh, you dwelled among us, you saw us in our fallen state, you reached in and pulled us out. You offered us forgiveness.

About self-worth

Do not let anyone treat you as if you are unimportant because you are young. Instead, be an example to the believers with your words, your actions, your love, your faith, and your pure life. 1 Timothy 4:121 Timothy 4:12
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12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.  

You have begun to live the new life, in which you are being made new and are becoming like the One who made you. This new life brings you the true knowledge of God. In the new life there is no difference between Greeks and Jews…or those who are foreigners, or Scythians. There is no difference between slaves and free people. But Christ is in all believers, and Christ is all that is important. Colossians 3:10-11Colossians 3:10-11
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10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: ¹¹ Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.  

He has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.  God doesn’t improve; he perfects. He doesn’t enhance; he completes…We are imperfect, We still err, still stumble, still do exactly what we don’t want to do. And that part of us is, according to the verse, ‘being made holy.” When it comes to our position before God, we are perfect. When he sees each of us, he sees one who has been made perfect through the One who is perfect——- Jesus Christ.

We thank you, Father, that you see and care for each one of your children. We thank you that we are all equally valuable to you. Remind us of your love when we feel lost among the crowd.

 About Self-Worth

People should think of us as servants of Christ, the ones God has trusted with his secrets. Now in this way those who are trusted with something valuable must show they are worthy of that trust. As for myself, I do not care if I am judged by your or by any human court. I do not even judge myself….The Lord is the One who judges me. 1 Corinthians 4:1-41 Corinthians 4:1-4
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4 ¹ Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. ² Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. ³ But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self. judgment: Gr. day ⁴ For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord. know: or, I am not conscious of any fault