by Jamie Pantastico | Jan 12, 2023 | Daily Encouragement |
Psalms in the Bible are filled with prayers and songs that express the full range of human emotions, including struggles, doubts, and fears. Psalm 88:13 is one such verse that reminds us that it is okay and we must turn to God during difficult times and that we can bring our prayers to God in the morning. It says “But I cry to you for help, Lord; in the morning my prayer comes before you.”
‘But to You I have cried out, O Lord , And in the morning my prayer comes before You.’
Psalms 88:13
Psalm 88:13 encourages us to start the day with prayer, as it sets a positive tone for the rest of the day. It reminds us that God is always available and willing to listen to us. The apostle Paul also admonishes this sentiment in Romans 8:26 and Ephesians 6:18 where he writes “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans” and “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.”
Start Your Morning with Prayer
By starting the day with prayer, we are acknowledging our need for God’s help and grace in our lives. It is an act of humility and faith, and it helps to remind us that we are not alone in our struggles. Let us take encouragement from Psalm 88:13 and the words of Apostle Paul and make prayer a part of our morning routine.
by Jamie Pantastico | Jan 11, 2023 | Daily Encouragement |
‘But I will sing of Your power; Yes, I will sing aloud of Your mercy in the morning; For You have been my defense And refuge in the day of my trouble.’
Psalms 59:16
Psalm 59:16 is a verse in which the writer, David, is expressing his trust and faith in God’s protection and love, specifically during a time when he is facing trouble and enemies. More than likely this was written during a time when David was being pursued by his enemies, likely Saul’s army, who were seeking to kill him.
David declares his intention to sing of God’s strength and love as a way to remind himself and others of God’s power and faithfulness. He describes God as his fortress and refuge, emphasizing the safety and security he finds in God during difficult times. David wrote this Psalm as a song, likely to be sung with other people as a form of encouragement and hope. It also serves as a reminder of God’s protection and deliverance to all believers going the trials and tribulations.
Keep Singing – Keep Trusting
Psalm 59:16 expresses a sense of trust and faith in God’s protection and love, even in times of trouble. The writer declares their intention to sing of God’s strength and love and describes God as their fortress and refuge. The verse encourages us to keep singing and keep trusting even in hard times and find strength in God’s love.
In Ephesians 5:19, the apostle Paul instructs us to “speak to one another in Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in our hearts to the Lord.” So, sing a song or join in on a song that you know praises God.
‘speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,
Ephesians 5:19
by Jamie Pantastico | Jan 10, 2023 | Daily Encouragement |
‘Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, For in You do I trust; Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, For I lift up my soul to You.’
Psalms 143:8
Psalm 143:8 is a strong reminder that the morning is a special time, a chance to start over and focus on God. It tells us to pray to God first thing in the morning to get direction, strength, and comfort. This verse tells us that if we put our trust in God, we can hear His unfailing love in the morning, which will point us in the right direction. It’s a reminder that God’s love and guidance are always there for us, especially in the morning.
Overall, this verse is a reminder that we should start our day with God by lifting our hearts to Him and asking for His guidance and strength. It tells us that the morning should be an important part of our daily walk with God and that we should trust Him and look to him every day for guidance, strength, and comfort.
by Jamie Pantastico | Jan 6, 2023 | Daily Encouragement |
The Word of God is Powerful
‘For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. ‘
Hebrews 4:12
Here are 10 Bible verses that will strengthen and encourage you. Grab your bible and take a few minutes to read through these passages.
- God will never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5) – “For he himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.'” (Deuteronomy 31:6)
- God is always present with us (Hebrews 13:5) – “Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6)
- God is our helper (Hebrews 13:6) – “For the Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” (Psalm 18:2)
- God will supply our needs (Hebrews 13:6) – “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19)
- God will give us peace (Hebrews 13:6) – “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
- God is sovereign and in control (Hebrews 13:6) – “He is the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them—he remains faithful forever.” (Psalm 146:6)
- God is faithful (Hebrews 13:6) – “Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations.” (Deuteronomy 7:9)
- God is our reward (Hebrews 13:6) – “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11)
- God is our refuge and strength (Hebrews 13:6) – “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1)
Number 10, Hebrews 13:8 is a reminder that our God does NOT change.
10. God is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8) – “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” He will always love us, He will always be there for us, He is our Great God who loves us so much that He sent His only Son to die in our place for our sins. Was buried, and was raised from the dead 3 days later. Victorious over sin, Satan, and death itself and we too because of our faith in that finished work are victorious! Glory to God.
Be Encouraged!
In summary, Hebrews 13:5-6 encourages believers to trust in God’s faithfulness and unfailing love, and to not be afraid because God is always with us and will never leave us. God is our helper, and He is sovereign over all things. He will provide for our needs and give us peace. We can have confidence in his ability to do more than we can ask or imagine, and we can overcome this through faith in Jesus Christ our Lord.
by Jamie Pantastico | Jan 4, 2023 | Daily Encouragement |
‘What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, ‘
Romans 4:1-5
The World Needs Jesus Christ – Share the Story of Abraham with the Lost
- Abraham was justified by faith, not by works (Romans 4:2).
- Abraham was justified by faith before he was circumcised (Romans 4:9-10).
- Abraham received the promise of righteousness through faith (Romans 4:13).
- Abraham’s faith was credited to him as righteousness (Romans 4:22).
- Abraham’s faith was credited to him as righteousness because he believed in the God who raises the dead (Romans 4:24).
The apostle Paul uses Abraham’s faith to show that salvation rests on faith alone, not on works. Scripture makes it clear that Abraham was justified by faith before he was circumcised, proving that outward rituals or human effort had nothing to do with his standing before God. Abraham simply believed what God said, and that faith was credited to him as righteousness. In the same way, justification today comes through faith in God’s promise—not through works, religion, or ceremony.
The admonition for us is that salvation is not based on anything we do but on our faith alone in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Paul is using Abraham’s faith as an example to show that this principle of faith-based salvation applies to Gentile believers as well.