God is Our Helper

When fear threatens to paralyze us, the following verses can help us block it from entering our hearts and thus prevent any emotional damage that it might do to us. Meditating on them and implicitly trusting in the One who gave such assurances are the keys to unlock their true power.

"...be of good courage and say: 'Jehovah is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?'"

-Proverbs 13:6

photo by Charlene N.K.

"In God I have put my trust. 

I shall not be afraid.

What can earthling man do to me?"

-Psalm 56:11

photo by Charlene N.K.

"You have drawn near in the day that I kept calling you. You said:

 'Do not be afraid.'"

- Lamentations 3:57

photo by Charlene N.K.

"Do not be afraid because of their faces, for ‘I am with you to deliver you,’ is the utterance of Jehovah."

- Jeremiah 1:8

photo by Charlene N.K.

Scriptural Principles to Help Reduce Stress

"Do not become righteous overmuch, nor show yourself excessively wise. Why should you cause desolation to yourself?"

 - Ecclesiastes 7:16

Application: Don't expect perfection of yourself and others.

photo by Charlene N.K.

"That YOU may make sure of the more important things, so that YOU may be flawless and not be stumbling others up to the day of Christ,  and may be filled with righteous fruit, which is through Jesus Christ, to God’s glory and praise."

 - Philippians 1:10,11

Application: Set appropriate priorities.

photo by Charlene N.K.

"For bodily training is beneficial for a little; but godly devotion is beneficial for all things, as it holds promise of the life now and that which is to come."

 - 1 Timothy 4:8

Application: Get regular exercise.

photo by Charlene N.K.

"For you have made me rejoice, O Jehovah, 

because of your activity;

Because of the works of your hands I cry out joyfully.

How great your works are, O Jehovah!

Very deep your thoughts are." 

- Psalm 92:3,5

Application: Enjoy God's creation.

photo by Charlene N.K.

"Eventually, having sent the crowds away, he went up into the mountain by himself to pray. Though it became late, he was there alone." 

- Matthew 14:23

Application: Make some quiet time regularly.

photo by Charlene N.K.

"Better is a handful of rest than a double handful of hard work and striving after the wind."

 - Ecclesiastes 4:6

Application: Get sufficient relaxation and sleep.

photo by Charlene N.K.

Source: Awake magazine, June 2010

A Promise of Refreshment

"For he has satisfied 

the dried-out soul;

And the hungry soul he has filled 

with good things."

-Psalm 107:9

Our constant daily struggles can make us weary. Pressures and anxieties lie on our shoulders like heavy loads, gradually sapping us of energy. We want to do other things that we truly enjoy but it may not be possible because of the numerous responsibilities that we should primarily accomplish. 

Added to our endeavors to make a living, we also encounter problems with our fellows which can be discouraging and can drain us of what strength is left in us. Our soul becomes "hungry" and "dried-out", as the Scripture says.

Nevertheless, our loving Father has this promise of saturating or fully satisfying us. He sees to it that we can maintain good spiritual and emotional health which are vital for us to keep our joy amid difficulties. Such godly joy prevents us from losing our power to go on living and succeed in whatever we do.

Again, we can see from this passage that God is interested in our feelings as individuals, and he assures us that he will refresh and satisfy us. But for us to benefit from this loving assurance, we must have full trust in him and run to him for assistance. Only then can we truly feel and understand the import of this promise.

How to Draw Close to God

"Draw close to God, and he will draw close to you."

-  James 4:8

The above Scripture is an assurance that we can cultivate an intimate relationship with the Most High.

Here are some ways:

* Read His Written Word, the Bible, daily to get to know Him better.

* Establish  regular communications with Him through prayer.

* Make Him happy by following His guidance which He gave for our lasting personal benefit.

* Keep feeding on His abundant "spiritual" foods.

* Associate with those who love Him wholeheartedly.

* Tell others about how loving and wonderful He is as a Friend and Father.

* Spend time to "read" His book of creation, that is, examine His natural creations and analyze what they tell us about the Creator.

* Try to imitate His qualities.
etc.

One will discover that there's no better friend in the whole universe than our Heavenly Father. He is the only one who perfectly knows our deepest thoughts and feelings, and all our needs. If all others leave us, He is always there, and will always be our FRIEND forever.

Is God Uncaring?

Many people ask, ‘If God cared, would not the world be a very different place?’ If we look around, we can see a world full of war, hatred, and misery. And as individuals, we get sick, we suffer, we lose loved ones in death. Thus, many say, ‘If God cared about us and our problems, would he not prevent such things from happening?’

Is it the will of God that such things are happening? God's own Word, the Bible, answers:

"When under trial, let no one say: 'I am being tried by God.' For with evil things God cannot be tried nor does he himself try anyone." - James 1:13

For further clarification and clearer understanding, feel free to visit this link:

http://www.watchtower.org/e/bh/article_01.htm

There Won't Be Any Beggars If...

....Everyone would live a righteous life.

Well, I'm not referring to those who have become rich because they have worked hard or received some inheritance or the likes.

This is about those who may not have the advantage of having a job due to some complicated situations, those who may not have guts and impetus enough to live a better life, or those who have lost hope, feeling that the world conditions are too much for them.

The following quote shows us that the righteous ones will never be left entirely, even their offspring. This is the observation of an ancient king, which is also confirmed by my personal observation and experiences.

"A young man I used to be, I have also grown old,
And yet I have not seen anyone righteous left entirely,
Nor his offspring looking for bread." - Psalm 37:25

Being righteous here means keeping the laws and guidance of our heavenly Father, who is ever loyal to those who completely trust in Him. We can develop such trust by carefully examining His Word and exerting efforts to apply in our lives the righteous principles that we have learned from it. Then our loving Father will always be there to guide us and provide for our spiritual and material needs in different ways.

Meditations

Meditating on these verses can uplift our spirits and empower us to keep on living in righteousness amid this troubled world.

Wholesome Reflections

Tired? Why not sit down for a while and relax? Let the beauty of nature soothe your weary mind and body. Then meditate on some wholesome things that can be of great benefit to you, such as those metioned in the following quote.

"Whatever things are true, whatever things are of serious concern, whatever things are righteous, whatever things are chaste, whatever things are lovable, whatever things are well spoken of, whatever virtue there is and whatever praiseworthy thing there is, continue considering these things." - Philippians 4:8

What a Comforting Thought!

If we are faced with adversities, which are extremely difficult for us to tackle, and it seems like there's nobody around to support us, still, we are not alone in our struggles. The following passage shows us that there's Someone who is always holding our hands and supporting us.

" For I, Jehovah your God, am grasping your right hand, the One saying to you, ‘Do not be afraid. I myself will help you.’" - Isaiah 41:13

These are the reassuring words of our loving Father, who is always on the lookout for those who trust Him and turn to Him for support. Relying on Him at all times makes us feel secure and gives us inner peace, which are essential for living a happy and meaningful life amid all these troubles that we are subjected to.

The Most Valuable Friendship in the World

We are blessed if we have friends who can stand by us no matter what happens.  Each time we need them, they are always there, ready to support us. They make us feel secure and well-cared for. They are happy when they see us happy. They feel for us and comfort us when we are in difficult situation. They bring sunshine to our lives by their unfading thoughtfulness and loving-kindness. 

Is there someone whom we can call a perfect friend? There is, and He's genuinely interested in our personal welfare. He welcomes us to be a guest in His tent. But we must meet certain qualifications in order to deserve that most precious friendship of all. In the following quote, a famous king outlined these requirements.

A Melody of King David :

"O Jehovah, who will be a guest in your tent?
Who will reside in your holy mountain?

He who is walking faultlessly and practicing righteousness
And speaking the truth in his heart.

He has not slandered with his tongue.
To his companion he has done nothing bad,
And no reproach has he taken up against his intimate acquaintance.

In his eyes anyone contemptible is certainly rejected,
But those fearing Jehovah he honors.
He has sworn to what is bad for himself, and yet he does not alter.

His money he has not given out on interest,
And a bribe against the innocent one he has not taken.
He that is doing these things will never be made to totter."

-Psalms 15

Yes, friendship with the Most High keeps us strong and secure, and it will also give us eternal benefits, which He promised to those who remain loyal to their friendship with Him.