Faith’s Confidence (Elfchen Series #155)

Questioning

Searching

Unimaginable contrasts

Journey of paradox

Contentment as God intended

Faith

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Reassuring

Trusting

Gospel’s vision

Nurturing healthy outlook

Spirit’s hand at work

Faith

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Overcoming

Enduring

Challenging times

Tsunami of darkness

Firm foundation’s pilot light

Faith

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Warren Wiersbe Quote

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True contentment comes from Godliness in the heart, not from wealth in the hand.

From Philippians 4:11-13:  “For I have learned to be content with whatever I have.  I know what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty.  In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being well-fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being in need.  I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

Come, Follow Me

From Luke 9:23:  “Then He said to them all, ‘If any wish to come after Me, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow Me.'”

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Walking road of solitude

Every step heading somewhere

Today, meeting one stranger

“Come, follow me”—He declares

 

Hearing His witness of grace

Darkness transitions to light

Stranger’s Word sinking deeper

Rendezvous sealed with Spirit bright

 

Sharing His comfort of peace

Truth serving as Scripture’s guide

Stranger’s righteous heart affirms

Mercy’s breath comes alongside

 

Traveling as one each day

Faith’s journey follows high road

Stranger’s compass always true

Love unlocks atonement’s code

 

Seeing life’s purpose at last

Redemption at Heaven’s door

Stranger no more, Jesus Christ

Eternity comes ashore

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From John 3:16:  “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him may not perish but may have eternal life.”

Sustaining Refuge

From Psalm 31:1-2:  “In you, O Lord, I seek refuge; do not let me ever be put to shame; in Your righteousness deliver me.  Incline Your ear to me; rescue me speedily.  Be a rock of refuge for me, a strong fortress to save me.”

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Facing life’s overwhelming odds

Darkness invades, hope crashing down

Searching for sustaining refuge

Forsaking another showdown

 

Emptiness penetrates deeply

Faith weakening, now feeling mocked

Each empty promise calling out

Distant future forever locked

 

Calling to Father above

Reaching for His righteous-filled hand

Praying for heavenly rescue

Grasping mercy, fleeing quicksand

 

Light overcomes evil’s doomsday

God’s promises, always to trust

Mighty fortress restoring faith

Distant future looking robust

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From Psalm 31:14-15:  “But I trust in You, O Lord; I say, ‘You are my God.’  My times are in Your hand; deliver me from the hand of my enemies and persecutors.”

Charles Swindoll Quote

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God will see to it that in the eyes of those who are now your enemy, you will one day be esteemed.  They will respect your stand because you are standing alone, doing what is right.

From Proverbs 16:7:  “When the ways of people please the Lord, He causes even their enemies to be at peace with them.”

Oswald Chambers Quote

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Jesus has prayed that we might be one with Him as He is one with the Father.

From 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24:  “May the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely, and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.  The one who calls you is faithful, and He will do this.”

Oswald Chambers (1874-1917) was a Scottish evangelist and Christian teacher.  Following his death from an illness while in Egypt during World War I, his wife took on the task of transcribing the detailed notes she had written from his lectures and sermons.  Gertrude Hobbs Chambers’ efforts resulted in the publication in 1924 of MY UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST.  I frequently read from this devotional, and it has greatly deepened my faith and understanding of God’s Word.

Faith’s Hope

From Hebrews 11:1-3:  “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.  Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval.  By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible.”

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Faith fills assurance

Light brightens day’s hope

What’s seen and unseen?

Love viewed through God’s scope

 

Faith moves through Scripture

Testaments make clear

Witness Abraham

Hope waits, then appears

 

Faith grows, trusting God

Hope’s great centerpiece

Foundations built strong

Life of blessed peace

 

Faith matures with time

God’s perfection reigns

His Word guides with truth

Hope makes lifelong gains

 

Faith’s hope, joined as one

Journey’s promised land

God forever praised

Mercy’s steady hand

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From the words of American pastor and Christian writer, Warren Wiersbe:  “Love increases our faith, and when we have faith and love, we will have hope.”

Charles Stanley Quote

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A life of strong faith doesn’t happen automatically or without any effort on our part.  Spiritual growth requires the appropriation of all the means God has provided to help us walk faithfully with Him.

From Hebrews 12:1-2:  “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Walking Closely

From Luke 24:13-15:  “Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened.  While they were talking and discussing, Jesus Himself came near and went with them.”

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On life’s Emmaus Road

Walking closely with thee

Grace of Jesus bestowed

Calvary’s path sets us free

 

Wilderness gathers near

Walking down evil’s road

Christ’s love making it clear

Sinful darkness now implodes

 

Life’s burdens weighing down

Walking with Christ, our Lord

Mercy begins countdown

Redemption coming on board

 

Heaven’s kingdom awaits

Walking each faithful path

Salvation opens gate

Jesus bridges judgement’s wrath

 

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From Philippians 3:20:  “But our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.”

George Whitefield Quote

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Press forward.  Do not stop, do not linger in your journey, but strive for the mark set before you.

From Philippians 3:13-14:  “Brothers and sisters, I do not consider that I have laid hold of it, but one thing I have laid hold of:  forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal, toward the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus.”

George Whitefield (1714-1770) was an English-born pastor and Christian evangelist.  He spent the second half of his life in the American colonies.