Isaiah 41:10 KJV — Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
Encouragement from Mike Pickett:
Weather report
Proverbs 18:12 KJV — Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility.
Dark clouds before rain.
Haughtiness before destruction.
Humility before honour.
Success flows out of identity
Psalm 1:3 KJV — And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
The “he” in Psalm 1:3 is the person who was being talked about in Psalm 1:1
He walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, he stands not in the way of sinners, he sits not in the seat of the scornful.
He delights in the Word of God and meditates on it day and night.
Why?
No reason is given. This is just who he is. This is his identity.
And when he does things that flow out of his identity, they always succeed.
If what you’re doing isn’t working or bearing fruit, check to make sure that your actions are in agreement with your identity.
Return on instruction
Proverbs 17:10 KJV — A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool.
A single reproof to a wise man is worth more than a hundred rebukes of a fool.
All audiences are not equal.
Your ROI (return on instruction) is determined by whether the instruction is being given to a wise person or a fool.
Especially the one you see in the mirror.
Departing from evil
Proverbs 16:17 KJV — The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.
It’s possible to depart from evil.
In fact, it’s in your born-again nature to do so.
Like baby turtles hatched on the beach, it’s in your new nature to leave the sand and head out to the water.
Exploring the depths of the ocean.
Enjoy yourself on the inside
Proverbs 15:15 KJV — All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast.
Choose to have a good time in your heart.
Soul and spirit. (Mind +Will + Emotions) + spirit.
Regardless of what’s happening on the outside, choose to enjoy yourself on the inside.
That’s the key to enjoying a continual feast regardless of what’s happening.
Walking in finished works
Hebrews 12:2 KJV — Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Jesus always finishes before He starts.
So the secret is to find out what He has finished before you start.
Your job is just to walk in the finished works of Jesus.
Right with you
Luke 24:16 KJV — But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.
Jesus was right there, but they did not recognise Him. Worse, even if He’d said who He was, they wouldn’t have believed Him.
The problem isn’t the absence of access or opportunity. The problem is that you aren’t recognising who and what is right with you right now.
Wisdom is a builder
Proverbs 14:1 KJV — Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.
Every wise woman builds her house.
Every. Without exception.
So if you’re not building, it’s a wisdom issue, no matter what you think.
Wisdom isn’t passive.
Wisdom is a builder.
A Psalm of X
Psalm 23:1 KJV — A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
X = you
This is David’s Psalm, a poem set to music, a melodic expression of an intimate truth that he’s known of the Lord.
What’s your Psalm? What truth do you know of the Lord?
Sing that. It’s more powerful than you realise.