Refreshing Our Spirits With Scripture

 1.16- When we pray to our Father in heaven we can be confident that He knows what we need before we ask. One value of private, secret prayer is that we come to know what we need as well as what we want. Matthew 6. 5  “When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners  [ d ] so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.   6  But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees  what is done  in secret will reward you. 7  “And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words.   8  So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him. 9  “Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father who is in heaven, Hall...

 1.15- There is refreshment when people persist in finding you and making contact with you to build you up and encourage you without any specific reason. 2 Timothy 1. 15  You are aware of the fact that all who are in  [ k ] Asia turned away from me, among whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes.   16  The Lord grant mercy to the house of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my  [ l ] chains;   17  but when he was in Rome, he eagerly searched for me and found me—   18  the Lord grant to him to find mercy from the Lord on that day—and you know very well what services he rendered at Ephesus.

 1.14- We wonder why our path is harder that of other people. We don't know all of their journey. Once a man was told he was going to go through difficult things in his old age. "What about my friend will he also go through this?" He was told that was not his to concern himself with. Judgements about the provision of others is not our business. Our work is to finish our own work. Pray for others in difficult circumstances. Help if we can. Turn ultimate outcomes over to God who is full of mercy and love. John 21. 18  Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to gird yourself and walk wherever you wished; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will gird you, and bring you where you do not wish to  go .”   19  Now this He said, signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He *said to him,  “Follow Me!” 20  Peter, turning around, *saw the disciple wh...

 1.13- Those who know where they came from and where they are going and what they are here for have an advantage at accomplishing their mission. I have not arrived at any of these perfectly. I am learning something new about this daily. John 13. 3  Jesus , knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come forth from God and was going back to God,   4  *got up from supper, and *laid aside His garments; and taking a towel, He girded Himself. Jesus Washes the Disciples’ Feet 5  Then He *poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.   6  So He *came to Simon Peter. He *said to Him, “Lord, do You wash my feet?”   7  Jesus answered and said to him,  “What I do you do not realize now, but you will understand hereafter.”   8  Peter *said to Him, “Never shall You wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, ...

 1.12- Amazing truth. When you saw Jesus you saw the Father who sent Him. When you hear or the words of Jesus, they are words from the Father in heaven. Everything Jesus did He had seen the Father doing it. He did the Father's will 100% of the time. When He protected a woman from stoning by people, it was God doing this. When He said, "Father forgive them for they they don't know what they are doing." When He said to a thief on the cross, "Today you will be with me in paradise." All was pleasing the Father in heaven. This is who our God is. God is love. John 12. 44  And Jesus cried out and said,  “He who believes in Me, does not believe in Me but in Him who sent Me.   45  He who sees Me sees the One who sent Me.  

 1.11- Happy 2022. By the time the baby from heaven had turned 30 He began to teach things He had learned from living on earth and combing them with what He knew from heaven where He came from. He wanted people to know the love His Father had for Him was available for them. He taught that anything you want done for you, get busy doing that for others. Treat others with mercy if you seek mercy. He taught His followers they they were in charge of the most delicate organ in the world, their own mind. We get to choose our mindset this year. It is my sincere prayer that 2022 will be our best year ever regarding our own attitudes. May we a have our minds set on our Father in heaven who makes the impossible into the possible. In 2022 may we all receive more grace, mercy and peace than we have ever experienced.

 1.10- From Genesis to Revelation is the story of God inviting messed up people to come to Him for healing and joy. Revelation 22. 17  The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost. 18  I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book;   19  and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and  [ i ] from the holy city, which are written in this book. 20  He who testifies to these things says,  “Yes, I am coming quickly.”  Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. 21  The grace of the Lord Jesus be with  [ j ] all. Amen.