Need Encouragement? Eyes Up!

The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.^{Ps 145:18} Give thanks to the Lord, for he is a forgiving God,^{Neh 9:17} compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in love.^{Ps 103:8}

For the Lord is a merciful God^{Deut 4:31} who wants to restore your soul.^{Ps 23:3}

When we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.^{1 Jn 1:9} That's why there's no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set us free from the law of sin and death.^{Rom 8:1-2}

For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him!^{Ps 103:11} Jesus came so we can have life to the full.^{Jn 10:10}

True, sometimes we're hard pressed on every side, but he won't let us be crushed. We get perplexed, but he lifts us from despair. We're persecuted, but he never will abandon us.^{2 Cor 4:8-9} The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. There is no record of him ever forsaking those who seek him.^{Ps 9:9-10} And there never will be. He has promised, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."^{Heb 13:5}

Oh, blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.^{2 Cor 1:3-4}

Yes, call upon the Lord in the day of trouble^{Ps 86:7} and he will hear you,^{Ps 34:6} answer you,^{Ps 86:7} and deliver you from all your fears.^{Ps 34:4} He will honor you^{Ps 91:15} and save you from all your troubles.^{Ps 34:6} God's way is perfect; his word is trustworthy. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him.^{Ps 18:30}

After all, we don't have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are — yet was without sin! So we can approach the throne of grace with confidence, knowing that we will receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.^{Heb 4:15-16}

The Lord assures us that his eyes are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayers.^{1 Pet 3:12}

A righteous man may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all.^{Ps 34:19} For we have this confidence in God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us, we know that we have what we asked of him.^{1 Jn 5:14-15}

If you don't know what to pray for, the Spirit himself will intercede for you with groans that words cannot express.^{Rom 8:26} Yes, the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.^{Jas 5:16} So, devote yourself to prayer, being watchful and thankful^{Col 4:2} and never give up^{.Luke 18:1}

Remember, you can do all things through Jesus who gives you the strength^{Phil 4:13} because the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.^{1 Jn 4:4}

That's why nothing can ever separate us from the love of Christ. Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?^{Rom 8:35} No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. And we know that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.^{Rom 8:37-39}

We have so much to look forward to — because no eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him!^{1 Cor 2:9}

Let the righteous rejoice in the Lord and let all the upright in heart praise him!^{Ps 64:10} Sing to God, sing praise to his name! Extol him who rides on the clouds — his name is the Lord!^{Ps 68:4}

[This devotional editorial originally appeared in the October 2001 issue of SMI.]

Austin Pryor has three decades of experience advising investors, and is the founder of the Sound Mind Investing newsletter and website. Austin lives in Louisville, Kentucky, with Susie, his wife of 46 years. Two of his sons, Andrew and Matthew, work with him at Sound Mind Investing. A third son, Tre, is a Realtor® in the area.

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