"Oh, how abundant is your goodness!"

"Oh, how abundant is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you.

"From of old no one has heard or perceived by the ear, no eye has seen a God besides you, who acts for those who wait for him.—“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”—these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit.—You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

"How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings. They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights. For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light.

"Godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come."

Ps. 31:19; Isa. 64:4; 1 Cor. 2:9, 10; Ps. 16:11; Ps. 36:7-9; 1 Tim. 4:8

The power of God

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.—With the mighty deeds of the Lord God I will come; I will remind them of your righteousness, yours alone.—The gospel . . . is the power of God for salvation.

"I can do all things through him who strengthens me.—I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.—But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.

“The joy of the Lord is your strength.”—May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy."

Eph. 6:10; 2 Cor. 12:9, 10; Ps. 71:16; Rom. 1:16; Phil. 4:13; Col. 1:29; 2 Cor. 4:7; Neh. 8:10; Col. 1:11

It's not about me

Sometimes (too many times!) I find myself thinking mostly in terms of how things affect, benefit, hinder, etc. me in my relationship to the Lord rather than standing back in humble amazement that He has an Ultimate purpose for everything (namely His glory). What really boggles the mind is to realize He has created me with an eye to taking part in that ultimate purpose. His plan in salvation is not primarily to save me from my sins, but to proclaim His never-ending glory and steadfast love. I reap all the benefits and He gets all the glory!

"Yet he saved them for his name's sake, that he might make known his mighty power.—Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!"

Ps. 106:8; Ps. 115:1

The Word

"'A Christian who is saturated with the Word,' my father wrote, 'is likely to have a calm, wholesome outlook on life; to be kept steady in the path of God's will in either joy or sorrow, wealth or poverty; he is likely to be a pleasant companion, not voluble in aimless talk; and he will not be overly disturbed by world conditions.'" The Shaping of a Christian Family by Elisabeth Elliot

Don't be anxious!

“Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For . . . your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.”

"Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack! The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.—No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly. O Lord of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you!

"I want you to be free from anxieties.—Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.”—“Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?”—“Have faith in God.”

Matt. 6:31, 32; Ps. 34:9, 10; Ps. 84:11, 12; 1 Cor. 7:32; Phil. 4:6; Matt. 10:29-31; Mark 4:40; Mark 11:22