“How sweet the name of Jesus sounds in a believer’s ear! It soothes our sorrows, heals our wounds, and drives away our fear. It makes the wounded spirit whole and calms the troubled breast; ’tis manna to the hungry soul, and to the weary, rest. O Jesus, shepherd, guardian, friend, my Prophet, Priest, and King, my Lord, my Life, my Way, my End, accept the praise I bring.” Amen!

“Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth. Break forth in song, rejoice and sing praises. Rejoice in the Lord you righteous and give thanks at the remembrance of his holy name.”

“Return to your stronghold, O prisoners of hope; even today I declare that I will restore to you double. This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary.”

“We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance, and endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” Thank you, Lord!

“In fact, we rejoice when we are weak but you are strong, and our prayer is for your perfection. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

So, to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 2 Corinthians 12

My brothers and sisters in Christ, God is able, and whatever he promised to do, he will. He has already done so much marvelous things for us, and he is the same God, yesterday, today, and forever. The same God who did it before can do it again. We just need to have the faith to believe.

“Jesus, the very thought of thee, with sweetness fills the breast; but sweeter far thy face to see, and in thy presence rest. O hope of every contrite heart, O, joy of all the meek, to those who fall, how kind thou art! How good to those who seek! But what to those who find? Ah, this nor tongue nor pen can show; the love of Jesus, what it is, none but his loved ones know.”

Your way O God is in the sanctuary. Who is so great a God as our God? You are the God who does wonders; You have declared Your strength among the peoples. You have with Your arm redeemed Your people. Psalm 77

“Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me.” Thank you, Lord!