Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.
Rejoice always
Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! - Philippians 4:4.
Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer - Romans 12:12.
In Him does our heart rejoice, because we have trusted in His Holy Name - Psalm 31:21.
But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; Let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them; Let those also who love Your name Be joyful in You - Psalm 5:11.
I have set the Lord always before me; Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will rest in hope - Psalm 16:8,9.
Pray without ceasing
Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints - Ephesians 6:18.
Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak - Mathew 26:41.
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful - Colossians 4:2.
In everything give thanks
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. Psalm 100:4.
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus - Philippians 4:6,7.
Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving - Colossians 4:2.
PRAYER: Dear Lord, Let us rejoice always, pray without ceasing and give thanks in everything for this is Your will for us. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
Guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it - Proverbs 4:23.
Whoever guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from troubles - Proverbs 21:23.
Our words reveal our heart as out of the abundance of the heart our mouth speaks and everything we do flows from our heart. For out of the abundance of the heart, mouth speaks - Mathew 12:34. But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies - Matthew 15:18,19. For as he thinks in his heart, so is he - Proverbs 23:7. Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit – Proverbs 18:21.
Our mouth will praise God and speak graciously as we hide God's Word in our heart in abundance. Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You - Psalm 119:11. The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart - Psalm 19:8. My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation - Psalm 13:5. My mouth is filled with your praise, declaring your splendor all day long - Psalms 71:8. My mouth shall praise You with joyful lips - Psalm 63:5. The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious - Ecclesiastes 10:12. Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones - Proverbs 16:24.
Let us guard our heart with the word of God, praise God with our mouth and speak gracious words. The heart of the godly thinks carefully before speaking - Proverbs 15:28. Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen - Ephesians 4:29. If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless - James 1:26. If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies - 1 Peter 3:10.
Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer - Psalms 19:14.
PRAYER: Dear Lord, Help us to guard our heart and mouth. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil - Ephesians 6:11.
We need to put on the whole armor of God so that we may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil who comes like a roaring lion to steal, to kill, and to destroy. Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour - 1 Peter 5:8. The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly - John 10:10. Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you - James 4:7.
To be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might and to fight battles victoriously, we need to put on every piece of God’s armor everyday and not just some of the pieces.Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand - Ephesians 6:10-13.
In the whole armor of God, the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God and the prayer are the offensive weapons while all the other are defensive weapons. The shoes of the gospel of peace and the shield of faith, both offer us stability to defend ourselves.Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints - Ephesians 6:14-17.
Belt of truth - Walk in truth to guard our inmost being in the battle
Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free - John 8:32.
Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth - John 17:17.
Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long - Psalm 25:5.
Shoes of the gospel of peace - To stand firm in all situations and to preach the gospel of peace
You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you - Isaiah 26:3.
How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things! - Romans 10:15.
Breastplate of Righteousness - To guard heart with righteousness
Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life - Proverbs 4:23.
Whoever pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity, and honor. - Proverbs 21:21.
Shield of faith - To extinguish all the fiery darts of enemy
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight - Proverbs 3:5-6.
Helmet of salvation - To protect our thoughts from lies and fear
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things - Philippians 4:8.
Sword of the Spirit - The Word of God which is living and powerful
For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart - Hebrews 4:12.
Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path - Psalm 119:105.
Prayer - To have communication with God
Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak - Matthew 26:41.
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful - Colossians 4:2.
Pray without ceasing - 1 Thessalonians 5:17.
PRAYER: Dear Lord, Let us put on every piece of whole armor that You have provided us every day to be able to stand up against the wiles of enemy. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in Your word. - Psalm 119:114.
God is our hiding place who protects us from all evil. You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance - Psalm 32:7.The LORD will protect you from all evil; He will keep your soul. The LORD will guard your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forever - Psalm 121:7–8. He who touches you touches the apple of His eye - Zechariah 2:8.But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one - 2Thessalonians 3:3 .
God hides us by being a shade
The Lord is your shade at your right hand - Psalm 121:5. You have been a strength to the poor, A strength to the needy in his distress, A refuge from the storm, A shade from the heat - Isaiah 25:4.
God hides us under the shadow of His wings
Keep me as the apple of Your eye; Hide me under the shadow of Your wings - Psalm 17:8. He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.” Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler And from the perilous pestilence. He shall cover you with His feathers, And under His wings you shall take refuge - Psalm 91: 1-4.
God hides us in the secret place of His tabernacle
For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; In the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock - Psalm 27:5.
God hides us by surrounding us
As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds His people both now and forever more. Psalm 125: 1, 2. You have surrounded me on every side, behind me and before me, and You have placed Your hand gently on my shoulder - Psalm 135:7. The angel of the LORD surrounds those who fear him, and he delivers them - Psalm 34:7. For surely, O LORD, You bless the righteous; You surround them with Your favor as with a shield - Psalm 5:12. And I myself will be a wall of fire around it,’ declares the Lord, ‘and I will be its glory within - Zechariah 2:5.
PRAYER: Dear Lord, We thank You for being our hiding place by covering us on all sides and protecting us from all evil. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father - John 14:12.
Jesus said that he who believes in Him will do the works that He did and will do greater works than He did. Jesus preached, prophesied, and did many miracles. He turned water into wine (John 2:1–11). He has healed the official’s son (John 4:46–54). He had healed the man crippled for 38 years (John 5:1–9). He had fed 5,000 people with five loaves and two fish (John 6:1–14). He had walked on water (John 6:19). He had healed a man born blind (John 9:1–7).
We have received power through the Holy Spirit to do greater works for God. You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth - Acts 1:8. The Holy Spirit that is in us teaches us and guides us all things for us to do greater works. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you - John 14:26. Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it - Isaiah 30:21.
Let us do the works that God did and greater works by the gifts of the Holy Spirit to preach good tidings to the poor, to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and opening of the prison to those who are bound. The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, Because the Lord has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound - Isaiah 61:1. God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to His will - Hebrews 2:4.
PRAYER: Dear Lord, Let us do the works You did and greater works than you did by the gift of the Holy Spirit for Your glory. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
Hannah praised God for His mighty acts as He granted her petition for a son and blessed her with Samuel.
And Hannah prayed and said: My heart rejoices in the Lord; My horn is exalted in the Lord. I smile at my enemies, Because I rejoice in Your salvation. No one is holy like the Lord, For there is none besides You, Nor is there any rock like our God - 1 Samuel 2:1,2.
Elizabeth
Elizabeth praised God for His mighty acts as He took away her reproach among the people of Israel in her old age.
After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she kept herself hidden, saying, “Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.” - Luke 1:24-25.
Mary
Mary praised God for His mighty acts with a song after being chosen to bear the incarnate Son of God.
And Mary said: My soul magnifies the Lord, And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed. For He who is mighty has done great things for me, And holy is His name. And His mercy is on those who fear Him From generation to generation - Luke 1:47-50.
PRAYER:Dear Lord, We praise You for Your mighty acts in our life. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
You shall not be terrified of them; for the Lord your God, the great and awesome God, is among you - Deuteronomy 7:21.
Awesome God
Our God is an awesome God. In the council of the holy ones God is greatly feared; He is more awesome than all who surround him - Psalm 89:7. For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome - Deuteronomy 10:17.
Awesome Works
Our awesome God is awesome in His works. Come and see the works of God; He is awesome in His doing toward the sons of men - Psalm 66:5. By awesome deeds in righteousness You will answer us, O God of our salvation - Psalm 65:5. Say to God, “How awesome are Your works! Through the greatness of Your power Your enemies shall submit themselves to You" - Psalm 66:3.
Let us thank our awesome God for His awesome works in our life. Praise to God for His Awesome Works He has shown his people the power of his works - Psalm 111:6. He is your praise, and He is your God, who has done for you these great and awesome things which your eyes have seen - Deuteronomy 10:21.
PRAYER: Dear Lord, You are an awesome God. We thank You for doing awesome works in our life. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.