“I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13 (ESV) Are you struggling right now because of trials in your life? Do you feel your load is just too heavy, and you’re not sure if you can make it? These words bring great encouragement! In the previous verses, the Apostle Paul is describing the results of trials he has faced. The Greek word for strength means to empower, enable, be made strong, and endure with strength. Paul tells us that his strength comes from God! In 2 Corinthians 12:8, Paul begged the Lord to take a trial from his life. Verse 9 and following let us know more of the story: “But he said to me, ‘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.” Isaiah 40:29 says, “He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.” We don’t

But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. Isaiah 40:31 (KJV) Click here to download this free Scripture printable   Are you a person who has trouble being patient?  If so, these words should give you comfort. This has been my favorite verse for as long as I can remember! It tells us that those who wait upon the Lord (conveying the idea of praying and waiting with patience), will be given new strength. The word for strength in the Hebrew means "might or power of God." If we wait prayerfully and with patience, God will give us His power to successfully face any trial. This is a promise from God, so we can be sure it will happen! Click here for this free lock screen and be encouraged every time you open your phone.  As we wait patiently for Him to give us strength, He gives us the power to make it through any trial in life. He provides peace in our heart during the storms of life. His strength allows us to look

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Romans 12:12, ESV Click here to download your free Scripture printable Click here to share it with your friends on Facebook    Are you or someone you love struggling because of some difficulty you are facing? Are you feeling discouraged or distressed because of it? This verse gives us hope for any situation.  Strong’s Concordance tells us the Greek word for tribulation is thlipsis. It is defined as "oppression, affliction, burden or anguish." The good news is, we are given encouragement in 1 Peter 5:7 to cast all our anxieties on Him because He cares for us! He will give us the strength to be patient in our times of trouble, to hold fast to our faith in Christ, to find joy in the hope we have because of what Jesus has done for us.   Romans 8:25 states, “But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.” Jesus died for our sins, was raised to life and has given us the wonderful opportunity to have a relationship with Him. It is something we cannot see with our eyes, but we know

The hope of the righteous brings joy, but the expectation of the wicked will perish. Proverbs 10:28, ESV Click here to download your free Scripture printable   Is your life filled with the joy of the Lord because of your trust in Him, or is there something else for which your soul is longing?   These words from Proverbs, known as the book of wisdom, make it clear that those who forget God are on a path to destruction, which sharply contrasts with the life of the righteous! The Hebrew word for righteous, tsaddiyq, is defined in Strong’s Concordance as "just, righteous in conduct and character, justified and vindicated by God." In other words, this describes a person who has chosen to be a follower of Jesus, by believing the Good News of the gospel—the message of salvation in Christ. God loves us so much that He sent His only son, Jesus, to take the punishment for our sin by dying on the cross. Christ didn’t stay dead but was raised again on the third day according to the Scriptures! This is the reason Easter, or Resurrection Sunday, is the favorite day of the year for many believers. On this

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. 1 Peter 1:3, ESV Click here to download this free printable Do you want to have the living hope described in this verse? These words are exciting news for each of us! The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, after He lived a sinless life and died to take the burden of our sin upon Himself, has allowed us to have a hope which is alive and active! Vine’s Expository Dictionary tells us the Greek word for hope is elpis, which means favorable, confident expectation, to anticipate with pleasure. Biblical hope is a result of salvation, which is expressed in endurance under trial. Verses 4 & 5 of this chapter tell us more about this hope: The hope we have because Christ was raised from the dead, is an inheritance that will never perish, it is undefiled, and will never fade away. It is safe, kept in heaven for those who have God’s power because of their faith in Christ! Click here to

“Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.”  Colossians 4:6 (ESV) Click here to download this gorgeous printable Have you ever forgotten to put salt in something you were cooking when it was needed? It probably was a little bland, wasn’t it? The right seasoning brings out the flavor in the food and allows you to enjoy a delicious meal! Salt also preserves food, keeping it from spoiling. This verse tells us that the same concept applies to the things we say. In context, this verse is speaking to believers about the way they converse with people who do not share a saving faith in Jesus. According to the MacArthur Study Bible, gracious speech is that which is "wholesome, fitting, kind, truthful and loving." Ephesians 4:29 (ESV) describes it this way: “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.” Wouldn’t you love to be a woman who is known for this kind of speech? I certainly would! Women who have gracious speech will spread kindness,