But if we must keep trusting God for something that hasn't happened yet, it teaches us to wait patiently and confidently. And in the same way - by our faith - the Holy Spirit helps us with our daily problems and in our praying. For we don't even know what we should pray for, nor how to pray as we should; but the Holy Spirit prays for us with such feeling that it cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows, of course, what the Spirit is saying as he

Because the Lord is my Shepherd, I have everything I need! He lets me rest in the meadow grass and leads me beside the quiet streams. He gives me new strength. He helps me do what honors him most. Even when walking through the dark valley of death I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me, guarding, guiding all the way. You provide delicious food for me in the presence of my enemies. You have welcomed me as your guest; blessings overflow! Your goodness and unfailing k

Dear brothers, is your life full of difficulties and temptations? Then be happy, for when the way is rough, your patience has a chance to grow. So let it grow, and don't try to squirm out of your problems. For when your patience is finally in full bloom, then you will be ready for anything, strong in character, full and complete. if you want to know what God wants you to do, ask him, and he will gladly tell you, for he is always ready to give a bountiful supply of wisdom to a

The human mind may devise many plans, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will be established. Proverbs 19: 21 (NRSV) Yanti H. Damanik lives in West Java, Indonesia. His dream had always been to work for one of the world peace organizations. He prayed for God to help him. Because he knew that having experience would make it easier to find a job, he planned to volunteer at the organization he hoped would hire him. He was happy when he got a call from the organization inviti

Show me the path where I should go, O Lord; point out the right road for me to walk. Lead me, teach me, for you are the God who gives me salvation. I have no hope except in you. Overlook my youthful sins, O Lord! Look at me instead through eyes of mercy and forgiveness, through eyes of everlasting love and kindness. The Lord is good and glad to teach the proper path to all who go astray; he will teach the ways that are right and best to those who humbly turn to him. And when

Read 1 Samuel 1: 1-28 the story of Samuel After the sacrifice they took the child to Eli. "Sir, do you remember me?" Hannah asked him. "I am the woman who stood here that time praying to the Lord! I asked him to give me this child, and he has given me my request; and now I am giving him to the Lord for as long as he lives." So she left him there at the Tabernacle for the Lord to use. 1 Samuel 1: 26-28 (TLB) Tony Roberts lives in Indiana. Shortly after he was born, his mother

We know that God has chosen you, dear brothers, much beloved of God. For when we brought you the Good News, it was not just meaningless chatter to you; no, you listened with great interest. What we told you produced a powerful effect upon you, for the Holy Spirit gave you great and full assurance that what we said was true. And you know how our very lives were further proof to you of the truth of our message. So you became our followers and the Lord's; for you received our me

So now, since we have been made right in God's sight by faith in his promises, we can have real peace with him because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. For because of our faith, he has brought us into this place of highest privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to actually becoming all that God has had in mind for us to be. We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials for we know that they are good for us - they h

Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart. He said, "In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor has respect for people. In that city there was a widow who kept coming to him and saying, 'Grant me justice against my opponent.' For a while he refused; but later he said to himself, 'Though I have no fear of God and no respect for anyone, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice, so that she

"There is really only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it - and I won't take it away from her!" Luke 10:42 (TLB) Kevin Thomas lives in Alabama. He remembers having long talks with Melissa discussing the day's activities, future plans, their goals, their future married life. Then there were the long pauses, maybe lasting as much as ten minutes when no one spoke. Yet they were connected, and somehow that was important. On long drives, walks in the park