Watchful

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.

Be sober, be watchful: your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour

On that day I will strike every horse with panic and its rider with madness,” declares the LORD. “I will keep a watchful eye over Judah, but I will blind all the horses of the nations.

"So now, great God, this word that you have spoken to me and my family, guarantee it permanently! Do exactly what you've promised! Then your reputation will flourish always as people exclaim, 'The God-of-the-Angel-Armies is God over Israel!' And the house of your servant David will remain sure and solid in your watchful presence. For you, God-of-the-Angel-Armies, Israel's God, told me plainly, 'I will build you a house.' That's how I was able to find the courage to pray this prayer to you.

O Israel, wait and watch for God— with God's arrival comes love, with God's arrival comes generous redemption. No doubt about it—he'll redeem Israel, buy back Israel from captivity to sin.

You are my strength, I watch for you; you, God, are my fortress

Colossians 4:2 1 Peter 5:8 Zechariah 12:4 2 Samuel 7:25 Psalm 130:7 Psalm 59:9

To survive the storms of life, be anchored to the Rock of Ages.

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Community

‘I am going to make you fruitful and increase your numbers. I will make you a community of peoples, and I will give this land as an everlasting possession to your descendants after you.’

And God said to him, “I am God Almighty ; be fruitful and increase in number. A nation and a community of nations will come from you, and kings will be among your descendants.

Take your stand with God's loyal community and live, or chase after phantoms of evil and die.

[ The Believers Form a Community ] All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper ), and to prayer.

They took the road south …to Thessalonica, where there was a community of Jews. Paul went to their meeting place, as he usually did when he came to a town, and for three Sabbaths running he preached to them from the Scriptures. He opened up the texts so they understood what they'd been reading all their lives:

They sent them to Berea, where they again met with the Jewish community. They were treated a lot better there than in Thessalonica. The Jews received Paul's message with enthusiasm and met with him daily, examining the Scriptures to see if they supported what he said. A lot of them became believers, including many Greeks who were prominent in the community, women and men of influence.

I'll tell you what I would do… Assemble the community—I'll be present in spirit with you and our Master Jesus will be present in power.

Genesis 48:4 Genesis 35:11 Proverbs 11:19 Acts 2:42 Acts 17:1 Acts 17:10 1 Corinthians 5:3

The Bible’s treasures are found by those who dig for them.

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Anyone

From heaven the LORD looks down to see if anyone is wise enough to search for him.

A person’s steps are directed by the LORD. How then can anyone understand their own way?

Is there anyone around to save Israel? Yes. God is around; God turns life around.

Anyone too lazy to cook will starve, but a hard worker is a valuable treasure.

Observe people who are good at their work— skilled workers are always in demand and admired; they don't take a backseat to anyone.

You love justice and hate evil. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you, pouring out the oil of joy on you more than on anyone else.

Psalm 14:2 Proverbs 20:24 Psalm 14:7 Proverbs 12:27 Proverbs 22:29 Psalm 45:7

There is no reward from God to those who seek it from men. –Spurgeon

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Joyful

Suddenly, God's angel stood among them and God's glory blazed around them. They were terrified. The angel said, "Don't be afraid. I'm here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David's town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master.

For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.”

Though the cherry trees don't blossom and the strawberries don't ripen, Though the apples are worm-eaten and the wheat fields stunted, Though the sheep pens are sheepless and the cattle barns empty, I'm singing joyful praise to God. I'm turning cartwheels of joy to my Savior God. Counting on God's Rule to prevail, I take heart and gain strength. I run like a deer. I feel like I'm king of the mountain!

The joyful voices of bridegrooms and brides will be heard again, along with the joyous songs of people bringing thanksgiving offerings to the Lord. They will sing, ‘Give thanks to the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, for the Lord is good. His faithful love endures forever!’For I will restore the prosperity of this land to what it was in the past, says the Lord.

Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you.

Luke 2:8 Zephaniah 3:17 Habakkuk 3:17 Jeremiah 33:11 2 Corinthians 13:11

Only Christ the living bread can satisfy the world’s spiritual hunger.

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Fear

I will always look to you, as you stand beside me and protect me from fear.

The LORD is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?

Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident.

But the Lord watches over those who fear him, those who rely on his unfailing love.

I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears.

Psalm 16:8 Psalm 27:1 Psalm 23:4 Psalm 27:3 Psalm 33:18 Psalm 34:4

Because God is with us, and in us, we need not fear what lies ahead.

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