Anticipate

My eyes anticipate the night watches and I am awake before the cry of the watchman, that I may meditate on Your word.

"Pay close attention now: I'm creating new heavens and a new earth. All the earlier troubles, chaos, and pain are things of the past, to be forgotten. Look ahead with joy. Anticipate what I'm creating: I'll create Jerusalem as sheer joy, create my people as pure delight. I'll take joy in Jerusalem, take delight in my people: No more sounds of weeping in the city, no cries of anguish; No more babies dying in the cradle, or old people who don't enjoy a full lifetime; One-hundredth birthdays will be considered normal

You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour and a moment when you do not anticipate it

I can anticipate the response that is coming: "I know that all God's commands are spiritual, but I'm not. Isn't this also your experience?" Yes. I'm full of myself—after all, I've spent a long time in sin's prison. What I don't understand about myself is that I decide one way, but then I act another, doing things I absolutely despise. So if I can't be trusted to figure out what is best for myself and then do it, it becomes obvious that God's command is necessary.

For we, [not relying on the Law but] through the [Holy] Spirit's [help], by faith anticipate and wait for the blessing and good for which our righteousness and right standing with God [our conformity to His will in purpose, thought, and action, causes us] to hope.

Psalm 119:148 Isaiah 65:17 Luke 12:40 Romans 7:14 Galatians 5:5

We need not fear the perils around us because the eye of the Lord is always upon us.

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I See

When I see the rainbow in the clouds, I will remember the eternal covenant between God and every living creature on earth.”

The woman said to Elijah, "I see it all now—you are a holy man. When you speak, God speaks—a true word!"

"I'm a young man, and you are all old and experienced. That's why I kept quiet and held back from joining the discussion. I kept thinking, 'Experience will tell. The longer you live, the wiser you become.' But I see I was wrong—it's God's Spirit in a person, the breath of the Almighty One, that makes wise human insight possible.

What you say goes, God, and stays, as permanent as the heavens. Your truth never goes out of fashion; it's as up-to-date as the earth when the sun comes up. Your Word and truth are dependable as ever; that's what you ordered … I'm only concerned with your plans for me. I see the limits to everything human, but the horizons can't contain your commands!

King David said this about him: ‘I see that the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.

"I see everything you're doing for me. Impressive! The love and the faith, the service and persistence. Yes, very impressive! You get better at it every day.

Genesis 9:16 1 Kings 17:24 Job 32:6 Psalm 119:89 Acts 2:25 Revelation 2:19

Then Peter replied, “I see very clearly that God shows no favoritism. Acts 10:34

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Future

Then God said, "Shall I keep back from Abraham what I'm about to do? Abraham is going to become a large and strong nation; all the nations of the world are going to find themselves blessed through him. Yes, I've settled on him as the one to train his children and future family to observe God's way of life, live kindly and generously and fairly, so that God can complete in Abraham what he promised him."

“In the distant future, when you are suffering all these things, you will finally return to the Lord your God and listen to what he tells you.

King David went in, took his place before God, and prayed: "Who am I, my Master God, and what is my family, that you have brought me to this place in life? But that's nothing compared to what's coming, for you've also spoken of my family far into the future, given me a glimpse into tomorrow, my Master God! What can I possibly say in the face of all this? You know me, Master God, just as I am. You've done all this not because of who I am but because of who you are—out of your very heart!—but you've let me in on it.

"And now, in this public place, all Israel looking on and God listening in, as God's people, obey and study every last one of the commandments of your God so that you can make the most of living in this good land and pass it on intact to your children, insuring a good future.

Don't for a minute envy careless rebels; soak yourself in the Fear-of-God— That's where your future lies.

Genesis 18:17 Deuteronomy 4:30 2 Samuel 7:18 1 Chronicles 28:8 Proverbs 23:17

Your beginnings will seem humble, so prosperous will your future be. Job 8:7

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Uphold

And may these words of mine, which I have prayed before the LORD, be near to the LORD our God day and night, that he may uphold the cause of his servant and the cause of his people Israel according to each day’s need.

 Behold, as surely as God will never uphold wrongdoers, He will never cast away a blameless man.

Because of my integrity you uphold me and set me in your presence forever.

And if your [Israelite] brother has become poor and his hand wavers [from poverty, sickness, or age and he is unable to support himself], then you shall uphold (strengthen, relieve) him, [treating him with the courtesy and consideration...

Behold, God is my helper and ally; the Lord is my upholder and is with them who uphold my life.

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

1 Kings 8:59 Job 8:20 Psalm 41:12 Leviticus 25:35 Psalm 54:4 Isaiah 41:10

If you really care, you’ll want to share.

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Happen

O God! Your way is holy! No god is great like God! You're the God who makes things happen; you showed everyone what you can do— You pulled your people out of the worst kind of trouble…

The heavens announce that he'll set everything right, And everyone will see it happen—glorious!

His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen!

The LORD Almighty has sworn, “Surely, as I have planned, so it will be, and as I have purposed, so it will happen.

The smallest family will become a thousand people, and the tiniest group will become a mighty nation. At the right time, I, the Lord, will make it happen.”

Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.

Psalm 77:13 Psalm 97:6 Isaiah 9:7 Isaiah 14:24 Isaiah 60:22 Hebrews 11:1

God said it. I believe it. That settles it.

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