We all travel through life and from time to time encounter a road that is rough, hills that are steep, and valleys that are dark and gloomy. Under circumstances such as these, if we were to simply look at our surroundings, we might see much misery and loneliness. We might even become miserable and lonely. Our challenge is to keep our eyes on our loving, Heavenly Father from Whom we can find safety and comfort.
The people of Bible times had problems just like we do, and God had something to say about how to handle those situations. In “For My Need,” we look at how God explains we can live our lives as “more than conquerors.” We will do this by simply reading His Word.
Two sections are offered:
Part 1 – Some of what God says if we face: – Discouragement
– Loneliness – Anxiousness – Depression
– Dissatisfaction
– Confusion
– Condemnation
and Part 2 – Some of what God says about: – My responsibilities as a Christian
– Christian Fellowship
– Forgiving Others
– Finding His Will
– Help for the Unsaved
– Regarding Family Some of what God says if we face:
Discouragement – Have you ever been discouraged? How does God say we should handle this? In this segment, we will read some Scriptures that help us know what to do when we feel discouraged. Just sit back and enjoy God’s Word.
Philippians 4:6-8; Psalm 138:7; Philippians 1:6; Psalm 31:4; Psalm 27:1-14; Isaiah 51:11
Loneliness – Being alone and experiencing loneliness are not the same things. God understands our needs and our anxieties. He does not wish that we be lonely and He offers many Scriptures to help us quell loneliness.
Deuteronomy 4:31, 31:6, 33:27; 1 Samuel 12:22; Isaiah 41:10; Psalm 27:10; 46:1147:3; Romans 8:35-39; Hebrews 13:5-6.
Anxiousness – There may be times in life when we experience concern or worry – times when we are anxious about something. Some people call it fretting or troubling oneself. Others call it sweating about something, stewing over it, or just plain agonizing. The problem here is that should we experience anxiousness, it can be mentally overwhelming. It can cause us to focus on the concern, rather than the solution from our Heavenly Father. God’s Word is very clear. We need to rely on Him in all things.
Isaiah 26:3; Psalm 4:8, 91:1-2; Proverbs 3:24; Matthew 6:25-34; John 14:1, 27; Philippians 4:6-7, 19; Colossians 3:15; 1 Peter 5:7
Depression – Depression is something frequently associated with feelings of sadness, loss, or anger that may interfere with a person’s everyday activities. God understands our needs and wants us to be blessed. Let’s consider some verses from His Word to help us deal with depressing thoughts.
Nehemiah 8:10; Psalm 30:5, 34:17, 147:3; Isaiah 40:31, 41:10, 43:2, 51:11; Luke 18:1; Romans 8:38-39; 2 Corinthians 1:3-4; Philippians 4:8; 1 Peter 4:12-13, 5:6-7.
Dissatisfaction – Many times, when we experience a lack of satisfaction, we are frustrated, disillusioned because our expectations are not met. This brings in a state of unhappiness and discontent. Let’s consider some verses from God’s Word that can help is thwart such disappointments.
Psalm 34:10, 63:1-5, 103:1-5, 107:9; Isaiah 12:1-2; Matthew 5:2-12; 2 Corinthians 9:8; Philippians 4:12-13.
Confusion – We’ve all experienced confusion at one time or another. It usually happens when we have conflicting thoughts and sometimes have difficulty in determining what is right. Some people call it instability or being unsettled, or in a state of disorder. However, it’s most important that we do not have confusing thoughts when it comes to spiritual matters and things concerning our Heavenly Father, our Lord, and who we are in Christ Jesus.
Let’s take a look at some verses that deal with the subject of confusion.
1 Corinthians 14:33; Psalm 32:8, 55:22; Proverbs 3:5-6; Isaiah 30:21, 40:28-31, 43:2, 50:7; Philippians 4:6-7; 2 Timothy 1:7; James 1:5, 3:16-18
Condemnation – In the context of For Our Need, should we condemn ourselves, we are punishing or passing judgment on ourselves concerning some matter. Many times, condemnation can lead to cruel thoughts about oneself, thoughts that are formed from accusations either from within or from the root cause – our Adversary who is THE accuser. As we are seeing in this series, our responsibility is to focus our attention on our wonderful Heavenly Father and His Son who love us and have prepared for us, not condemnation but to use a play on words – commendation.
Let’s consider some verses from God’s Word that help us deal with feelings of condemnation.
Romans 8:1; Psalm 103:10-12; Isaiah 55:7; John 3:16-18, 5:24; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Hebrews 8:12, 10:22; 1 John 1:9
Some of what God says about:
My responsibilities as a Christian – When compared to what we see in the world, the Christian life is different and is to be a reflection of the life exhibited by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Just what are some of my responsibilities (privileges) as a Christian?
Matthew 5:13-16; Mark 16:15; Matthew 25:35-40; Luke 3:10-11; Galatians 6:1-6; 1 Timothy 5:8; Proverbs 22:6; James 1:27, 2:15-17; 1 John 3:16-18; Hebrews 6:10.
Christian Fellowship – The word fellowship in the Greek is koinōnia and its meaning involves association, participation, sharing, the developing of a close relationship. Let’s look and see what some of God’s Word has to say about Christian fellowship.
1 John 1:3,7: Colossians 2:2, 3:16; Ephesians 5:2; Acts 2:42-47; Romans 15:5-7; 1 Corinthians 1:10; Galatians 6:10; Ephesians 2:19-22; Philippians 2:3; Hebrews 10:24-25.
Forgiving Others – In many instances, something that is missing in our culture today is forgiveness. Sometimes we are deeply hurt by others. Sometimes we cause hurt. God’s Word urges us to practice forgiveness in all situations. Let’s consider some Scriptures that address forgiving others.
Matthew 5:44, 6:14-15, 18:20-21; Romans 12:21; Colossians 3:13; Ephesians 4:31-32; Hebrews 10:30; 1 John 3:11, 4:7,11.
Finding His Will – Many a person has struggled to know God’s will for them and they frequently ask, “How can I know His will?” The answer is surprisingly simple: He will reveal Himself to you – through His written Word and through the gift of the holy spirit within every believer. Here are some Scriptures to help along these lines.
James 1:5; Psalm 31:3, 32:8, 37:23, 48:14, 119:105; Proverbs 3:5-6, 6:22-23, 16:3; Isaiah 30:21, 48:17, 58:11; John 16:13-14.
To Help the Unsaved – God wishes that everyone come unto Him through His Son, Jesus Christ. Here are some encouraging verses to share with those who are unsaved.
Psalm 55:22, 98:2; Isaiah 50:10; Matthew 18:14; Acts 11:14, 16:31; 1 Thessalonians 5.24; 2 Peter 3:9.
Regarding Family – Whether you are a child, a parent, or a grandparent, your family is one your most precious things – for the love within the family brings comfort to your soul. God understands the value of family and offers guidance to foster and nourish a loving family. Consider these few verses regarding family.
Exodus 20:12; Joshua 24:15; Psalm 127:3-5, 128:1-4; Proverbs 17:6, 22:6, 29:17; Isaiah 54:13; Acts 16:31; Ephesians 4:31-32, 6:4.