Who am I in Christ

Genesis 3:8 (‘In the cool of the evening, the man and his wife heard the LORD God walking around in the garden. …..’) This shows how much God wanted to walk along with human. This intimacy or love God shared with human should have made Satan jealous so that he cleverly tackled the free will of human to select the ‘Fruit’ of sin and lost Eden as per God’s protocol.

But He still wanted eagerly to maintain the relation with human that He did not spare His Son for us. (Romans 8:32 – “God didn’t spare his own Son but handed him over [to death] for all of us. So he will also give us everything along with him.”). God always work for our good that He confirmed the image of His Son in us that The Son being our elder brother and we the sons and daughters of God. (Romans 8:30 – “… and had already appointed them to have the same form as the image of his Son. Therefore, his Son is the firstborn among many children.”) What a relation! Which is much higher than the relation with Adam. The first ‘Sin’ happened when the first human tried to be like God, now God is confirming to us that we are already in His image. As the strength of relation is higher so is the jealous of Satan. Satan didn’t work that hard to deceive the first human when compared to his present struggle. Before only the free will of ‘choice’ was tackled, but now it is anger, jealous, eager, desire, greed and even love. But to overcome all these struggles, God says He is for us, so that it doesn’t matter how hard the Satan’s intervention. (Romans 8:31 – “… If God is for us, who can be against us?”).

So what could we say, if God didn’t spare His Son for us, how will He not also, along with the Son, graciously give us all strength to overcome temptation, trouble, hardship, persecution, danger, famine, nakedness, danger, sword or any. Christ is always with us while being at the right hand of God justifying and interceding for us. And whatever Christ has in God is also available for us. (Romans 8:32-35 – “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all–how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died–more than that, who was raised to life–is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?”).

We are more than conquerors in all things and nothing could ever separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:37-39 – “…, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creations, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord”.) In short, no darkness can exist at the brightness of God. So we do not have to worry about Satan but believe who we are in Christ.

“Take up your cross and follow Me”

I have heard the verse (“Take up your cross and follow Me”) preached, many times in my life, and always, it was explained the same way. Which means to carry the hardship of daily life as a cross to follow Jesus. But this time when I heard the same verse preached as always, for the first time in my life, I felt it awkward. I thought, as a parent I would never expect my children to come across the hardship I faced in my life, instead I will let them be aware of it through advises or testimonies. Then I remembered how Jesus explained The Father’s love through Mathew 7:11, “If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him”.

Let me explain my point of view on this section (Mathew 16:24 – Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” (Luke 9:23; Mark 8:34)).

What I did to explain myself on this verse was, I viewed The Cross in two angles. 1. Person in the first-century. 2. Jesus purpose on Crucifixion.

1. Person in the first century – For a person in the first-century, the crucifixion meant death by the most tortured, painful and humiliating means human beings could develop. So, people who still live in this century, understand this verse as ‘burden of their daily life’.

This is a traditional culture of teaching. The first teacher who might have gone through tribulations could have taught his students that these tribulations are part of the cross that people should carry to follow Jesus, and this teaching was exchanged to the next generation and so on. The students never tried to think beyond their teacher’s imagination. God gave human the ability to think and I believe the most important purpose of this is to find God. Nowadays churches argue each other on senseless and small issues creating enmity against each other. They have diminished into themselves as small assemblies or communities without knowing that the Savior is the same for all.

2. Jesus purpose on Crucifixion – It was a sacrifice decided by God himself to rescue human race from the bondage of Satan or sin for the resurrection of all human race who believe in His Son, Christ Jesus. (Colossians 3:4 – “⁴When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.”). Through this sacrifice God gave us the forgiveness of sin through His Son Jesus Christ by his love, grace and submission to The Father’s will.

On this 21^st century what I like to believe from Mathew 16:24 is to deny ourselves from our ego, pride, selfishness, greed etc, and to see each other through the eyes of Jesus. This is the cross that we are to carry to follow Jesus. This is not an easy task. To love someone as we love ourselves is not at all easy, unless Christ in us is fully revealed.

I do not think that Jesus want us to suffer our earthly burdens like poverty, pain, sickness, etc. Jesus always comforted the poor, sick, sinners and the evil spirit possessed, but hated the unbelievers. Jesus said, through him we can overcome the tribulation of the world and have peace. (John 16:33 – “³³I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”). “But take heart; I have overcome the world.” Which means, Jesus have overcome all the tribulations a human could come across in his life. So, through him, we too can overcome.

Let Jesus Handle

Colossians 1:13, 14 – ¹³ …. He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves, ¹⁴ in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

It doesn’t say that the Lord ‘will rescue us’ or ‘He is rescuing us’, but He has already ‘rescued us’ from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the son where we have redemption and forgiveness while we are still on earth. Where is the kingdom of Christ? It is at the right hand of GOD Himself (Colossians 3:1 – “……. Christ is seated at the right hand of God”. So, we are rescued and brought into his kingdom on resurrection as we died along with Him on the cross.

In this case, why worry about the sins and addictions? It is because we are taught to worry about it. We keep worrying and forget to look up to Christ and who we are in Him. In many traditional church preaching, sins and addictions are emphasized and taught so hardly that many are not able to receive Christ (as they have to get rid of sins first). What happens to such teaching is that, people who want to receive or believe in Christ, steps back, because they cannot resist their addictions or sinful habits with available knowledge or will power. I have tried many times to get rid of my addictions and it lasted for a year or half. Now I understand that I was looking in to my disability of being accepted by Christ.

Colossians 2:8 – “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.” The teachers who teach us to be perfect accept that no one is perfect other than Jesus. So what kind of perfectness do they expect us to attain. Such teachers consider their ‘weaknesses or sins’ as ‘alright as human being’.

Verbal and written commands were there since Eden. Now, there are no commands, only love & belief. Christ completed everything in its fullness including the ‘WAR’ at the Calvary, taking all of us with him during the resurrection to His kingdom, hidden with Him in God. Colossians 2:20 – “…. you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belong to it, do you submit to its rule”. The ‘basic principles of the world’ is described on the next verses (Colossians 2:21) as “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!” These are usually taught to babies. While we were young we were taught by our parents or guardians not to do many things like ‘do not touch, do not handle, do not eat (something unhygienic)’ and so on. We don’t need this teaching anymore as we are grown up and we know what to be touched, handled, eaten etc.

Since we are dead with Christ and risen with Him to His kingdom and are hidden with Christ in God this kind of basic principles are not necessary (Colossians 3:3 – “³ For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.”), we now need to believe that Jesus is in us with all His knowledge and gifts. So, Colossians 2:2-4 “² …. They (We) may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they (We) may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they (We) may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, ³ in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. ⁴ …. so that no one may deceive you (us) by fine-sounding arguments.” As Christ in us is full (which we need to believe), no darkness can persist at the brightness of the light of Christ. So we no longer have to worry about any curses, black magic or spells that once we thought (before the belief) were the cause of our failures.

Colossians 3: 2 – “² Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things”. So, let no one worry about anything earthly, other than the relation with God. But, understand it is not our strength or glory that relates us to God but the Christ in us, who is ‘in full’, long before we were born. As we believe this, we will appear along with him when he appears (Colossians 3:4 – “⁴ When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.”)

Colossians 1:6 – “⁶  …..  All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God’s grace in all its truth”.

Colossians 3:15-17 – “¹⁵ Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. ¹⁶ Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. ¹⁷ And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 “¹⁶ Be joyful always; ¹⁷ pray continually; ¹⁸ give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus”.

MUSTARD SEED OF LOVE

When we look at 1Corinthians chapter 12 to 14 we see that chapter 12 contains the list of the 9 spiritual gifts and chapter 14 explains the application of the spiritual gifts in the church. But in between, that is chapter 13, is the love chapter. This itself shows the importance of LOVE in spiritual gifts.

Chapter 13 starts with saying (Verses 1 & 2) “If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.”

Galatians 5:22&23 says “But the fruit of the spirit is love…..” if noticed we can see that the fruit of spirit (which is 9 in characters in this verses) is mentioned as singular, it is not the fruit(s) of spirit. Love is the one fruit of the spirit. The 8 characters that come after “….joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” are merely further descriptions of the fruit of the spirit. In other word Love is full of joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness and so on.

Many have a weak concept of love as simply a feeling. But the following 3 verses make it clear that love is a decision:

1Thessalonians 5:8: “But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, ……”

1Timothy6:11: “But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.”

2Timothy2:22: “Flee from evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”

Love is not only a choice that is made once, but it is a choice that is made daily. Love is a filter that all our words, attitudes and actions have to go through before we speak or act. 2John 1:6: “…, his command is that you walk in love.” Ephesians5:2 “….. live a life of love, …..” Jude 1:21: ”Keep yourself in God’s love ….. “ 1Corinthians 16:14: ”Do everything in love.”

Love also has a unique quality about it, it can cover sin: 1Peter 4:8: “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” Love literally gives us back the eyes to see each other without the sin.

We are called to love each other deeply, and many have been hindered from doing that because sin has been left exposed. Sin needs to be repented of, forgiven and the record destroyed. Without love, we will still see each other through the lens of that past violation. Love literally gives us back the eyes to see each other without the sin.

Colossians 3:12, 14: “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”

Love is as powerful as two evil forces in the world, fear and death. Songs 8:6 says that love is as strong as death, and 1John says that there is no fear in love: “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” Love is literally a force in the spirit realm. But even faith does not function correctly without love. Galatians 5:6: “….. faith expressing itself through love.”

Speaking of faith, Jesus said (Mathew 17:20) “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

Faith has power or force great enough to move a mountain; now consider the following truth: (1Corinthians 13:13) “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” This is an amazing statement: Love is a greater force than hope or even faith, but the ‘even greater power of love’ has not received much focus. If a mustard seed of faith can move a mountain or uproot and cast a tree in to the sea, then what kind of magnificent power dwells in love? What if we lived our life with even a mustard seed of love? It would be way beyond moving mountains. This is the realm that I believe God is calling us worldwide to step into.

Ephesians 3:17-19: “… And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”

Let us see the world through the eyes of JESUS.

IF YOU LOVE ME………..

Deuteronomy 11:13-14 : “So if you faithfully obey the commands I am giving you today – to love the LORD your GOD and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul – then I will send rain on your land in its season, both autumn and spring rains, so that you may gather in your grains, new wine and olive oil.”

God’s desire for us is that we would love Him with all our heart and all our soul.  Jesus reiterated this same verse in the New Testament in Matthew 22:36-38 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the law?” Jesus replied, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment.”

God is after relationship with us. He is not after our good works, our self-effort or our good intentions. All these are humanity for which we are created as human. He is after our love. If we fulfill His dream for us by loving Him back with the love that He first gave to us (1 John 4:19 “We love because He first loved us”.), then we will not have to worry about things like food, clothing, shelter or any other.

In Matthew 6:28-34 (“But seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be to you as well.”), Jesus encourages us to seek our Father’s kingdom first and everything that we need will be added unto us. It is that simple. If we love God with all our heart and keep our eyes on Him, He will look after the rest of the details in our life. Let each one of us ask and have a deeper revelation of God’s amazing love and simply respond by loving Him back!

Love that is Complete

1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear has punishment. He who fears is not made perfect in love.

Imagine a love that is complete in every way. The love of a father, the love of a mother, the love of a friend, the love of a brother, the love of a spouse, etc. Whatever love we need, the true source is found in the completeness of God’s love.

In this passage, the word for love used here is the Greek word ‘agape’, which often describes the love that comes from God. In 1 John 4:16 (God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them), God Himself is described as the complete expression of love and then two verses later the Apostle John says that God’s perfect love will violently throw out all fear from our hearts.

The root of worry is fear. The root of insecurity is fear. Fear of man, fear of the future, fear of the present, fear of lack, etc.  There are many things in this world that cause us to be afraid but God continually is telling His kids “Do not fear!”

Fear cannot co-habit with love. When love comes, fear is banished forever! God is love.  Whoever lives in love, lives in God! (1 John 4:16). So let us allow the perfect, complete love that flows from the heart of Almighty God to fill your heart to overflowing and fear will have no option but to flee in response.

Testimony

Something great happened today.

Here at Basra the climate is very hard. It goes from 45 to 55 deg. Cen. It is like you are near a furnace. I had worked in such environment before, but now I guess I am becoming old. Two days before I was about to faint but luckily I managed to reach back to the car and traveled back to the office.

Today morning I had to go to site to check some areas for designing purpose. I was planning to visit 23 locations in an area. So I planned to go early morning. As some of my colleagues are staying outside I can move only after they reach the office. Today when they were almost near the office, one found out that he has forgotten his ID so he traveled back to collect the ID and when he reached back it was 9 am. By the time the sun was at its pride and it was around 40C. I was confused whether to go to site or not. But if I don’t go today I had to go tomorrow. So I decided to go to site.

The car can go only up to the gate of the plant. From the gate to the control room it is almost a kilometer. While I was walking to the control room I felt I will not be able to do the checking, because it was very hot and the hot wind was too hard. Tears were dropping from my eyes due to the hot wind. Then I thought I will pray and do whatever I can. So on my way to the control room I prayed to the lord to guard me from the heat and to give me strength to do my job.

After visiting the control room I started my job. I took measurements from one location which took around 15 minutes and walked to the next location, there when I leaned to a nearby vessel to take some notes I felt the heat from the steel. It was very hot. Then I realized that I was not feeling the atmospheric temperature. Believe me; a cool wind was whirling around me. I did not felt any heat nor did I sweat. Normally people do not stay under the sun for more than 45 min. it is the company policy too. You need to take a break every half hour and drink too much water. But I stayed for 2 and a half hour and did my job in good comfort. At around 12 noon I walked back to the car which was again a kilometer far. As I reached the car I decided to stay outside for some more time just to enjoy that coolness. But the cool wind was gone and I started to feel the hot sun. So I rushed in to the car and traveled back to the office.

I believe, it is God’s unfailing love that covered me like a garment. ‘When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned, and flame will not scorch you’. (Isaiah 43:2). I literally experienced it and I praise GOD for being with me all the time of my hardship. Thank you Lord.

Ask.God

I have two children, son (17) and daughter (14). Kids enjoy shopping with me when my wallet is tight, but sometimes when I am broke and need to do some necessary shopping I tell my kids the condition of my wallet and my son understands it well. But my daughter, she still asks. Though I get upset with her, at the end I buy her what she asked for. This makes me feel good, and I enjoy seeing her happy. ‘If I, then, though I am evil, know how to give good gifts to my daughter, how much more will The Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him!’ (Mathew 7:11).

Bible says, “You do not have, because you do not ask God” (James 4:2). If so, how do we ask? “If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer” (Mathew 21:22). But sometimes we do not receive, that is “Because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.” (James 4:3) or otherwise it may not be what God wants for you, “I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out – plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for” (Jeremiah 29:11). Now again, how do we know what to ask for? Jesus said, “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you”. So “this is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us” (1 John 5:14).

Personally, I have good experience in asking God and I have received everything that I have ever asked for. When I have to find a new job after each contract, I ask God for two things – Designation and salary. Believe me, He provides exactly what I ask. Sometimes I had to wait for more than a year struggling, but at the end He provides me what I asked. Even my near once used to tell me to accept whatever offer that comes first. But I was adamant to take it from him, I always knew my Lord will provide.

There is a technique in asking. “Whatever you ask for in prayer, beleive that you received it, and it will be yours” (Mark 11:24). Whenever I ask, I ask for things more than my eligibility, so that the whole credit goes to Him without doubt. I ask not to test Him, but I ask so that I know deep in my heart how much I need it and so I beleive I will receive it (no matter how long it takes). This time I asked for a position as Design Engineer, and I’ll be joining Wood Group as ‘Senior Design Engineer’ with zero experience in designing. You might be thinking how I could perform the job. “What, then, shall ‘I’ say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31). And salary, He has provided me $100 more than what I asked for.

My request to all who read this is to “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you”. And when you ask, don’t be stingy.

Fighting the Giants.

We all face giants at one time or another in our lives. By giants, I am speaking of what seem to be insurmountable problems and issues. We try to overcome these giants, but often they seem to grow stronger with the passing of time.

It could be a giant of addiction or it might be fear, something that has a grip on your life. Then again, it could be a giant of threat; a lawsuit has been filed against you. Maybe there is even a threat against your very life.

Or it might be a different kind of giant altogether, like an unbelieving spouse or a reckless child. You have prayed for them. You have asked the Lord to reach them, yet they seem to become more hardened as the years pass by.

How do we deal with the giants in our life? The answer is in the Old Testament – David and Goliath. Most of us are familiar with the story.

David boldly defeated the giant Goliath, armed only with a slingshot and five smooth stones which were locally and easily available. The will of the Philistines was broken. The Israelites were reinvigorated. And it was all because a little shepherd boy answered the call of God and cut down the giant.

So what do we learn from this story about facing off with our own giants in life?

One – recognize that we all have giants. We all face severe hardships, seemingly insurmountable obstacles and temptations. We all have problems. We all have temptations.

“No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13)

While it is true we all have giants, it is also true that every giant can be defeated.

Goliath was not always a giant. He was not always 9-feet-6-inches tall. He was once a baby. And with the passing of time and the nurture of others, the baby became a child. And the child became a teenager. And the teenager became a man. And the man (when received power as a solder) turned into a giant. In time, little things become big things.

Two – realize that the battle belongs to the Lord. (This will break the Will of the Giant). David told Goliath, “All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.” (1 Samuel 17:47). Why giants defeat us again and again—because we face them in our own strength and we lose. We need to realize this is the Lord’s battle.

Three – attack your giant. Goliath had come into the actual territory of the Israelites. He had crossed their line. He was taunting them. And if you tolerate a Goliath, he will take over your territory. He will come right up on your doorstep.

That is why you don’t run from giants. You don’t negotiate with them. You attack them. The Bible tells us, “As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him.” (1 Samuel 17:48). As the enemy drew closer, David ran right at him.

Whatever your giant may be, force it into the light of day. Stop rationalizing it. Stop excusing it. Realize you can’t defeat it in your own strength. Call on God and pray for His power, and then attack it. Stay away from people or situations where you would be easily tempted. And don’t let that giant back into your life again. Finally, trust in the Lord.

Unemployment

Being unemployed is a stressful time in a person’s life, and being a Christian does not guarantee that our life will be a bed of roses. Christians go through the same life problems and life changing situations as non-Christians. How we see those problems and how we deal with them is what sets believers and non-believers apart. When you became a Christian, your well-being became God’s responsibility. He is your Father and He will provide for your every need.

The bible says that “God sends rain on the just and the unjust alike”. Matthew 5:45. Because we are in this world we are subject to the laws of this world, but thanks be to God we have someone we can call on who knows where the jobs are and how to guide His children to them.

I am unemployed since 9 months and I was unemployed for 2 years (2009 – 2011). During my time of unemployment, God provided for my needs. I won’t tell you that it was an easy, stress free ride, because it was not. I had to put God in remembrance of His word and trust Him in spite of what my situation looked like and how I felt.

What ultimately helped me was, knowing who I am in Christ, my church, friends and family members praying for me and knowing that God loves unconditionally and He is in control.

God knows how to take care and provide for His children. Trust and believe in your heart that God loves you and is arranging situations, people and job opportunities for you and keep your eyes and heart open as God in all His wisdom and power change your situation.

Be blessed and encouraged! Run to God, not away from Him.

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

The king’s (employer’s) heart is in the hand of the LORD; He directs it like a watercourse wherever He pleases. Proverbs 21:1

In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:6

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Psalm 46:1-3, 7

Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully. 1 Peter 5:7 (Amplified Bible)

The Lord is good, a Strength and Stronghold in the day of trouble; He knows (recognizes, has knowledge of, and understands) those who take refuge and trust in Him. Nahum 1:7 (Amplified Bible)

Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed. Proverbs 16:3

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. Isaiah 41:10

Is anything too hard for the Lord? Genesis 18:14

But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth. Deuteronomy 8:18

So, ‘call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me. He who sacrifices thank offerings honors me’. Psalm 50:15, 23.