Years ago I memorized 2 Corinthians 9:8. Then made it my verse for the year. I quoted it often. Note that all is used three times. It says, “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.”

God is able, but we have to remember how grace comes. James 4:6 says, “But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” Verse 10 says, “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.”

Grace is a gift. The path of obedience is strewn with His grace. Humility describes a person who is devoid of all arrogance and self-exultation. A humble person willingly submits to the Lord. 

1 Peter 5:5 says to be clothed with humility. Ephesians 5:17 says, “Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” Verse 21 gives us that wisdom. It says, “Submitting to one another in the fear of God.”

Romans 5:1-2 says, “…through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” Paul was given the ministry of grace..

Ephesians 3:8 says, “…this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.” In Romans 11:33 he wrote, “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!…”

Paul declared to his readers that the grace we were saved by, is the same grace that we are to live by. The writer of the book Hebrews said that we can approach the throne of grace with boldness. Hebrews 4:16 says, “…that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

That was not the case with the kings in the Old Testament. We get a great picture of this with Esther when Mordecai told her to go to the king. Her reply was that unless the king held out his scepter, there was one law—death. Esther 4:11.

David’s example for us: He and his men had been walking for three days. I imagine that they were very weary. Their high expectations of getting home and being with their family, helped them to plod along step by step.

As they arrived at Ziklag, they discovered that it had been burned and their wives and children were gone. 1 Samuel 30:4 says, “Then David and the people who were with him lifted up their voices and wept, until they had no more power to weep.”

Verse 6 says, “Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him…But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.” After that he asked the Lord what to do.

Are you weary? Let Jesus’ words beckon you to still your heart and sit in His Presence. Matthew 11:28 says, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.”

Releasing

Everything

Simply

Trusting

God’s template: Hebrews 4:10 says, “For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.”

Galatians 6:9 says, “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” Paul understood weariness. 2 Corinthians 11:23-33 was a recap of his ministry. Verse 27 says, “In weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often…”

In Philippians 4:11 he said, “…I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content.” Paul did not burn out because he knew how to spiritually recharge. Dialoguing with discontent can take us into a cascade of negative spiraling down into despair.

Elijah was running from the threatening words of Jezebel to take his life. After running for a day he sat down. 1 Kings 19:4 says that he asked the Lord to take his life. Though Scripture does not record a dialogue, verse 10 says, “…I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.”

Read verses 11-12. It was not in God’s display of power, but in His still small voice that gained entrance to Elijah’s troubled heart. So it is with us. We must sit still with an inclined ear.

As I continued to meditate on Romans 5:1 the word ‘therefore’ took me back in my mind to Romans 4 and the account of Abraham. Verse 5 says, “But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness.”

Abraham believed in hope contrary to the impossibility he faced. Here is a key. He did not consider, or ponder, or think about what was impossible. He believed what God had said. Verse 20 says, “He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God.”

When doubts assail your mind, remember that God is true. Titus 1:2 expresses His character we can stand in. It says, “In hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began.”

We wage war against the suggestions of the enemy by standing in His promises. He cannot fail. 2 Timothy 2:13 says that He cannot deny Himself. Ephesians 6:10 says, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.”

Romans 5:1 says, “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” As I was meditating on this verse, I focused on the words ‘having been’ which is past tense.

This takes us to how God’s word is profitable for doctrine. Justification took place once at salvation. It is not a repeated event. Romans 8:29 says that He uses all things in our lives to conform us to His image.

Verse 30 says, “Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these he also glorified.” 

Verse 33 says, ‘Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.” We see from these verses that the work is all done at salvation by God. It has nothing to do with us. The Greek word for justified means to acquit or declare righteous. 

Justification is a foundation doctrine that we stand in. Romans 3:24 says, “Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” Justified freely at salvation!

God’s inspired word is profitable for instruction in righteousness. Note the last seven words in Hebrews 12:11, “…to those who have been trained by it.” We can fight our trials through negative dialogue. We can complain to others. We can deaden our emotional or physical pain through worldly substitutes.

Until we allow His designed trial to work His conformity in us, we miss the training. James 1:4 says, “But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”

The fear of the Lord comes into play here. Proverbs 9:10 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” James 1:5 says that at any time we lack wisdom we can ask Him.

I think we will all agree that we always need His wisdom to navigate our trials. Every trial has His special provision. Leaning on our own understanding is futile. The truth is found in 2 Peter 1:3. It says, “His divine power has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness…”

How does God’s word instruct us in righteousness? We have to remember what we have been saved from. Isaiah 64:6 says, “But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; we all fade as a leaf.” Speaking of leaves. I just pulled off dead brown leaves from my geraniums.

Isaiah 54:17 says, “…and their righteousness is from Me, says the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 5:21 says, “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” 

Isaiah 32:17 clearly states what it looks like when we are walking in His gift of righteousness. It says, “The work of righteousness will be peace, and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever.”

Our trials are divinely orchestrated as tools to mold and shape us in conformity to His image. Romans 8:29. Hebrews 12:11 says, “Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”

The Greek word for worry means to divide into parts. Worry is a distraction, a preoccupation with things causing anxiety, stress, and pressure. Remember Martha? In Luke 10:42 Jesus said, “…Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things.”

Then He brought course correction. Verse 42 says, “But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” Verse 39 says that Mary, “…sat at Jesus feet and heard His word.”

Our very first thought of worry is a signal that we were just hit with a fiery dart. Our next thought needs to be one of praise or gratitude that will immediately take our focus to the Lord. 

All fiery darts are lies. Ephesians 6:16 helps us understand that they are an attack against our faith. They can only penetrate when we accept them as our own and dialogue with them. Remember Isaiah 54:17.

I personalize this, wielding it as a strategic weapon to extinguish the dart. “No weapon formed against me will prosper! I will refute every tongue spoken against me.”

How is God’s inspired word profitable for us for correction? Let me give you an example. Say that you have been reading through the book of Matthew. You come to chapter six in the evening. 

Throughout that day you were worrying about something that you had no control over. Your mind was totally occupied. You kept dialoguing with it. Your inner conversation was like a loop of stress. You settled down to pick up His word. You came to verse 26. It says, “Therefore I say to you, do not worry…” Busted!

Why does Jesus say to not worry? Verses 26-30 remind us that He takes care of the birds, He clothes the lilies and the grass of the field. Verse 32 says that He knows what we need. Then He brings course correction to our thought processes. It starts with the transitional word of but.

Verse 33 says, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” His course correction helps us understand what to prioritize in our lives. Worry blocks trust, but trust destroys worry.