“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” Matthew 4:4
Most of us live by our own wits and bootstraps. Consciously or unconsciously we do everything in a humanistic, earthly way consequently we expect no miracles and so we get none. American’s have adopted Ben Franklin’s old adage, “God helps those who help themselves,” which is not Biblical, therefore not true. In fact, God loves to show Himself strong on behalf of those who wait on Him.
“For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him” 2 Chronicles 16:9
God’s promises to live by when confronted with discouragement:
- Proverbs 3:5, 6: Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
- Psalm 25:20: Oh, guard my soul, and deliver me! Let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you.
- Psalm 37:3: Trust in the Lord and do what is good; dwell in the land and live securely.
- Psalm 34:4: I sought the Lord, and he answered me and rescued me from all my fears.
- Psalm 37:5: Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.
- Psalm 9:10: Those who know your name trust in you because you have not abandoned those who seek you, Lord.
- Psalm 33:21: For our hearts rejoice in him because we trust in his holy name.
- Psalm 31:14: But I trust in you, Lord; I say, “You are my God.”
- Psalm 40:3-4: He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and they will trust in the Lord. 4 How happy is anyone who has put his trust in the Lord and has not turned to the proud or to those who run after lies!
- Psalm 44:6: For I do not trust in my bow, and my sword does not bring me victory.
- Psalm 20:7: Some take pride in chariots, and others in horses, but we take pride in the name of the Lord our God.
- Isaiah 31:1: Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help and who depend on horses! They trust in the abundance of chariots and in the large number of horsemen. They do not look to the Holy One of Israel, and they do not seek the Lord.
- Isaiah 26:4: Trust in the Lord forever, because in the Lord, the Lord himself, is an everlasting rock!
- Psalm 37:7, 9: Be silent before the Lord and wait expectantly for him; do not be agitated by one who prospers in his way, by the person who carries out evil plans… For evildoers will be destroyed, but those who put their hope in the Lord will inherit the land.
- Psalm 52:8: But I am like a flourishing olive tree in the house of God; I trust in God’s faithful love forever and ever.
- Psalm 56:3: When I am afraid, I will trust in you.