Daily Encouragement: Year 1, Day 70

From Handbook to Renewal

The Attributes of God 

Let me fall into the hands of the Lord, for His mercies are very great; but do not let me fall into the hands of men. (1 Chronicles 21:13)

You, Lord, are good and ready to forgive and abundant in mercy to all who call upon You. (Psalm 86:5)

The Works of God 

We should not be ignorant about those who fall asleep or grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. According to the Lord’s own word, we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. (1 Thessalonians 4:13–17)

We are looking for the blessed hope and the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all iniquity and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good works. (Titus 2:13–14)

My Relationship to God

I would have lost heart unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. I will hope in the Lord and be of good courage, and He will strengthen my heart; yes, I will hope in the Lord. (Psalm 27:13–14)

I wait for the Lord; my soul waits, and in His word I put my hope. I hope in the Lord, for with Him is unfailing love and abundant redemption. (Psalm 130:5, 7)

The Character I Want to Cultivate 

I want to be above reproach, temperate, sensible, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money, one who manages his own family well, and who keeps his children under control with proper respect. And I want a good reputation with outsiders, so that I will not fall into disgrace and the snare of the devil. (1 Timothy 3:2–4, 7)

I want to be above reproach, blameless as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not fond of dishonest gain, but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sensible, just, holy, and self-controlled. (Titus 1:6–8)

My Relationship to Others 

The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. The wife’s body does not belong to her alone, but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband’s body does not belong to him alone, but also to his wife. (1 Corinthians 7:3–4)

Each husband must love his own wife as he loves himself, and each wife must respect her husband. (Ephesians 5:33)