Daily Encouragement: Year 1, Day 87

From Handbook to Renewal

The Attributes of God 

Who has directed the Spirit of the Lord, or instructed Him as His counselor? Whom did the Lord consult to enlighten Him, and who taught Him the path of justice? Who taught Him knowledge or showed Him the way of understanding? Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket and are regarded as dust on the scales; He weighs the islands as though they were fine dust. Before Him all the nations are as nothing; they are regarded by Him as less than nothing and worthless. To whom, then, will I compare God? Or what likeness will I compare with Him? (Isaiah 40:13–15, 17–18)

You are the Lord, the God of all mankind. Nothing is too difficult for You. (Jeremiah 32:27)

The Works of God 

Through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed, that through Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which they could not be justified by the law of Moses. (Acts 13:38–39)

What the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin; He condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. (Romans 8:3–4)

My Relationship to God 

Christ must increase; I must decrease. (John 3:30)

Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains alone. But if it dies, it bears much fruit. The one who loves his life will lose it, and the one who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. (John 12:24–25)

The Character I Want to Cultivate

Should I seek great things for myself? I will seek them not. (Jeremiah 45:5)

Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. (Matthew 23:12; Luke 14:11; 18:14)

My Relationship to Others 

I will submit myself to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. (Romans 13:1–2)

I will submit myself for the Lord’s sake to every human authority, whether to a king as being supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish evildoers and to praise those who do right; for it is the will of God that by doing good I may silence the ignorance of foolish men. (1 Peter 2:13–15)