Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him (Hebrews 11:6)
The life of Wilma Rudolph, the great Olympic sprinter, is a remarkable story of faith. Wilma was born with health problems that left her crippled. "Will I ever be able to run and play like the other children?" Wilma asked her parents.
No one tears a piece from a new garment and puts it on an old garment; otherwise he will both tear the new, and the piece from the new will not match the old. Luke 5:36
For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7
Do not put out the Spirit's fire; do not treat prophecies with contempt. Test everything. Hold on to the good. 1 Thessalonians 5:19,21
Alvin was discouraged and defeated. For several years he believed he had a special gift of prophecy from God. But over a period of months his personal life began to fall apart. By the time he came to see me he had been unemployed for two years, he was being cared for by his father, and he was a slave to prescription drugs.
Surely You desire truth in the inner parts; You teach me wisdom in the inmost place. Psalm 51:6
I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. Philippians 4:11
Some of us tend to assume that it is God's will if the circumstances are favorable and it isn't God's will if the circumstances are unfavorable. Next to the Bible, I would guess that more Christians are "guided" by this means than any other. Yet of all the possible means of guidance, this is the least authoritative and trustworthy.
But resist [the devil], firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world (1 Pet 5:9)
I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice. Romans 12:1
An African pastor was overwhelmed by rebels who demanded that he renounce his faith. He refused. The night before they took his life, he wrote the following lines on a scrap of paper:
You shall keep the commandments of the LORD your God, to walk in His ways and to fear Him. Deuteronomy 8:6
He who gives an answer before he hears, it is folly and shame to him. Proverbs 18:13
"I can't get a handle on my problems, Neil," Ruth complained. "I know my children are struggling at school, but they won't share it with me. Why won't they talk to me?"
"Do you really want to know, Ruth?"
"Of course!"
"They probably don't feel they can trust you," I responded.
"What do you mean they can't trust me? I'm their mother!"