Have a Quiet Time with God

Psalm 34 I will extol the Lord at all times his praise will always be on my lips I will glory in the Lord let The Afflicted hear and rejoice glorify the Lord with me let us exalt his name together I sought the Lord and he answered me he delivered me from all my fears those who look to him are radiant their faces are never covered with shame this poor man called and the Lord heard him he saved him out of all his troubles the angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him and he

delivers them taste and see that the Lord is good blessed is the one who takes refuge in him fear the lord you his holy people for those who fear Him lack nothing the Lions May grow weak and hungry but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing come my children listen to me I will teach you the fear of the Lord whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies turn from evil and do good seek peace and pursue it the

eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their cry but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil to blot out their name from the earth the righteous cry out and the Lord hears them he delivers them from all their troubles the Lord is close to the Brokenhearted and Save those who are crushed in spirit the righteous person may have many troubles but the Lord delivers him from the mo he protects all his bones not one of them will be broken evil will slay the Wicked the

foes of the righteous will be condemned the Lord will rescue his servants no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned Isaiah chapter 55 Come All You Who are thirsty come to the waters and you who have no money come buy and eat come buy wine and milk without money and without cost why spend money on what is not bread and your labor on what does not satisfy listen listen to me and eat what is good and you will Delight in the richest of fair give ear and come to me listen that you may

live I will make an Everlasting Covenant with you my faithful love promised to David see I have made him a witness to the peoples a ruler and commander of the peoples surely you will summon Nations you know not and Nations you do not know will come running to you because of the Lord your God the Holy One of Israel for he has endowed you with Splendor seek the Lord while he may be found call on him while he is near let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts let them turn to the

Lord and He will have mercy on them and to our God for he will freely pardon for my thoughts are not your thoughts neither are your ways my ways declares the Lord as the heavens are higher than the earth so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return to it without water ing the Earth and making it bud and flourish so that it yields seed for the sewer and bread for the eater so is my word that

goes out from my mouth it will not return to me empty but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it you will go out in joy and be led forth in peace the mountains and Hills will burst into song before you and all the trees of the field will clap their hands instead of the thorn bush will grow the Juniper and instead of Briar the Myrtle will grow this will be for the Lord's Renown for an everlasting sign that will endure forever Matthew chapter 6 be careful not to practice

your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them if you do you will have no reward from your father in Heaven so when you give to the needy do not announce it with trumpets as the Hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets to be honored by others truly I tell you they have received their reward in full but when you give to the needy do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing so that your giving may be in secret then your father who sees what is done

in secret will reward you and when you pray do not be like the Hypocrites for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others truly I tell you they have received their reward in full but when you pray go into your room close the door and pray to your father who is unseen then your father who sees what is done in secret will reward you and when you pray do not keep on babbling like pagans for they think they will be heard because of their many words

do not be like them for your father knows what you need before you ask him this then is how you should pray Our Father in heaven Hallowed Be Your Name Your Kingdom Come your will be done on Earth as it is in heaven give us today our daily bread and forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors and lead us not into temptation but Deliver Us from the evil one for if you forgive other people when they sin against you your heavenly father will also forgive you but if you do not forgive

others their sins your father will not forgive your sins when you fast do not look somber as the Hypocrites do for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting truly I tell you they have received their reward in full but when you fast put oil on your head and wash your face so that it will not be obvious to others that you're fasting but only to your father who is unseen and your father who sees what is done in secret will reward you do not store up for yourselves Treasures on Earth where moths

and Vermin destroy and where thieves break in and steal but store up for yourselves Treasures in Heaven where moths and Vermin do not destroy where thieves do not break in and steal for where your treasure is there your heart will be also the eye is the lamp of the body if your eyes are healthy your whole body will be full of light but if your eyes are unhealthy your whole body will be full of Darkness if then The Light Within You is Darkness how great is that darkness no one can serve two masters either you

will hate the one and love the other or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other you cannot serve both God and money therefore I tell you do not worry about your life what you will eat or drink or about your body what you will wear is not life more than food and the body more than clothes look at the birds of the air they do not sew or reap or store away in bars and yet your heavenly father feeds them are you not much more valuable than they can any one of

you by worrying add a single hour to your life and why do you worry about clothes see how the flowers of the field grow they do not labor or spin yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his Splendor was dressed like one of these and if that is how God clothes the grass of the field which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire will he not much more clothe you you of little faith so do not worry saying what shall we eat or what shall we drink or what shall

we wear for the pagans run after all these things and your heavenly father knows that you need them but seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well therefore for do not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will worry about itself each day has enough trouble of its own Psalm 46 God is our refuge and strength an everpresent help in trouble therefore we will not fear though the Earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea though its Waters Roar and foam and the

mountain Quake with their surging there is a river whose streams make glad the city of God the holy place where the most high dwells God is within her she will not fall God will help her at break of day nations are in uproar kingdoms fall he lifts his voice the Earth melts the Lord Almighty is with us the god of Jacob is our Fortress come and see what the Lord has done the desolations he has brought on the earth he makes Wars cease to the ends of the Earth he breaks the bow and shatters the

spear he burns the shields with fire he says be still and know that I am God I will be exalted among the Nations I will be exalted in the Earth the Lord Almighty is with us the god of Jacob is our Fortress John chapter 14 do not let your hearts be troubled you believe in God believe also in me my father's house has many rooms if that were not so would I have told you that I'm going there to prepare a place for you and if I go and prepare a place place for you I

will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am you know the way to the place where I'm going Thomas said to him Lord we don't know where you're going so how can we know the way Jesus answered I am the way and the truth and the life no one comes to the father except through me if you really know me you will know my father as well from now on you do know him and have seen him Philip said Lord show us the father and that will

be enough for us Jesus answered don't you know me Phillip even after I've been among you such a long time anyone who has seen me has seen the father how can you say show us the father father don't you believe that I am in the father and that the father is in me the words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority rather it is the father living in me who is doing his work believe me when I say that I am in the father and the father is in me or

at least believe on the evidence of The Works themselves very truly I tell you whoever believes in me will do the works I've been doing and they will do even greater things than these because I am going to the father and I will do whatever you ask in my name so that the father may be glorified in the son you may ask me for anything in my name and I will do it if you love me keep my commands and I will ask the father and he will give you another Advocate to help you and

be with you forever the spirit of Truth the world cannot accept him because it neither sees him nor knows him but you know him for he lives with you and will be in you I will not leave you as orphans I will come to you before long the world will not see me anymore but you will see me because I live you also will live on that day you will realize that I am in my father and you are in in me and I am in you whoever has my commands and keeps them is the

one who loves me the one who loves me Will Be Loved by my father and I too will love them and show myself to them then Judas not Judas es scariot said but Lord why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world Jesus replied anyone who loves me will obey my teaching my father will love them and we will come to them and make our home with them anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching these words you hear are not my own they belong to the father

who sent me all this I have spoken while still with you but the advocate the Holy Spirit whom the father will send in my name will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I've said to you peace I leave with you my peace I give you I do not give to you as the world gives do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid you heard me say I am going away and I'm coming back to you if you loved me you would be glad that I'm going to the

father for the father is greater than I I have told you now before it happens so that when it does happen you will believe I will not say much more to you for the prince of this world is coming he has no hold over me but he comes so that the world may learn that I love the father and do exactly what my father has commanded me come now let us leave Psalm 139 you have searched me Lord and you know me you know when I sit and when I Rise you perceive my thoughts from

afar you discern my going out and my lying down you are familiar with all my ways before a word is on my tongue you Lord know it completely you hem me in behind and before and you lay your hand upon me such knowledge is too wonderful for me too lofty for me to attain where can I go go from your spirit where can I flee from your presence if I go up to the heavens you are there if I make my bed in the depths you are there if I rise on the wings of the

Dawn if I settle on the far side of the sea even there your hand will guide me your right hand will hold me fast if I say surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me even the darkness will not be dark to you the night will shine like the day for darkness is as light to you for you created my inmost being you knit me together in my mother's womb I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made your works are wonderful I know that full well my frame was

not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place when I was woven together in the depths of the earth your eyes saw my unformed body all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be how precious to me are your thoughts God how vast is the sum of them were I to count them they would outnumber the grains of sand when I awake I am still with you if only you God would slay the wicked away from me you who are bloodthirsty they speak of

you with evil intent your adversaries misuse your name do I not hate those who hate you Lord and uphor those who are in Rebellion against you I have nothing but hatred for them I count them my enemies search me God and know my heart test me and know my anxious thoughts see if there is any offensive way in me and Lead Me in the way Everlasting James James chapter 1 James a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ to the 12 tribes scattered among the Nations greetings consider it pure joy my brothers and

sisters whenever you face Trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete not lacking anything if any of you lacks wisdom you should ask God who gives generously to all without finding fault and it will be given to you but when you ask you must believe and not doubt because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea blown and tossed by the wind that person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord such

a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do Believers in Humble circumstances ought to take pride in their High position but the rich should take pride in in their humiliation since they will pass away like a wild flower for the sun rises with scorching heat and Withers the plant its Blossom Falls and its beauty is destroyed in the same way the rich will fade away even while they go about their business blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because having stood the test that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord

has promised to those who love him when tempted no one should say God is tempting me for God cannot be tempted by evil nor does he tempt anyone but each person is tempted when they are dragged Away by their own evil desire and enticed then after desire has conceived it gives birth to sin and sin when it is full grown gives birth to death don't be deceived my dear brothers and sisters every good and perfect gift is from above coming down from the father of the Heavenly lights who does not change like shifting Shadows he

chose to give us birth through the word of truth that we might be a kind of first fruits of all he created my dear brothers and sisters take note of this everyone should be quick to listen slow to speak and slow to become angry because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires therefore get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you which can save you do not merely listen to the word and so deceive yourselves do what it says anyone who

listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and after looking at himself goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like but whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom and continues in it not forgetting what they have heard but doing it they will be blessed in what they do those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rain on their tongues deceive themselves and their religion is worthless religion that God our Father accepts as pure and

faultless is this to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world Psalm 16 keep me safe my God for in you I take refuge I say to the Lord you are my Lord apart from you I have no good thing I say of the Holy people who are in the land they are the noble ones in whom is all my delight those who run after other gods will suffer more and more I will not pour out Libations of blood to such gods or take up their

names on my lips Lord you alone are my portion and my cup you make my lot secure the boundary lines have fallen for me in Pleasant places surely I have a delightful inheritance I will praise the Lord who counsels me even at Night My Heart instructs me I keep my eyes always on the Lord with him at my right hand I will not be shaken therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices my body also will rest secure because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead nor will you let your

faithful one see Decay you make known to me the path of life you will fill me with joy in your presence with eternal Pleasures at your right hand Romans 12 therefore I urge you brothers and sisters in view of God's mercy to offer your bodies as a Living Sacrifice holy and pleasing to God this is your true and proper worship do not conform to the p pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is his good pleasing and perfect

will for by the grace given me I say to every one of you do not think of yourself more highly than you ought but rather think of yourself with sober judgment in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you for just because each of us has one body with many members and these members do not all have the same function so in Christ we though many form one body and each member belongs to all the others we have different gifts according to the grace given to each of us if your gift is

prophesying then prophesy in accordance with your faith if it is serving then serve if it is teaching then teach if it is to encourage then give encouragement if it is giving then give generously if it is to lead do it diligently if it is to show Mercy do it cheerfully love must be sincere hate what is evil cling to what is good be devoted to one another in love honor one another above yourselves never be lacking in Zeal but keep your spiritual fervor serving the lord be joyful in Hope patient in Affliction faithful in prayer

share with the Lord's people who are in need practice Hospitality bless those who persecute you bless and do not curse Rejoice with those who Rejoice mourn with those who mourn live in harmony with one another do not be proud but be willing to associate with people of low position do not be conceited do not repay anyone evil for evil be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone if it is possible as far as it depends on you live at peace with everyone do not take revenge my dear friends but leave room

for God's wroth for it is written it is mine to avenge I will repay says the Lord on the contrary if your enemy is hungry feed him if he is thirsty give him something to drink in doing this you will Heap burning coals on his head do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good Psalm 63 you God are my God earnestly I Seek You I thirst for you my whole being Longs for you in a dry and parched land where there is no water I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld

your power and your glory because your love is better than life my lips will glorify you I will praise you as long as I live and in your name I will live lift up my hands I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods with singing Lips my mouth will praise you on my bed I remember you I think of you through the watches of the night because you are my help I sing in the shadow of your wings I cling to you your right hand upholds me the those who want to kill

me will be destroyed they will go down to the depths of the earth they will be given over to the sword and become food for jackals but the king will rejoice in God all who swear by God will glory in him while the mouths of liars will be silenced 1 John 4 dear friends do not believe every Spirit but test the spirits to see whether they are from God because many false prophets have gone out into the world this is how you can recognize the spirit of God every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has

come in the flesh is from God but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God this is the spirit of the Antichrist which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world you dear children are from God and have overcome them because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world they are from the world and therefore speak from the Viewpoint of the world and the world listens to them we are from God and whoever knows God listens to us but whoever

is not from God does not listen to us this is how we recognize the spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood dear friends let us love one another for love comes from God everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God whoever does not love does not know God because God is love this is how God showed his love Among Us he sent his one and only son into the world that we might live through him this is love not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his son

as an atoning sacrifice for our sins dear friends since God so loved us we also ought to love one another no one has ever seen God but if we love one another God lives in us and his love is made complete in us this is how we know that we live in him and he in us he has given us of his spirit and we have seen and testify that the father has sent his son to be the savior of the world if anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the son of God God lives in them

and they in God and so we know and rely on the love God has for us God is love whoever lives in love lives in God and God in them this is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment in this world we are like Jesus there is no fear in love but perfect love drives out fear because fear has to do with punishment the one who fears is not made perfect in love we love because he first loved us whoever claims to love God yet

hates a brother or sister is a liar for whoever does not love their brother and sister whom they have seen cannot love God whom they have not seen and he has given us this command anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister psalm 19 the heavens declare the glory of God the skies proclaim the work of his hands day after day they pour forth speech night after night they reveal knowledge they have no speech they use no words no sound is heard from them yet their voice goes out into all the Earth

their words to the ends of the world in the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun it is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber Like A Champion rejoicing to run his course it rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other nothing is deprived of its warmth the law of the Lord is perfect refreshing the soul the statutes of the Lord are trustworthy making wise the simple the precepts of the Lord are right giving Joy to the heart the commands of the Lord are radiant giving light

to the eyes the fear of the Lord is pure enduring forever the decrees of the Lord are firm and all of them are righteous they are more precious than gold than much pure gold they are sweeter than honey than honey from the honeycomb by them your servant is warned in keeping them there is great reward but who can discern their own errors forgive my hidden faults keep your servant also from willful sins may they not rule over me then I will be blameless innocent of great transgression May these words of my mouth and this meditation

of my heart be pleasing in your sight Lord my rock and my redeemer Philippians chapter 2 therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ if any comfort from his life if any common sharing in the spirit if any tenderness and compassion then make my joy complete by being like-minded having the same love being one in spirit and of one mind do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit rather in humility value others above yourselves not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others in your

relationships with one another have the same mindset as Christ Jesus who being in very nature God did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own Advantage rather he made himself Nothing by taking the very nature of a servant being made in human likeness and being found in appearance as a man he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death even death on a cross therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow in heaven

and on Earth and under the Earth and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father therefore my dear friends as you have always obeyed not only in my presence but now much more in my absence continue you to work out your salvation with fear and trembling for it is God who works in you to Will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose do everything without grumbling or arguing so that you may become blameless and pure children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation

then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life life and then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain but even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith I am glad and rejoice with all of you so you too should be glad and rejoice with me I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon that I also may be

cheered when I receive news about you I have no one else like him who will show genuine concern for your welfare for everyone looks out for their own interests not those of Jesus Christ but you know that Timothy has proved himself because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the Gospel I hope therefore to send him as soon as I see how things go with me and I am confident in the Lord that I myself will come soon but I think it is necessary to send back to

you a aphroditus my brother coworker and fellow soldier who is also your messenger whom you sent to take care of my needs for he Longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was Ill indeed he was ill and almost died but God had mercy on him and not on him only but also on me to spare me sorrow upon sorrow therefore I am all the more eager to send him so that when you see him again again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety so then welcome him in

the Lord with great joy and honor people like him because he almost died for the work of Christ he risked his life to make up for the help you yourselves could not give me Psalm 121 I lift up my eyes to the mountains where does my help come from my help help comes from the Lord the maker of heaven and Earth he will not let your foot slip He Who Watches Over you will not Slumber indeed He Who Watches Over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep the Lord Watches Over You the Lord is your shade

at your right hand the sun will not harm you by day nor the Moon by Night the Lord will keep you from all harm he will watch over your life the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and for ever more 1 Corinthians chapter 13 if I speak in the tongues of men or of angels but do not have love I'm only a resounding gong or a clanging symbol if I have the gift of Prophecy and can fathom all Mysteries and all knowledge and if I have a faith faith that can move

mountains but do not have love I am nothing if I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast but do not have love I gain nothing love is patient love is kind it does not envy it does not boast it is not proud it does not dishonor others it is not self-seeking it is is not easily angered it keeps no record of wrongs love does not Delight in evil but rejoices with the truth it always protects always trusts always hopes Always perseveres Love Never Fails but

where there are prophecies they will cease where there are tongues they will be stilled where there is knowledge it will pass away for we know in part and we prophesy in part but when completeness comes what is in part disappears when I was a child I talked like a child I thought like a child I reasoned like a child when I became a man I put the ways of childhood behind me for now we see only a reflection as in a mirror then we shall see face to face now I know in part then I

shall know fully even as I am fully known and now these three remain faith hope and love but the greatest of these is love Psalm 25 in you Lord my God I put my trust I trust in you do not let me be put to shame nor let my enemies triumph over me no one who hopes in you will ever be put to shame but shame will come on those who are treacherous without cause show me your ways Lord teach me your paths Guide Me In Your Truth and teach me for you are God my

savior and my hope is in you all day long remember Lord your great mercy and love for they are from of all do not remember the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways according to your love remember me for you Lord are good good good and upright is the Lord therefore he instructs sinners in his ways he guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way all the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful towards those who keep the demands of his Covenant for the sake of Your Name Lord forgive

my iniquity though it is great who then are those who fear the lord he will instruct them in the ways they should choose they will spend their days in prosperity and their descendants will inherit the land the Lord confides in those who fear Him He makes his Covenant known to them my eyes are ever on the Lord for only he will release my feet From The Snare turn to me and be gracious to me for I am lonely and Afflicted relieve the Troubles of my heart and free me from my anguish look on my Affliction

and my distress and take away all my sins see how numerous are my enemies and how fiercely they hate me guard my life and rescue me do not let me be be put to shame for I take refuge in you may integrity and uprightness protect me because my hope Lord is in you deliver Israel oh God from all their troubles Psalm 32 blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven whose sins are covered blessed is the one whose sin the Lord does not count against them and whose spirit is no deceit when I kept silent

my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long for day and night your hand was heavy on me my strength was sapped as In The Heat Of Summer then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity I said I will confess my transgressions to the Lord and you forgave the guilt of my sin therefore let all the faithful pray to you while you may be found surely the rising of the mighty Waters will not reach them you are my Hiding Place you will protect me from trouble and Surround Me

with songs of Deliverance I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go I will counsel you with my loving eye on you do not be like the horse or the mule which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and Bridal or they will not come to you many are the woes of the wicked but the Lord's unfailing love surrounds the one who trusts in him rejoice in the Lord and be glad you righteous sing all you who are upright in heart book three Psalm 73 surely God is good to

Israel to those who are pure in heart but as for me my feet had almost slipped I had nearly lost my foothold for I envied The Arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked they have no struggles their bodies are healthy and strong they're free from common human burdens they're not plagued by human ills therefore pride is their necklace they clothe themselves with violence from their callous Hearts comes iniquity their evil imaginations have no limits they scoff and speak with malice with arrogance they threaten oppression their mouths lay claim to heaven and their tongues

take possession of the earth therefore their people turn to them and drink up Waters in abundance they say how would God know does the most high know anything this is what the wicked are like always free of care they go on amassing wealth surely in vain I have kept my heart pure and have washed my hands in innocence all day long I have been Afflicted and every morning brings new punishments if I had spoken out like that I would have betrayed your children when I tried to understand all this it troubled me deeply till I

entered the sanctuary of God then I understood their final Destiny surely you place them on slippery ground you cast them down to ruin how suddenly are they destroyed completely Swept Away by Terrors they are like a dream when one awakes when you arise Lord you will despise them as fantasies when my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered I was senseless and ignorant I was a brute Beast before you yet I am always with you you hold me by my right hand you guide me with your counsel and afterward you will take me into Glory

whom have I in heaven but you and Earth has nothing I desire besides you my flesh and my heart May Fail but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever those who are far from you will perish you destroy all who are unfaithful to you but as for me it is good to be near God I have made The Sovereign Lord my refuge I will tell of all your Deeds Ephesians chter 4 as a prisoner for the Lord then I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received

be completely humble and gentle be patient bearing with one another in love make every effort to keep the unity of the spirit through the bond of Peace there is one body and one Spirit just as you were called to one hope when you were called one Lord One Faith one baptism one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all but to each one of us Grace has been given as Christ proportioned it this is why it says when he ascended on high he took many captives and gave gifts

to his people what does he ascended mean except that he also descended to the lower Earthly regions he who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens in order to fill the whole universe so Christ himself gave the apostles the prophets the evangelists the pastors and teachers to equip his people for works of service so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of

Christ then we will no longer be infants tossed back and forth by the waves and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming in instead speaking the truth in love we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head that is Christ from him the whole body joined and held together by every supporting ligament grows and builds itself up in love as each part does its work so I tell you this and insist on it in

the Lord that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do in the futility of their thinking they are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts having lost all sensitivity they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity and they are full of greed that however is not the way of life you learned when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in

Jesus you were taught with regard to your former way of life to put off your old self which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires to be made new in the attitude of your minds and to put on the new self created to be like God in true righteousness and Holiness therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor for we are all members of one body in your anger do not sin do not let the sun go down while you are still angry and do not give the devil a

foothold anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer but must work doing something useful with their own hands that they may have something to share with those in need do not let any UNH wholesome talk come out of your mouths but only what is helpful for building up others according to their needs that it may benefit those who listen and do not grieve the holy spirit of God with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption get rid of all bitterness rage and anger brawling and slander along with every form of malice be

kind and compassionate to one another forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you Colossians chapter 3 since then you have been raised with Christ set your hearts on things above where Christ is seated at the right hand of God set your mind on things above not on Earthly things for you died and your life is now hidden with Christ in God when Christ who is your life appears then you also will appear with him in glory put to death therefore whatever belongs to your Earthly nature sexual immorality imp lust evil desires and greed

which is idolatry because of these the wroth of God is coming you used to walk in these ways in the life you once lived but now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these anger rage malice slander and filthy language from your lips do not lie to each other since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its creator here there is no Gentile or Jew circumcised or uncircumcised Barbarian syian slave or free but

Christ is all and is in all therefore as God's chosen people holy and dearly loved clothe yourselves with compassion kindness humility gentleness and patience bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone forgive as the Lord forgave you and over all these virtues put on love which binds them all together in perfect Unity Let the Peace of Christ rule in your hearts since as members of one body you were called to peace and be thankful let the message of Christ Christ dwell among you richly as you teach

and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms hymns and songs from the spirit singing to God with gratitude in your hearts and whatever you do whether in word or deed do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus giving thanks to God the Father through him wives submit yourselves to your husbands as is fitting in the Lord husbands love your wives and do not be harsh with them children obey your parents in everything for this pleases the Lord fathers do not embitter your children or they will become discouraged slaves obey your Earthly Masters

in everything and do it not only when their eye is on you and to Curry their favor but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord whatever you do work at it with all your heart as working for the Lord not for human Masters since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward it is the Lord Christ you are serving anyone who does wrong will be repaid for their wrongs and there is no favoritism Isaiah chapter 43 but now this is what the Lord says he who created you

Jacob he who formed you Israel do not fear for I have redeemed you I have summoned You by name you are mine when you pass through the waters I will be with you and when you pass through the rivers they will not sweep over you when you walk through the fire you will not be burned the Flames will not set you Ablaze for I am the Lord your God the Holy One of Israel your savior I give Egypt for your Ransom Kush and siba in your stead since you are precious and honored in my sight

and because I love you I will give people in exchange for you nations in exchange for your life do not be afraid for I am with you I will bring your children from the East and gather you from the West I will say to the north give them up and to the South do not hold them back bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the Earth everyone who is called by my name who I created for my glory whom I formed and made lead out those who have eyes but are

blind who have ears but are deaf all the nations gather together all the peoples assemble which of their gods foretold this and proclaimed to us the former things let them bring in their Witnesses to prove they were right so that others may hear and say it is true you are my Witnesses declares the Lord and my servant whom I have chosen so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he before me no God was formed nor will there be one after me I even I am the Lord and apart from

me there is no savior I have revealed and saved and proclaimed I and not some foreign God among you you are my Witnesses declares the Lord that I am God yes and from ancient days I am he no one can deliver out of my hand when I act who can reverse it this is what the Lord says your Redeemer the Holy One of Israel for your sake I will send to Babylon and bring down as fugitives all the Babylonians in the ships in which they took pride I am the Lord your Holy One Israel's Creator

your king this is what the Lord says he who made a way through the sea a path through the mighty Waters who drew out the chariots and horses the Army and reinforcements together and they lay there never to rise again extinguished snuffed out like a wick forget the former things do not dwell on the past see I am doing a new thing it now Springs up do you not perceive it I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the Wasteland the wild animals onor me the jackal and the owls because I provide

water in the wilderness and streams in the Wasteland to give drink to my people My Chosen the people I formed for myself that they may Proclaim my praise yet you have not called on me Jacob you have not wearied yourselves for me Israel you have not brought me sheep for burnt offerings nor honored me with your sacrifices I have not burdened you with grain offerings nor wearied you with demands for incense you have not bought any fragrant calamas for me or lavished on me the fat of your sacrifices but you have burdened me with your

sins and wearied me with your offenses I even I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake and remembers your sins no more review the past for me let us argue the matter together State the case for your innocence your first father sinned those I sent to teach you rebelled against me so I disgraced the dignitaries of your temple I consigned Jacob to destruction and Israel to scorn