Uplifting Scriptures of Promise and Cheer for 2019
The Bible is spiritual food for Christians, and many scriptures are sources of encouragement, hope, and promise. To get the cover-to-cover picture of who God is and what He’s like, it’s important to study the entire book. The Bible also contains precisely the messages that can lift us up when following Jesus seems like a lonely and thankless struggle. Psalm 37 alone is rich in encouragement for anyone who makes the things of heaven more a priority than things of the earth. Any of the scriptures below (most from the New English Translation) might provide just the uplift you need throughout the New Year.
How to Have Answered Prayers
The ways of God can be mysterious, but the Bible lays out clear, commonsense steps for enjoying our lives. In Psalm 37:3-4, we learn how to experience delight in the Lord and have answered prayers:
How to have Vindication
As Christians, we have the indwelling God and we are never alone. We can also have needed defense by the Lord himself. When we make our decisions for the future based on God’s principles and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, God promises he will defend our actions. In verses 5-6, it says:
How to be Happy and Successful
Wealth can’t buy happiness. The misery of some of the wealthiest and most famous people in history is proof enough of that. A few examples of miserable wealthy people: Howard Hughes, Marilyn Monroe, and Charles M. Schwab. God gives us a formula for happiness and prosperity in verses 22-23:
How to Inherit the Land
The way renowned preacher Charles Spurgeon described possessing or inheriting the land, as found in verse 34, is: Having all of earthly good which is really good. And, he says, “Exaltation shall be the lot of the excellent.” In the New King James Version (NKJV), Psalm 37:34 says,
How to have God’s Protection
With the world in turmoil, it’s so comforting to know that God is our protector, as long as we are followers of Jesus. In troubled times, we can count on deliverance and rescue. As it says in Psalm 37:39-40 (NET Bible):
Note: The Future isn’t Bright for Everyone
Psalm 37 is as much about the justice evildoers will receive as it is about blessings received by those who obey God, wait on God’s timing, have faith in God, and pursue God’s vision for their life instead of their own. It can be comforting to know that, though we are currently far outnumbered by people living for worldly success, God has our back.
