Andy's Inspiration Box

Philippians 3:12-16 New Living Translation (NLT) Pressing toward the Goal 12  I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. 13  No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, [ a ] but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 14  I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. 15  Let all who are spiritually mature agree on these things. If you disagree on some point, I believe God will make it plain to you. 16  But we must hold on to the progress we have already made.

Jeremiah 17:5-8 New King James Version (NKJV) 5 Thus says the Lord: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man And makes flesh his strength, Whose heart departs from the Lord. 6 For he shall be like a shrub in the desert, And shall not see when good comes, But shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, In a salt land which is not inhabited. 7 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, And whose hope is the Lord. 8 For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, Which spreads out its roots by the river, And will not fear[a] when heat comes; But its leaf will be green, And will not be anxious in the year of drought, Nor will cease from yielding fruit.

John 15:1-10 The Message (MSG) The Vine and the Branches 15  1-3  “I am the Real Vine and my Father is the Farmer. He cuts off every branch of me that doesn’t bear grapes. And every branch that is grape-bearing he prunes back so it will bear even more. You are already pruned back by the message I have spoken. 4  “Live in me. Make your home in me just as I do in you. In the same way that a branch can’t bear grapes by itself but only by being joined to the vine, you can’t bear fruit unless you are joined with me. 5-8  “I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you’re joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can’t produce a thing. Anyone who separates from me is deadwood, gathered up and thrown on the bonfire. But if you make yourselves at home with me and my words are at home in you, you can be sure that whatever you ask will be listened to and acted upon. This is how...

Only in the acknowledgement of our weakness can He use us. Only by His power can we be the people He wants us to be... 2 Corinthians 12:9 New King James Version (NKJV) And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

"The great thing to remember is that God's darknesses are not His goals . His tunnels must be traveled to get somewhere else . Therefore, be patient, my soul! The darkness is not thy bourne; the tunnel is not thy abiding home!" - Springs in the Valley (January 21)

"...God hears our requests. But His answer isn’t always what we’d like it to be. Because He knows more about life than we do? Don’t panic. Don’t bail out. Talk to your heavenly Father. He’s still in control!" - Max Lucado “Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down.” Philippians 4:6-7

2 Samuel 7:25-29 New International Version - UK (NIVUK) 25 ‘And now, Lord God, keep for ever the promise you have made concerning your servant and his house. Do as you promised, 26 so that your name will be great for ever. Then people will say, “The Lord Almighty is God over Israel!” And the house of your servant David will be established in your sight. 27 ‘Lord Almighty, God of Israel, you have revealed this to your servant, saying, “I will build a house for you.” So your servant has found courage to pray this prayer to you. 28 Sovereign Lord, you are God! Your covenant is trustworthy, and you have promised these good things to your servant. 29 Now be pleased to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue for ever in your sight; for you, Sovereign Lord, have spoken, and with your blessing the house of your servant will be blessed for ever.’

Hebrews 6:17-20 New King James Version (NKJV) 17  Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed  it  by an oath,  18  that by two immutable things, in which it  is  impossible for God to lie, we might [ a ]  have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before  us. 19  This  hope  we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the  Presence  behind the veil, 20  where the forerunner has entered for us,  even  Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

"Nothing is impossible. The word itself says: I'm possible." - Audrey Hepburn Matthew 19:26 (NIVUK) ...with God all things are possible.

"Sometimes, when all the props and crutches in your life get stripped away and you find you have only God, you discover that God is enough. Sometimes, when your worst fears of inadequacy are confirmed and you discover that you really are out of your league, you experience the liberation of realizing that it is okay to be inadequate and that God wants his power to flow through your weakness." ~ John Ortberg

Psalm 116:1-2 New International Version (NIV) Psalm 116 1  I love the  Lord ,  for he heard my voice;      he heard my cry  for mercy. 2  Because he turned his ear  to me,      I will call on him as long as I live.

Isaiah 42:16 New International Version - UK (NIVUK) I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.

"Love is enough... When there's nothing left to give The Lord, then you have to look at what you have. Your soul. Yourself. And that is the only gift He wants from His children." - Bodie Thoene

"Elijah was a man who hoped perfectly; he hoped against hope until the abundant answer came. He continued, in the very face of darkness and perplexity, to expect , because the very God of hope lived in him and expected through him. And he was not ashamed, for it came to pass the seventh time his servant said, "Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, about the size of a man's hand," and in a little while the heaven was black with clouds and there was a great rain!" - Springs in the Valley (January 24)

1 Peter 1:3-9 New King James Version (NKJV) 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, 8 whom having not seen[a] you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.

Psalm 61:1-4 New Living Translation (NLT) A psalm of David 1 O God, listen to my cry! Hear my prayer! 2 From the ends of the earth, I cry to you for help when my heart is overwhelmed. Lead me to the towering rock of safety, 3 for you are my safe refuge, a fortress where my enemies cannot reach me. 4 Let me live forever in your sanctuary, safe beneath the shelter of your wings!

Titus 2:1-10 Good News Translation (GNT) Sound Doctrine 2  But you must teach what agrees with sound doctrine. 2  Instruct the older men to be sober, sensible, and self-controlled; to be sound in their faith, love, and endurance. 3  In the same way instruct the older women to behave as women should who live a holy life. They must not be slanderers or slaves to wine. They must teach what is good, 4  in order to train the younger women to love their husbands and children, 5  to be self-controlled and pure, and to be good housewives who submit themselves to their husbands, so that no one will speak evil of the message that comes from God. 6  In the same way urge the young men to be self-controlled. 7  In all things you yourself must be an example of good behavior. Be sincere and serious in your teaching. 8  Use sound words that cannot be criticized, so that your enemies may be put to shame by not having anything bad to say...

"In the darkest of nights cling to the assurance that God loves you, that He always has advice for you, a path that you can tread and a solution to your problem - and you will experience that which you believe. God never disappoints anyone who places his trust in Him." - Basilea Schlink

"Get into the boat!" Thou didst whisper. At first how I feared to obey; I looked not at Thee, but at the storm clouds, The darkness, the waves and the spray. But then came the words, "Will you trust Him? Will you claim and receive His hand All his definite fullness of blessing? Launch out at thy Master's command?" Thou art willing, my Lord, could I doubt Thee? Hast Thou ever proved untrue? Nay! out at Thy word I have ventured, I have trusted. Thy part is to do.                                                 - Laura A. Barter-Snow

Psalm 77:11-20 Good News Translation (GNT) 11  I will remember your great deeds, Lord ;      I will recall the wonders you did in the past. 12  I will think about all that you have done;      I will meditate on all your mighty acts. 13  Everything you do, O God, is holy.      No god is as great as you. 14  You are the God who works miracles;      you showed your might among the nations. 15  By your power you saved your people,      the descendants of Jacob and of Joseph. 16  When the waters saw you, O God, they were afraid,      and the depths of the sea trembled. 17  The clouds poured down rain;      thunder crashed from the sky,      and lightning flashed in all directions. 18  The crash of your thunder rolled out,      and flashes of lightning lit up ...

"It is the habit of faith, when she is praying, to use pleas. Mere prayer sayers, who do not pray at all, forget to argue with God; but those who prevail bring forth their reasons and their strong arguments" - Charles H. Spurgeon "Effective prayer is prayer that attains what it seeks. It is prayer that moves God, effecting its end." - Charles Finney 1 Thessalonians 5:17 (KJV) Pray without ceasing.

2 Thessalonians 1:3-12 NIV We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing. Therefore, among God's churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring. All this is evidence that God's judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering. God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marve...

"May not a single moment of my life be spent outside the light, love and joy of God's presence and not a moment without the entire surrender of myself as a vessel for Him to fill full of His Spirit and His love." - Andrew Murray

Deuteronomy 4:23-24 New International Version (NIV) 23  Be careful not to forget the covenant  of the  Lord  your God that he made with you; do not make for yourselves an idol  in the form of anything the  Lord  your God has forbidden.   24  For the  Lord  your God is a consuming fire,  a jealous God.

“Humility is perfect quietness of heart. It is to expect nothing, to wonder at nothing that is done to me, to feel nothing done against me. It is to be at rest when nobody praises me, and when I am blamed or despised. It is to have a blessed home in the Lord, where I can go in and shut the door, and kneel to my Father in secret, and am at peace as in a deep sea of calmness, when all around and above is trouble.” ― Andrew Murray

"God allows us to have disappointments, frustrations or even worse because He wants us to see that our joy is not in such worldly pleasures... our joy is in the fact that we have a relationship with God" - Catherine Marshall Habakkuk 3:17-19 New King James Version (NKJV) A Hymn of Faith 17 Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there be no herd in the stalls— 18 Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. 19 The Lord God[a] is my strength; He will make my feet like deer’s feet, And He will make me walk on my high hills.

“The Simple Path, Silence is Prayer Prayer is Faith Faith is Love Love is Service The Fruit of Service is Peace” ― Mother Teresa

Psalm 4:3 New King James Version (NKJV) 3  But know that the Lord has set apart [ a ] for Himself him who is godly; The Lord will hear when I call to Him.

Psalm 141 New King James Version (NKJV) Prayer for Safekeeping from Wickedness A Psalm of David. 141 Lord, I cry out to You; Make haste to me! Give ear to my voice when I cry out to You. 2 Let my prayer be set before You as incense, The lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. 3 Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips. 4 Do not incline my heart to any evil thing, To practice wicked works With men who work iniquity; And do not let me eat of their delicacies. 5 Let the righteous strike me; It shall be a kindness. And let him rebuke me; It shall be as excellent oil; Let my head not refuse it. For still my prayer is against the deeds of the wicked. 6 Their judges are overthrown by the sides of the cliff, And they hear my words, for they are sweet. 7 Our bones are scattered at the mouth of the grave, As when one plows and breaks up the earth. 8 But my eyes are upon You, O GOD the Lord; In You I take refuge; Do not leave m...

"Keep still! When trouble is brewing, keep still! When slander is getting on its legs, keep still! When your feelings are hurt, keep still till you recover from your excitement at any rate! Things look different through an unagitated eye." - Hannah Whiteall

"It is the greatest of all mistakes to do nothing because you can only do little - do what you can." ~Sydney Smith

1 Chronicles 4:9-10 New King James Version (NKJV) 9  Now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother called his name Jabez, [ a ] saying, “Because I bore him in pain.” 10  And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, “Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!” So God granted him what he requested.

"The capacity to discern and do the will of God arises out of friendship with God, cultivated through prayer, times of quiet listening and alert awareness." - Ruth Hayley Barton

Isaiah 60:19 New International Version (NIV) 19  The sun will no more be your light by day,      nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you, for the Lord will be your everlasting light,      and your God will be your glory.

Acts 17:24-28 NIV "The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. 'For in him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring.'

I heard a voice so softly calling: "Take up thy cross and follow me." A tempest o'er my heart was falling, A living cross this was to me. His cross I took, which, cross no longer, A hundred-fold brings life to me; My heart is filled with joy o'erflowing His love and life are light to me." - A. M. Heathcote

Psalm 119:145-152 New King James Version (NKJV) ק Qoph 145 I cry out with my whole heart; Hear me, O Lord! I will keep Your statutes. 146 I cry out to You; Save me, and I will keep Your testimonies. 147 I rise before the dawning of the morning, And cry for help; I hope in Your word. 148 My eyes are awake through the night watches, That I may meditate on Your word. 149 Hear my voice according to Your lovingkindness; O Lord, revive me according to Your justice. 150 They draw near who follow after wickedness; They are far from Your law. 151 You are near, O Lord, And all Your commandments are truth. 152 Concerning Your testimonies, I have known of old that You have founded them forever.

1 Kings 9:4-5 New International Version (NIV) 4  “As for you, if you walk before me faithfully with integrity of heart  and uprightness, as David  your father did, and do all I command and observe my decrees and laws,   5  I will establish  your royal throne over Israel forever, as I promised David your father when I said, ‘You shall never fail  to have a successor on the throne of Israel.’

“To love another person is to see the face of God.” ― Victor Hugo, Les Misérables

Psalm 42:1-2 NLT As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God. I thirst for God, the living God. When can I go and stand before him?

1 Corinthians 15:1-2 GNT And now I want to remind you, my friends, of the Good News which I preached to you, which you received, and on which your faith stands firm.  That is the gospel, the message that I preached to you. You are saved by the gospel if you hold firmly to it—unless it was for nothing that you believed.

Give to the winds thy fears, Hope and be undismayed. God hears thy sighs and counts thy tears, God shall lift up thy head. Through waves and clouds and storms, He gently clears thy way; Wait thou His time; so shall this night Soon end in joyous day. Still heavy is thy heart? Still sinks thy spirit down? Cast off the world, let fear depart Bid every care begone. What though Thou rulest not; Yet heaven, and earth, and hell Proclaim, God sitteth on the throne, And ruleth all things well. And whatsoe’er Thou will’st, Thou dost, O King of kings; What Thine unerring wisdom chose, Thy power to being brings. Leave to His sovereign sway To choose and to command; So shalt thou, wondering, own that way, How wise, how strong this hand. Far, far above thy thought, His counsel shall appear, When fully He the work hath wrought, That caused thy needless fear. Thou seest our weakness, Lord; Our hearts are known to Thee; O lift Thou up the sinking hand, Confirm the ...

2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."  Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.

"Break through to God, He fully understands Thou art in His dear Hands, To fulfil all His commands, Break through to God! Break through to God, Be dauntless, faithful, strong, E'en though the fight is long, Raise to Him the victor's song, Break through to God. Break through to God, Though thy heart may quail, And the foe may rail, Calvary's victory shall not fail, Break through to God!" - Springs in the Valley, January 9.

Psalm 29:11 NIV The Lord  gives strength to his people; the Lord  blesses his people with peace.

“Have courage for the great sorrows of life and patience for the small ones; and when you have laboriously accomplished your daily task, go to sleep in peace. God is awake." - Victor Hugo

Psalm 37:5 New Living Translation (NLT) Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you.

Ephesians 2:8-10 New Living Translation (NLT) 8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

"It's streams the whole creation reach, So plenteous is the store, Enough for all, enough for each, Enough for evermore." - Charles Wesley

Revelation 21:1-7 New International Version (NIV) A New Heaven and a New Earth 21  Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” [ a ]  for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away,  and there was no longer any sea.   2  I saw the Holy City,  the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God,  prepared as a bride  beautifully dressed for her husband.   3  And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them.  They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.   4  ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes.  There will be no more death’ [ b ]  or mourning or crying or pain,  for the old order of things has passed away.” 5  He who was seated on the throne  said, “I am making everything new!”  Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” 6...

“When you are in troubled and worried and sick at heart And your plans are upset and your world falls apart, Remember God's ready and waiting to share The burden you find much to heavy to bear - So with faith, "Let Go and Let GOD" lead your way Into a brighter and less troubled day” ― Helen Steiner Rice

Titus 2:11-14 New International Version (NIV) 11  For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12  It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13  while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14  who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

Psalm 62:5-8 New English Translation (NET) 5 Patiently wait for God alone, my soul! For he is the one who gives me confidence. 6 He alone is my protector and deliverer. He is my refuge; I will not be upended. 7 God delivers me and exalts me; God is my strong protector and my shelter. 8 Trust in him at all times, you people! Pour out your hearts before him! God is our shelter! (Selah)

2 Timothy 1:9-10 New International Version (NIV) 9  He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, 10  but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.

Colossians 4:2-6 New International Version (NIV) 2 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. 3 And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. 4 Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. 5 Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. 6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

"Everyday paths He has trodden and glorified, and will walk anew with each of us. The only safe way to travel is with Him alongside and in control." - S.D. Gordon

“The chief beauty about time  is that you cannot waste it in advance.  The next year, the next day, the next hour are lying ready for you,  as perfect, as unspoiled,  as if you had never wasted or misapplied  a single moment in all your life.  You can turn over a new leaf every hour  if you choose.” -   Arnold Bennett

“We're called to be faithful, to take those first difficult steps - and to leave the results up to God.” ― Alex Harris