Andy's Inspiration Box

"The Victory is certain! The Captain on whose side we are has never known defeat. He goes forth conquering and to conquer. The enemy may apparently gain temporary advantage at different points of the battle, but victory over Christ by Satan is simply impossible!" - Springs in the Valley (November 30)

"Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed...Nothing will be impossible for you.” Matthew 17:20

"The very first sin recorded in the Bible was basically about humans wanting to be God. Ever since, we have not been content to trust that God is in charge not us. This does not lead to laziness or passivity but to a settled confidence that we are in the hands of one who knows far better than us how life is to be lived." - David Reay

Philippians 2:3 English Standard Version (ESV) 3  Do nothing from   selfish ambition or   conceit, but in   humility count others more significant than yourselves.

"You do something great with your life when you do all the small things with His great love." -Ann Voskamp #TheBrokenWay

Hebrews 12:28 New International Version (NIV) 28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe

"It is true that sometimes our prayers remain puzzlingly unanswered. A seemingly good thing is not granted. Suffering persists. Yet it is also true that sometimes our prayers are answered and we don’t recognise it. We are so busy scratching our heads about the prayers that haven’t got an answer that we overlook the prayers that have been answered." - David Reay

"Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!" Romans 7:25

Psalm 89:15 New Living Translation (NLT) 15  Happy are those who hear the joyful call to worship,      for they will walk in the light of your presence,   Lord .

Proverbs 16:24 New Living Translation (NLT) 24  Kind words are like honey—      sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.

"We are involved in spiritual mountaineering, where sometimes slopes are like grass . When our feet slip we must reach our and hold on to anything that will stop or slide - even though it is only a small branch. Stop and steady yourself. Don't concern yourself about climbing, just concern yourself about stopping your slide. Once your have stopped sliding you can start climbing again." - Mick Brooks

Jeremiah 1:7-8 English Standard Version (ESV) 7  But the   Lord   said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am only a youth’; for to all to whom I send you, you shall go, and   whatever I command you, you shall speak. 8  Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the   Lord .”

Daniel 10:7-12 New King James Version (NKJV) 7  And I, Daniel, alone saw the vision, for the men who were with me did not see the vision; but a great terror fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves.  8  Therefore I was left alone when I saw this great vision, and no strength remained in me; for my vigor was turned to frailty in me, and I retained no strength.  9  Yet I heard the sound of his words; and while I heard the sound of his words I was in a deep sleep on my face, with my face to the ground. Prophecies Concerning Persia and Greece 10  Suddenly, a hand touched me, which made me tremble on my knees and  on  the palms of my hands.  11  And he said to me, “O Daniel, man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for I have now been sent to you.” While he was speaking this word to me, I stood trembling. 12  Then he said to me, “Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set...

Matthew 28:19-20 New International Version (NIV) 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

Psalm 81:10 New International Version (NIV) 10 I am the Lord your God, who brought you up out of Egypt. Open wide your mouth and I will fill it.

Proverbs 16:3-4 English Standard Version (ESV) 3  Commit your work to the   Lord ,      and your plans will be established. 4  The   Lord   has made everything for its purpose,      even   the wicked for the day of trouble.

First steps always seem like not enough, but they are the bravest and they start the journey to where you’re meant to go. - Ann Vodkamp #TheBrokenWay

"God's measureless love is like the ocean. Through the windows of earthly life we catch a gleam. From the valleys of trouble we glimpse it near the shore. On the sands of hope we see it, wave on wave. From the headlands of faith we view a broader tide to the line that blends eternity with time. Our happiest days are islands set in its boundless breath. Yet, as with the ocean, we have never seen it all!" - Springs in the Valley (November 16)

"Sometimes in our Christian journeys we can only hang on by our fingertips. We go back to basics. We forgo excitement and mountain-top blessings and instead hold on to an apparently absent God in our shadowy valleys. And as we do so we realise we are far from alone in these uncomfortable phases of our journey." - David Reay

Psalm 119:105-112 New International Version (NIV) נ Nun 105  Your word is a lamp  for my feet,      a light  on my path. 106  I have taken an oath  and confirmed it,      that I will follow your righteous laws. 107  I have suffered much;      preserve my life,   Lord , according to your word. 108  Accept,  Lord , the willing praise of my mouth,      and teach me your laws. 109  Though I constantly take my life in my hands,      I will not forget  your law. 110  The wicked have set a snare  for me,      but I have not strayed  from your precepts. 111  Your statutes are my heritage forever;      they are the joy of my heart. 112  My heart is set  on keeping your decrees      to the very end.

Philippians 4:10-11 New International Version (NIV) 10  I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me.   Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11  I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content   whatever the circumstances.

"Faith believes that what God says will take place without a shadow of a doubt. Faith believes that we will see the promises of God unfold even when it looks impossible. Faith believes in what we can’t see, and knows it is there." - Mary Pinckney

1 Peter 2:1-3 New International Version (NIV) 2  Therefore, rid yourselves  of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander  of every kind. 2  Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk,  so that by it you may grow up  in your salvation,   3  now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.

Jeremiah 6:16 New American Standard Bible (NASB) 16 Thus says the Lord, “Stand by the ways and see and ask for the ancient paths, Where the good way is, and walk in it; And you will find rest for your souls.

Psalm 103:13-14 New International Version (NIV) 13  As a father has compassion   on his children,      so the   Lord   has compassion on those who fear him; 14  for he knows how we are formed,      he remembers that we are dust.

We are too prone to engrave our trials in marble and write our blessings in sand. -C.H. Spurgeon

Romans 7:21-25 New International Version (NIV) 21  So I find this law at work:   Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me.   22  For in my inner being   I delight in God’s law;   23  but I see another law at work in me, waging war   against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin   at work within me.   24  What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?   25  Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law,   but in my sinful nature [ a ]   a slave to the law of sin.

"Does my busyness and my dismissal of him from my everyday life deafen me to his love song? Does he still sing even when I sin so grievously? Does he sing over others and yet not to me? Perhaps my daily prayer is to be that I am so quieted by his love for me that I can hear the love song that he sings to me and over me." - David Reay

Joshua 24:15 New International Version (NIV) 15  But if serving the  Lord  seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites,  in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household,  we will serve the  Lord .”

"The soul that thus truly and solemnly dedicates itself to Him becomes His, and He will come to that soul to abide forever, to be it's shield and exceeding great reward." - Springs in the Valley (November 8)

1 Timothy 2:1-2 New International Version (NIV) Instructions on Worship 2  I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—   2  for kings and all those in authority,  that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness  and holiness.

So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will take care of itself. -Matthew 6:34

1 Corinthians 13:12 New International Version (NIV) 12  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.

Colossians 3:13-14 Good News Translation (GNT) 13 Be tolerant with one another and forgive one another whenever any of you has a complaint against someone else. You must forgive one another just as the Lord has forgiven you. 14 And to all these qualities add love, which binds all things together in perfect unity.

"Only as we grasp something of God’s love for us can we embark on the challenging yet necessary task of loving God and others. Only loved people can be consistently and truly loving. We recognise that we have great value in God’s sight and thus more naturally recognise the value in others. If we think little of our own worth we may not attribute much worth to others." - David Reay

Philippians 3:7-8 New Living Translation (NLT) 7  I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done.   8  Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ

Psalm 9:10 English Standard Version (ESV) 10 And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.

“Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 

"To believe and accept the promise of God is not to engage in some mental gymnastics where we reach down into our imaginations and begin a process of auto-suggestion, or produce a notional faith in which we argue with ourselves in an endeavor to believe God. It is absolute confidence and reliance upon God through His word." - Springs in the Valley (1 November)