“The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.”
‭‭Zephaniah‬ ‭3:17‬ ‭ESV‬‬

A day is coming when God will dwell among His people in perfection. But that day is not yet here. How do we experience this reality as we wait for His return?

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“I will say to the LORD, "My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭91:2‬ ‭ESV‬‬

It’s easy to see this Psalm as a promise of protection when we are walking into danger. But the language is more directed towards our daily life. It’s about resting in the dwelling place of God Almighty, knowing that as our enemies assail us, our God will protect us.

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“Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭10:35‬ ‭ESV‬‬

What is this “confidence” that the writer of Hebrews is exhorting his readers not to throw away? This isn’t a feel-good verse. This is a dire warning that we all must seriously consider.

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“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭23:1-3‬ ‭ESV‬‬

We have a very inaccurate understanding of what David is meaning when we says, “He makes me lie down in green pastures.” Even as you read these words, the images that take shape in your mind are likely of rolling hills covered with beautiful grass. David didn’t live in the world you’re envisioning. He lived in the desert.

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“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”
‭‭Micah‬ ‭6:8‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Countless Christians will attend church today; read their Bibles; give tithes and offerings; sing worship songs. And it would be easy to mistake that for what God desires from us as true worship. But the prophet Micah warns us against placing our trust in our religious rituals. True worship must go beyond that.

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“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭8:26‬ ‭ESV‬‬

When we truly connect with the brokenness we feel in our lives and the world around us, and the hope of the coming Kingdom of God, we truly cannot express our longing for the return of our Messiah.

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“He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the LORD.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭18:22‬ ‭ESV‬‬

As with a lot of Proverbs, this verse is idealistic. Many marriages end up being a disaster. How can a husband and wife guard this relationship?

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“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭18:21‬ ‭ESV‬‬

God brought the universe into existence through words. God manifested Himself as a human and called Himself, “The Word.” Messiah Jesus will defeat His enemies with a word. And Satan used words to bring the Fall of Humanity. Words matter.

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“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.”
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4:4‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Philippians 4:4-13 are Paul’s process for dealing with anxiety or worry. And it all starts with understanding who God truly is, and finding our joy on Him.

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“So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭10:17‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Romans 10 is part of a 3 chapter explanation by the Apostle Paul of how Israel and the nations relate to God in the post-resurrection era. The Gospel is for all - Jew and Gentile.

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