And a leper came to Jesus, beseeching Him and falling on his knees before Him, and saying, "If You are willing, You can make me clean." Moved with compassion, Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, "I am willing; be cleansed." - Mark 1:40-41

There was no worse disease than leprosy in New Testament days. To be a leper, was to live a life of separation, suffering, and loneliness. You would never be touched, held, or hugged. You would live a life of isolation from your family and friends; often taking years to die.

The leper who came to Jesus believed He could heal him, but he wasn't sure Jesus would take the time, or have the desire to heal him. He was confident of Jesus ability to heal, but not sure of his desire.

When Jesus saw this leper, He responded with compassion. He was moved when he saw the man's condition and his suffering. Jesus’s compassion was followed by action and healed him.

I came across the verse not long ago in my personal Bible reading. The words "I am willing" seemed to jump off the page at me. I can't think of any time when someone came to Jesus asking for healing or help that He didn't respond. 

So often we come to God in prayer feels as though we need to convince Him to hear our prayer or meet our need. We forget that Jesus is generous with His healing and help. 

What a promise! You can have confidence that God is going to hear your prayer.

Few of us would say we pray with confidence. For many of us prayer is difficult and even challenging. So often we come to God with hope instead of faith. We hope He hears, we hope He answers, we hope we are praying correctly.

This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him. - 1 John 5:14-15

God invites you to come boldly into His presence and make your request before Him. You can pray in confidence because of the intimate relationship you have with God through faith in Jesus Christ. It is not about how good you are, but about all Christ has done for you. Because of your faith in Christ, you can take God's word seriously and stand strong in asking for the things He has promised.

Jesus was absolutely confident that God heard His prayers. Because of your relationship with Him, you can have that same confidence as well.

God hearing your prayer is not just God acknowledging your request. God hearing your prayer is understanding that when He hears your prayer, He answers. It is like the King who hears the request of his servant and responds. When God hears your prayer, He answers your prayer.

What a promise! You can have confidence that God is going to hear your prayer.

Few of us would say we pray with confidence. For many of us prayer is difficult and even challenging. So often we come to God with hope instead of faith. We hope He hears, we hope He answers, we hope we are praying correctly.

This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him. - 1 John 5:14-15

God invites you to come boldly into His presence and make your request before Him. You can pray in confidence because of the intimate relationship you have with God through faith in Jesus Christ. It is not about how good you are, but about all Christ has done for you. Because of your faith in Christ, you can take God’s word seriously and stand strong in asking for the things He has promised.

 Jesus was absolutely confident that God heard His prayers. Because of your relationship with Him, you can have that same confidence as well. 

God hearing your prayer is not just God acknowledging your request. God hearing your prayer is understanding that when He hears your prayer, He answers. It is like the King who hears the request of his servant and responds. When God hears your prayer, He answers your prayer.

Here's today's promise.

He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young. - Isaiah 40:11

One of the most consistent pictures of our relationship with God is that of the shepherd and his sheep. Jesus called himself the "good" shepherd. As the good shepherd, He is always caring for us His sheep. He knows His sheep by name, and they hear His voice. He was even willing laid down His life for You, His sheep.

Jesus cares for you the way a good shepherd cares for His sheep. Psalm 23:2 says he leads His sheep to green pastures and places of rest. As the Good Shepherd, God is your provider and protector.

As your good shepherd, He also carries you in His arms. The shepherd carries the old sheep on His shoulders. It's not the most comfortable place for the sheep having your legs held together and your head left to bobble around.

Here’s today’s promise.

He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young. - Isaiah 40:11

One of the most consistent pictures of our relationship with God is that of the shepherd and his sheep. Jesus called himself the "good" shepherd. As the good shepherd, He is always caring for us His sheep. He knows His sheep by name, and they hear His voice. He was even willing laid down His life for You, His sheep.

Jesus cares for you the way a good shepherd cares for His sheep. Psalm 23:2 says he leads His sheep to green pastures and places of rest. As the Good Shepherd, God is your provider and protector. 

As your good shepherd, He also carries you in His arms. The shepherd carries the old sheep on His shoulders. It's not the most comfortable place for the sheep having your legs held together and your head left to bobble around.

Are you feeling alone? Today's promise is for you.

Psalm 139:7-10 (NASB)

Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend to heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the dawn, If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, even there Your hand will lead me, And Your right hand will lay hold of me.

No matter where you go, the Lord is with you. There is no place you can go, where you are away from His presence. From the highest heavens to the depths of the ocean, God is still with you. You can travel to the ends of the earth, and when you get there, you find God is already there waiting.

The God you serve is not limited to time and space. He is everywhere at all times.

For the Christian, this means God is always with you.

If you are lonely today, remember, God is with you. Nothing you can do will take you away from his presence.

When you feel all lonely?

Allow God's presence to comfort and remind you that He loves and cares for you.

As a Christ-follower, God is always with you.

In your darkest day, when you feel you are at the ends of the earth, God is still there; He will lead and hold you.

Are you feeling alone? Today’s promise is for you.

Psalm 139:7-10 (NASB) 

 Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend to heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the dawn, If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, even there Your hand will lead me, And Your right hand will lay hold of me. 

No matter where you go, the Lord is with you. There is no place you can go, where you are away from His presence. From the highest heavens to the depths of the ocean, God is still with you. You can travel to the ends of the earth, and when you get there, you find God is already there waiting.

The God you serve is not limited to time and space. He is everywhere at all times.

For the Christian, this means God is always with you.

If you are lonely today, remember, God is with you. Nothing you can do will take you away from his presence.

When you feel all lonely?

Allow God’s presence to comfort and remind you that He loves and cares for you.

As a Christ-follower, God is always with you.

In your darkest day, when you feel you are at the ends of the earth, God is still there; He will lead and hold you.

Are you facing a stress-filled week? Here's a great promise for you.

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being. – Ephesians 3:16

No matter what you are facing today, God promises strength and power through His Holy Spirit. Paul is praying for the church in Ephesus, but that same prayer applies to you today.

True strength begins in your heart and works its way out into your life. The word "strength" here means giving you the power to act, endure or resist. So often we don't give in or give up because we are physically tired, but because we have lost heart. God is giving you supernatural strength to face any and every challenge before you today.

Where does that strength come from? It comes from the richest of Christ Jesus. The richest of Christ means all the glory and grace of God seen and poured out in Jesus. That strength and power you can never deplete. It is a never-ending source of strength.

This week we looked at five promises from God's word. On Monday, we saw how we can worship anywhere we want, but it must be in spirit and truth. On Tuesday, we discovered that we are each a temple of God. Midway through the week, we saw that angels surrounded us and provided supernatural protection. Thursday was all about how Christ strengthens us. Finally, on Friday, we celebrated that our names were written in heaven.