"Salvation is of the LORD." -Jonah 2:9

"People wound us, betray us, misunderstand us, turn on us in a rapacious form – vicious sometimes.   And the deepest pain and the direst trouble in life is that inflicted by people.  And the closer they are to us and the more invested we are in their lives and the more we love them, the more profound the wounds are. ... God uses suffering to humble us. ... God uses suffering to perfect His power in us." -copied  

"He who eateth Me, even he shall live by Me."   - John 6:57 [KJV] Why is the meek Saviour so very wroth against self-righteous people, while He is nothing but love and tenderness to poor sensible sinners? Why does He stamp the highest indignity and contempt on the character of the former, while He receives the publicans and harlots with open arms? Is it not hard, because a man esteems his own righteousness, and values his own perfection, that the Saviour should reject him? Are we not to do good, to be very good, yea, to strive to be as righteous as an angel? Yes, we are to have a better righteousness than angels ever had.  But if we think that righteousness is to be obtained by us, to cover our wicked nature, to recommend us to God, and to justify us either first or last, in whole or in part, we deceive ourselves—the truth is not in us—there is the pride of the devil at the bottom of all this. Woe unto us, we are full, but we shall hunger (Ref: Luke 6:25.) If ful...

"Gad, a troop shall overcome him; but he shall overcome at the last." -Genesis 49:19 [KJV] Is there nothing, my soul, in this sweet promise, that suits thy case and circumstances? Was not Gad one of the children of Israel? And are not all the seed of Israel interested in the promises? Was the tribe of Gad for a time brought down, and brought under, by a troop of foes? And are not all the seed of Israel oppressed and brought into subjection? Was not that glorious Israelite, the great Captain of our salvation, made perfect through suffering? Think, my soul, what troops of hell assaulted Him. But was the issue of the battle with Him doubtful? Neither is it now. In His blood and righteousness all the seed of Israel shall be justified and overcome by the blood of the Lamb . What then, though there be troops of lusts within, and legions of foes without? Troops from earth, and troops from hell, may, and will, assault thee; but look unto Jesus . It is said of His people...

"...and I will be his God, and he shall be My son."   - Revelation 21:7 [KJV] What a promise! That the God of heaven and earth will be our God, our Father, our Benefactor, our eternal, almighty Friend! and that we, in overcoming, shall receive the adoption of sons; shall be manifested as the "sons and daughters"  of the Almighty, and receive the inheritance reserved for the children of God! The promise runs in connection with "him that overcometh."  If we do not overcome, the promise is not for us. The promise of sonship is connected with overcoming, in the same manner as that of "inheritance"  is connected with it.  Do I want to receive into my heart the Spirit of adoption? Do I want to feel the love of God the Father shed abroad in my soul? Do I want to establish a blessed title to the inheritance that He giveth to His children? How am I to get it? How is it to be obtained? By making myself religious, becoming holy, subduing my lus...