07.12.09: Light for the Day - "Optimism (Faith)" (Viet) (<<) (>>)
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("How To Receive Christ")
-- Romans 8:28
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him,
who have been called according to His purpose.
-- Hebrews 11:1,6
1 Now Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
+ 6 And without Faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.
"With God All Things Are Possible." (Mat.19:26)
Life has its ups and downs. We love the up times, but oh, how we hate the down times. After many disappointments and difficult times, it's sometimes hard to believe for the best. We become cynical and jaded, ashamed to be vulnerable and childlike, afraid that our hopes and dreams are foolish in the "real world" that often seems to reward cold calculation. Yet when we close our hearts to optimism and faith, we close the door on making our dreams come true in this world. By choosing an optimistic attitude, however, we open ourselves to the possibility that God can turn our negative situations into something positive (2Cor.4:15-18).
You can choose to be optimistic. Optimism is a learned attitude of Faith (Mat.7:7). Faith is a choice, not an argument. It is an inner conviction, an unshakable assurance (Heb.11:1). You make a decision to choose optimism, choosing to believe that God will truly work all things together for good (Romans 8:28).
Focusing on the negatives in any situation is counterproductive (James 1:6). You concentrate on what's wrong, and soon that's the only thing you can see. Here are some of the negative thoughts that hold us back: I can't. I won't. That's a problem. It's not fair. It's won't work. Impossible. Stupid. Hopeless. It's too hard. I'm not good enough. What a drag. But we never did it that way before....
Positive thoughts (faith) help us make positive choices (Mark 9:23; Mat.21:22). Choose to replace negative patterns with positive, empowering thoughts like these: I can. It's possible. I'll give it a try. Let's go. Yes. I will. It will work. I am able to do this. It will be fun....
Learn to look for the silver lining in the dark clouds of your life. Expect God to bring you good or to bring good out of a bad situation. Focus on the positives. See the glass as half-full instead of as half-empty. Wash the windows of your soul by asking God to cleanse your thoughts every day, replacing negative defeating thoughts with positive affirmations of faith and hope.
The book of Hebrews talks about running the race (Heb.12:1-2), leaving behind those things that would encumber you and drag you down. Let go of those negative thoughts, and train yourself to focus on a positive outcome instead of looking for potential disaster. Learn to see that every stumbling block can be a stepping-stone. You will find what you look for, see what you want to see. If you want to reach the goal of a life well lived, learn to look with optimism and faith (Hebrews 11:1,6).
-- Checklist 4 Life
-- Matthew 19:26
Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible,
but with God all things are possible."
-- Luke 1:37
For nothing is impossible with God.
-- Philippians 3:13-14
13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
-- 2 Corinthians 4:15-18
15 All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. + 16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
+ Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement.
Nothing can be done without hope and confidence. -- Helen Keller.
+ As you travel in through life, whatever be your goal,
keep your eye on the doughnut and not upon the hole. -- Unkown.
+ Faith produces two principal effects in the believer: first, it gives to the soul a full certainty as to the object it lays hold of; secondly, it puts the soul in the enjoyment of the object. -- Eclectic
+ "Romans 8:28" introduces another source of consolation and support, drawn from the fact that all things are under the direction or an infinitely wise Being, who has purposed the salvation of the Christian, and who has so appointed all things that they shall contribute to it. -- Barnes
+ "All things work together for good to them that love God" (Ro.8:28); love to God distinguishes true Christians from all other men. Those that love God is born of Him, and all things shall work together for their good. -- Family
-- Matthew 21:22
If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.
-- Philippians 4:4-7
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
-- Hebrews 12:1-2
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our Faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
-- Hebrews 10:23-24; 35-36
+ 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.
+ 35 So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. 36 You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised.
-- Romans 5:1-2
1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.
-- Matthew 6:33
But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness,
and all these things will be given to you as well.
-- Mark 9:23
Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes."
-- Romans 12:18
If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
-- 1 Corinthians 6:12
"Everything is permissible for me" -- but not everything is beneficial.
"Everything is permissible for me" -- but I will not be mastered by anything.
-- 1 Corinthians 10:23
"Everything is permissible" -- but not everything is beneficial.
"Everything is permissible" -- but not everything is constructive.
-- Zechariah 4:6
'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' says the LORD Almighty.
-- Philippians 4:13
I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.
-- Matthew 7:7
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
-- James 1:6
But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.
-- Proverbs 4:23
Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.
-- Proverbs 11:27
He who seeks good finds goodwill, but evil comes to him who searches for it.
-- Psalms 23:1-6
1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. 3 He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever.
-- Psalms 33:20-22
20 We wait in hope for the LORD; He is our help and our shield. 21 In Him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in His holy name. 22 May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD, even as we put our hope in You.
-- Psalms 40:16
But may all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; may those who love Your salvation always say, "The LORD be exalted!"
-- Psalms 118:24-25
24 This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
25 O LORD, save us; O LORD, grant us success.
+ FAITH +
(Nave's Topical Bible)+ INSTANCES OF
Noah, in building the ark (Ge 6:14-22; Heb 11:7)
Abraham, in forsaking the land of his nativity at the
command of God (Ge 12:1-4)
Believing the promise of many descendants (Ge 12:7; 15:4-8)
In the offering up of Isaac (Ge 22:1-10; Ro 4:18-21; Heb 11:8-19)
Jacob, in blessing Joseph’s sons (Heb 11:21)
Joseph, concerning God’s providence in his being sold into
Egypt, and the final deliverance of Israel (Ge 50:20; Heb 11:22)
Jochebed, in caring for Moses (Ex 2:2; Heb 11:23)
Pharaoh’s servants, who obeyed the Lord (Ex 9:20)
Moses
In espousing the cause of his people (Heb 11:24-28)
At the death of Korah (Nu 16:28,29)
The Israelites
When Aaron declared the mission of himself and Moses (Ex 4:31)
In the battle with the Canaanites (1Ch 5:20)
And other conquests (2Ch 13:8-18)
Caleb, in advising to take the land of promise (Nu 13:30; 14:6-9)
Rahab, in hospitality to the spies (Jos 2:9,11; Heb 11:31)
The spies, sent to reconnoiter Jericho (Jos 2:24)
Conquest of Jericho (Jos 6)
Manoah’s wife (Jud 13:23)
Hannah (1Sa 1)
Jonathan, in stricking down the Philistines (1Sa 14:6)
David, in striking down Goliath (1Sa 17:37,46,47)
In choosing to fall into the hands of the Almighty for his punishment for counting the people of Israel (2Sa 24:14)
In believing God’s promise, that his kingdom would be a perpetual kingdom (Ac 2:30)
Elijah, in his controversy with the priest of Baal (1Ki 18:32-38)
Widow of Zarephath in feeding Elijah (1Ki 17:13-15)
Amaziah, in dismissing the Ephraimites in obedience to the command of God, and going alone to battle against the Edomites (2Ch 25:7-10)
Hezekiah (2Ki 18:5; 19; 20:1-11)
Daniel, in the lions’ den (Da 6)
The three Hebrews, who refused to worship Nebuchadnezzars idol (Da 3:13-27)
Ninevites, in obeying Jonah (Jon 3:5)
Ezra, in making the journey from Babylon to Jerusalem without a military escort (Ezr 8:22)
Joseph, in obeying the vision about Mary and to flee into Egypt (Mt 1:18-24; 2:13,14)
Abel (Heb 11:4)
Eliphaz, in the overruling providence of God, that afflictions are for the good of the righteous (Job 5:6-27)
Mordecai, in the deliverance of the Jews (Es 4:14)
Simeon, when he saw Jesus in the temple courtyard (Lu 2:25-35)
Conquests by (Heb 11:32-34)
+ IN CHRIST +
(Isa 28:16; Mt 7:24,25; 8:2,13; 9:22,29; 11:6,28-30; 14:27; Mt 15:28; 17:7; Mr 5:36 9:23 16:16; Lu 6:46-49; 7:9,50; 8:50; 17:6; 18:42; Joh 1:12; 3:14-16,18,36; 5:24; Joh 6:20,29,35,45,47; 7:38; 9:35; 11:25,26,40; 12:36,44,46; Joh 13:7,20; 14:1,11,12; 16:27,33; 18:37; 20:27,29,31; Ac 3:16; Ac 10:43; 15:9,11; 16:31; 20:21; 26:18; Ro 3:22-28; 9:33; Ro 10:4,9; Ga 2:16; 3:1-29; 5:6; Eph 1:12-14; 3:12,17; 4:13; #Php 3:9; Col 2:7; 1Ti 1:16; 2Ti 1:13; 2:1; 3:15; Heb 4:16; #Heb 6:19; 10:22; 12:2; 13:7; 1Pe 1:8; 2:6,7; 2Pe 1:1 1Jo 3:23 5:4,5,10,13,14; Jude 1:21; Re 1:17; 3:18,20)
+ IN CHRIST, EXEMPLIFIED
(Mt 8:2,5-10; 9:18,21,28; 14:33; 15:26-28; 16:16; #Mr 5:28; 7:27-30; 9:24; Lu 5:5; 7:3-9; 23:42; #Joh 4:29,42; 6:14,68,69; 7:31; 9:38; 10:41,42; #Joh 11:21,22,27,32; 16:30; 20:28; Ac 8:37; 11:17; #Ro 7:24,25; 8:35,37; 2Co 12:9,10 Ga 2:20; Php 4:13; 1Ti 1:14; 2Ti 1:12; 4:18)
+ INSTANCES OF FAITH IN CHRIST
The wise men from the east (Mt 2:1,2,11)
Peter (Mt 4:18-22; Mr 1:16-20; Lu 5:4,5; Joh 6:68,69)
Andrew (Mt 4:18-22; Mr 1:16-20; Joh 1:41)
James and John (Mt 4:21,22; Mr 1:19,20)
The woman with the issue of blood (Mt 9:21,22)
Jairus, for the healing of his daughter (Mt 9:18,23-25)
Two blind men (Mt 9:29,30)
Blind Bartimaeus and a fellow blind man (Mt 20:30-34; Mr 10:46-52; Lu 18:35-42)
The Samaritan leper (Lu 17:11-19)
The sick people of Gennesaret (Mt 14:36; Mr 3:10; 6:54-56)
Those who brought the paralyzed man to Jesus (Lu 5:18-20)
The Syrophoenician woman (Mt 15:22-28; Mr 7:25-30)
The woman who anointed Jesus’ feet (Lu 7:36-50)
Those who brought those who were sick with palsy (Mt 9:2)
Philip (Joh 1:45,46)
Nathanael (Joh 1:49)
The Samaritans, who believed
Through the preaching of Jesus (Joh 4:39-42)
Through the preaching of Philip (Ac 8:9-12)
The nobleman whose child was sick (Joh 4:46-53)
Abraham (Joh 8:56)
The blind man whom Jesus healed on the Sabbath (Joh 9:13-38)
Mary, the sister of Martha (Lu 10:38-42; Joh 11:32)
John the disciple (Joh 20:8)
The disciples, through the miracle at Cana of Galilee (Joh 2:11)
Jews at Jerusalem (Joh 2:23; 8:30; 11:45; 12:11)
About three-thousand people on the day of Pentecost (Ac 2:41)
About five-thousand people (Ac 4:4)
Multitudes (Ac 5:14)
The crippled man at Lystra (Ac 14:9)
Stephen (Ac 6:8)
The Ethiopian eunuch (Ac 8:37)
The people of Lydda and S h) aron (Ac 9:35)
The people of Joppa (Ac 9:42)
The people of Antioch (Ac 11:21-24)
Barnabas (Ac 11:24)
Eunice, Lois, and Timothy (2Ti 1:5; Ac 16:1)
Lydia (Ac 16:14)
The Philippian jailor (Ac 16:31-34)
Crispus (Ac 18:8)
The Corinthians (Ac 18:8; 1Co 15:11)
Jews at Rome (Ac 28:24)
Ephesians (Eph 1:13,15)
Colossians (Col 1:2,4)
Thessalonians (1Th 1:6; 3:6-8; 2Th 1:3,4)
Philemon (Phm 1:5)
The congregation at Thyatira (Re 2:19)
+ TRIAL OF
(1Ch 29:17; Ps 26:2; 81:7; Mt 13:19-22; 24:21-25; Lu 8:13,14; 2Th 1:3-5; Heb 6:13-15; Jas 1:3,12; 1Pe 1:7)
+ INSTANCES OF TRIAL OF
Noah (Ge 6:14-22; Heb 11:7)
Abraham, when commanded to leave his native land and to go where he did not know (Ge 12:1-4; Heb 11:8)
Abraham, when commanded to offer Isaac (Ge 22:1-19; Heb 11:17-19)
Moses, when sent to Pharaoh (Ex 3:11,12; 4:10-17; Heb 11:25-29)
Moses, at the Red Sea, by the complaints of the people (Ex 14;; 15)
Joshua and the people of Israel, in the method of taking Jericho (Jos 6; Heb 11:30)
Gideon, when commanded to deliver Israel (Jud 6:36-40; 7; Heb 11:32)
Job, by affliction and adversity (Job 1; 2)
Ezra, in leaving Babylon without a military escort (Ezr 8:22)
Daniel, when forbidden to pray to Jehovah (Da 6:4-23; Heb 11:32,33)
The three Hebrews, when commanded to worship the image (Da 3:8-30; Heb 11:32-34)
The Syrophoenician woman (Mt 15:21-28; Mr 7:24-30)
The two blind men who appealed to Jesus for sight (Mt 9:28)
The disciples, when Jesus came walking upon the Sea of Galilee (Mt 14:25-33)
The disciples
By the question of Jesus, as to who He was (Mt 16:15-20; Lu 9:20,21)
By their inability to cast out the evil spirit from the epileptic boy (Mt 17:14-21; Mr 9:14-29; Lu 9:37-42)
In the tempest at sea (Mt 8:23-27; Mr 4:36-41; Lu 8:22-26)
Of Philip, when questioned by Jesus as to how the multitude would be fed (Joh 6:5,6)
Of Peter, when asked whether he loved Jesus (Joh 21:16,17)
+ SUM TOTAL OF RELIGIOUS BELIEF AND LIFE
(Ro 1:8; Jude 1:3)
+*+*+*+*+*+*+
WEAK
DOUBTING
General scriptures concerning (Job 4:3-6; 9:16-23; 23:15-17; 30:20,21; Ps 22:2; 31:22; #Ps 42:5,6; 49:5; 73:13-17; 77:3,7-9; Pr 24:10; Isa 40:27,28; #Isa 49:14,15; 50:2; Jer 8:18; 15:18; 45:3; La 3:8,17,18; 5:20; #Ho 10:3; Mt 8:26; 14:31; 17:17; Mr 4:38,40; 9:19; Lu 8:25 Lu 9:40; 1Pe 1:6)
+ EXEMPLIFIED
(Ge 12:12,13; 15:8; 18:12-14; 19:30; 20:2,11; 26:7; Ex 3:11; 4:1,10,13; 5:22,23; 6:12; 14:10-12,15; Nu 11:21,22; #Jud; 6:13,15; 1Sa 16:1,2; 17:11,24; 22:3,4; 1Ki 18:7-14; #1Ki 19:13-18; 2Ki 13:18,19; Jer 1:6; 32:24,25; Mt 8:23-27; #Mt 11:2,3; 14:29-31; 17:14-21; 28:17; Mr 9:14-29; 16:10,11 Joh 14:8-11; Ac 9:13,14)
FAITH
+ General scriptures concerning(2Sa 22:31; Ps 2:12; 5:11; 7:1; 9:9,10; 18:30; 32:10; #Ps 33:18,19; 34:1-8,22; 36:7; 40:4; 64:10; 78:5-7; 84:5,12; #Ps 112:5,7,8; 118:8,9; 125:1; 147:11; Pr 3:5; 14:26; 22:19; #Pr 28:25; 29:25; 30:5; Isa 10:20; 14:32; 26:3; 30:15; 57:13; #Jer 17:7,8; 39:18; Na 1:7; Mt 9:22; 21:21,22; Mr 9:23,24; #Mr 11:23,24; Lu 7:50; 8:48-50; 17:5; 18:8; Joh 11:25-27; #Ac 3:16; 13:48; 26:18; Ro 1:16,17; 4:1-25; 5:1; 9:31-33; #Ro 10:6-10; 11:20,23; 15:13; 1Co 1:21; 2:5; 12:8,9; 2Co 1:24; #Ga 3:1-29; 5:22; Eph 2:8; 6:16; Col 1:23; 2:12; 1Th 2:13; #1Th 5:8; 2Th 2:13; 1Ti 1:5,19; 2:15; 4:10; 6:11,12,17; #2Ti 4:7,8; Heb 4:1-11; 6:1,7,12,18; 10:35,38,39; 11:1-39; #Heb 13:5,6; Jas 1:6; 2:1-26; 1Pe 1:5,7,9,21; 3:5 1Jo 3:21; 5:4; Re 22:7)
+ ENJOINED
(Ex 14:13; Nu 21:34; De 1:21-31; 3:2,22; 7:17-21; 20:1; #De 31:6-8,23; Jos 1:5-9; 10:25; Jud 6:14-16; 2Ki 19:6,7; #2Ch 15:7; 16:9; 20:15,17,20; 32:7,8; Ne 4:14; Job 35:14; #Ps 4:5 27:14; 31:19,24; 37:3,5,7,39,40; 55:22; 62:8; 115:9,11; #Ps 130:7; Pr 3:5,6,24-26; 16:3; Isa 26:4,20; 35:3,4; 37:6; #Isa 41:10,13,14; 43:1,2,5,10; 44:2,8; 50:10; Jer 42:11; 49:11; #Joe 2:21; 3:16; Hab 2:3,4; Zep 3:16,17; Zec 8:9; 9:12 Mt 6:25-34; 17:18-20; Mr 1:15; 11:22-24; Lu 12:22-32; 17:6)
+ EXEMPLIFIED
(Ge 6:22; 16:13; 24:7,40; 48:21; 50:20,24; #Ex 15:1-19; 18:11; Nu 10:29; 14:8,9; Jos 14:12; #1Sa 14:6 17:36,37,45-47; 2Sa 7:28; 22:2-5; 23:5; #2Ki 18:5; 1Ch 28:20; 2Ch 13:10,11; 14:11; 20:12; 32:7,8; #Ezr 8:22; Ne 1:8-10; 2:20; #Job 4:7-21; 5:8,9; 10:12; 13:15; 14:15; 16:19; #Job 19:25-27; 23:6; 42:2; Ps 3:3,5,6; 4:3,8; 6:8,9; 7:1,10; #Ps 9:3,4; 11:1; 13:5; 16:1,2,5,8,11; 17:6; 18:1-3,18,28,29; #Ps 20:5-7; 21:7; 22:4,5; 23:1-6; 25:1,2,5,15,20; 26:1,12; #Ps 27:1,5,6,10; 28:7; 31:1,3-6,14,15; 32:7; 33:20-22; 35:10; #Ps 38:9; 39:7; 40:3,4,17; 41:12; 42:5,6,8; 43:5; 44:5,8; #Ps 46:1-3,5,7; 47:3,4; 48:8,14; 52:8; 54:4; 55:16,17,23; #Ps 56:3,4,8,9,11; 57:1-3; 59:9,10,17; 60:9,10,12; 61:2,4,6,7; #Ps 62:1,5-7; 63:6,7; 66:9; 67:6; 69:19,35,36; 70:5; #Ps 71:1,3,5-7,14,16,20,21; 73:23,24,26,28; 74:12; 77:10-12; #Ps 86:2,7; 89:18,26; 90:1; 91:1,2,9,10; 92:10,15; #Ps 94:14,15,17,18,22; 102:13; 108:10-13; 115:12-14; 116:7; #Ps 118:6,7,10,14,17; 119:42,43,57,74,81,114,151,166; 121:2; #Ps 124:8; 130:5,6; 138:7,8; 140:6,7,12; 141:8; 142:3,5; #Ps 143:8,9; 144:2,10; Ec 11:1; Isa 8:10,17; 12:2; 25:9; 26:1,8; #Isa; 33:2,22; 38:16; 50:7-9; 63:16; 64:8; Jer 10:23; 14:9,22; #Jer 16:19; 17:12,17; 20:11; La 3:24-32; Da 3:16,17; 6:16; #Jon 2:2-9; Mic 7:7-9,20; Hab 1:12; 3:17-19; Zep 3:12; #Lu 1:38; 7:50; Joh 3:33; Ac 16:34; 24:14,15; 27:25; #Ro 8:18,28,38,39 15:29; 1Co 9:26; #2Co 1:10; 4:8,9,13,16-18; 5:7; Ga 5:5; Php 1:19-21; #1Ti 4:10; 2Ti 1:12; 2:11-13 Heb 10:34 11:4,5,7-11,13,14,16-39; 13:14; 2Pe 3:13; 1Jo 4:16)