Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Those who are insulted and persecuted because of Christ do not find joy in the persecution itself, but they are reminded that as they drink the cup of His sufferings, their patience springs from within their hearts and thus provides for them strength to endure suffering.   They find a new intimacy with Christ and have the potential to be blessed because of bearing testimony for Him.
  Only Christ can prepare your heart for a godly response to those who delight in causing you pain and suffering.  Place your burdens before Him and seek the joy of perseverance--a blessing Christ wants to give to those who suffer in His name.  ask the Lord to prepare you to bear your testimony faithfully regardless of circumstances that unfold to make that journey difficult.

Romans 12:1-8
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.  And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.  For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function,  so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.  Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith;  or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching;  he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

Only by God's mercy can be present ourselves as living sacrifices.  We must choose to let Him perfect that which He gives to each by His grace.  We each have a measure of faith.  But we are many members each unique and special to Him.  Each with gifts that will honor Him and be used by Him to bring harmony in the body.  Choose to present yourself to God, Choose to let Him use the gift in you.  Choose to be a part of the body pleasing to the Lord.  

Proverbs 10:11-15
The mouth of the righteous is a well of life,
But violence covers the mouth of the wicked.
Hatred stirs up strife,
But love covers all sins.
Wisdom is found on the lips of him who has understanding,
But a rod is for the back of him who is devoid of understanding.
Wise people store up knowledge,
But the mouth of the foolish is near destruction.
The rich man’s wealth is his strong city;
The destruction of the poor is their poverty.

How we use our mouth determines how the Lord rewards us.  If we choose to be righteous, (In right standing with the Lord) our mouth is a well of "life".  Love covers ALL sin wisdom is found on our lips.  We become wise and store up knowledge.  Choose this day how you will use your words, for life or death!  For knowledge and wisdom!  Or for destruction, poverty and death.  #Wisdom #Knowledge #RighteousLife

Isaiah 12:1-3​
And in that day you will say:

“O Lord, I will praise You;
Though You were angry with me,
Your anger is turned away, and You comfort me.
Behold, God is my salvation,
I will trust and not be afraid;
‘For Yah, the Lord, is my strength and song;
He also has become my salvation.’”

Therefore with joy you will draw water
From the wells of salvation.

I am so thankful even when God is angry with me He is My Salvation!  Praise the Lord He comforts me!  I WILL trust in Him!  Will you trust Him today?

Colossians 1:14
in whom we have redemption through His blood,[a] the forgiveness of sins.

Isaiah 35:8-10
A highway shall be there, and a road,
And it shall be called the Highway of Holiness.
The unclean shall not pass over it,
But it shall be for others.
Whoever walks the road, although a fool,
Shall not go astray. No lion shall be there,
Nor shall any ravenous beast go up on it;
It shall not be found there.
But the redeemed shall walk there,
And the ransomed of the Lord shall return,
And come to Zion with singing,
With everlasting joy on their heads.
They shall obtain joy and gladness,
And sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

I have been redeemed and all my sins forgiven.  The redeemed shall walk on the highway of Holiness!  Have you accepted Christ?  If yes you too have been redeemed!

Isaiah 58:1-6
“Cry aloud, spare not;
Lift up your voice like a trumpet;
Tell My people their transgression,
And the house of Jacob their sins.
Yet they seek Me daily,
And delight to know My ways,
As a nation that did righteousness,
And did not forsake the ordinance of their God.
They ask of Me the ordinances of justice;
They take delight in approaching God.
‘Why have we fasted,’ they say, ‘and You have not seen?
Why have we afflicted our souls, and You take no notice?’
“In fact, in the day of your fast you find pleasure,
And exploit all your laborers.
Indeed you fast for strife and debate,
And to strike with the fist of wickedness.
You will not fast as you do this day,
To make your voice heard on high.
Is it a fast that I have chosen,
A day for a man to afflict his soul?
Is it to bow down his head like a bulrush,
And to spread out sackcloth and ashes?
Would you call this a fast,
And an acceptable day to the Lord?
“Is this not the fast that I have chosen:
To loose the bonds of wickedness,
To undo the heavy burdens,
To let the oppressed go free,
And that you break every yoke?

When we "fast" are we doing it as called by God or Man?  When God calls us to a fast He always gives us the strength we need to "keep" the fast.  He also leads us closer to Him for His glory not ours.  Today is Day of Atonement a God called sanctification, fast and self examination for repentance of sin and rightness through Christ's sacrifice on the cross.  This is an acceptable day of the Lord.

Psalm 32:8-11
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will guide you with My eye.
Do not be like the horse or like the mule,
Which have no understanding,
Which must be harnessed with bit and bridle,
Else they will not come near you.
Many sorrows shall be to the wicked;
But he who trusts in the Lord, mercy shall surround him.
Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous;
And shout for joy, all you upright in heart!

As God instructs us and guides us we have understanding and have the choice to use our tongue (talk) to bless others then we shout for joy because the Lord is good!

Psalms 1
Blessed is the man
Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
    Nor stands in the path of sinners,
    Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
    And in His law he meditates day and night.
He shall be like a tree
    Planted by the rivers of water,
    That brings forth its fruit in its season,
    Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper.
The ungodly are not so,
But are like the chaff which the wind drives away.
Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment,
Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
For the Lord knows the way of the righteous,
But the way of the ungodly shall perish.


Blessed is the man or woman who........walks, not in ....His delight is in the law, he meditates, shall prosper....The Lord knows the way of the righteous!   Hear and obey!