Some Encouraging thoughts from Johny (Late John George Samuel)

Hope

• The glory of tomorrow is rooted in the drudgery of today. (John. 15:2; Acts. 14:22; Esther. 8:15)

• Can I call it suffering when the Lord is there to comfort and guide me? (Is. 40:1; 1 Chr. 7:22; Rom. 15:4)

• We don’t know how the Lord works; but of one thing we’re sure, He works! (Is. 35:3-4; 55:8-9)

Faith

• Delayed answers to prayer give us opportunities to honor God through our steadfast confidence in Him under apparent repulses. (Job. 42:1-3; Deut. 8:2; Ps. 11:5; Job. 23:10) 

• Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. (1 Cor. 16:13; Eph. 3:16; 6:10; 2 Cor 12:9; Is. 40:31; 2 Tim. 2:1)

• If you start something in faith, keep the faith. Your faith will win out in the end. (John. 5:24; Acts. 14:22; Heb. 6:12; Heb. 12:2-3)

Prayer

• Prayer is the telephone system between my heart and God. The Bible is His way of communicating with me. I need both. (1 Pet. 21:1; James. 1:22; Jer. 23:19)

• Allowing God to answer our prayer in His own way, in His own time, is well worth the waiting. (Ex. 33:20; Deut. 3:26; 1 Cor. 12:8)

• God is there to hear us when we have a special need. But how pleased He must be when we come to Him just because we want to talk. (1 Chr. 16:11; Ps. 63:1; Ps. 119: 2-4)

Some Encouraging thoughts from Johny (Late John George Samuel)

Right Response

• The Spirit will work within us to the degree that we permit it. ‘The choice is ours’. (Eph. 3:16; 1 Pet. 2:2; 2 Tim. 2:1)

• The way you live, reflects your view of God. (Rom. 8:7; Eph. 5:14; Gal. 1:10)

• Don’t complain about the mud if you prayed for rain. (Acts. 14:22; Ps. 31:10; Is. 41:19)

Wisdom

• LIFE IS SHORT, MAKE THE MOST OF IT. You can’t change the past, but you can ruin a perfectly great present by worrying about the future. (Eccles. 12:1; Matt. 16:26; 6:25)

• When worry walks in, strength runs out, but strength returns when we let God in. (Josh. 10:25; Ps. 64:4; Matt. 1:20)

• God always gives His best to those who leave the choice with Him. (Luke. 1:38; Rom. 8:28; John. 2:3)

Love and Sacrifice

• A true friend always loves and corrects us when needed. (Prov. 17:17; 27:14; 28:23)

• Dying for the sake of the Gospel is not a tragedy, but a triumph. (John. 12:11; 2 Cor. 1:8; Acts. 5:40)

• Have a passion for God and compassion for people. (Eph. 5:20; James. 2:13; 1 John. 2:10)

Some Encouraging thoughts from Johny (Late John George Samuel)

Love and Sacrifice

• The pain we go through can become a blessing to us and others too. (Gal. 3:13; Phil. 4:19; 2 Cor. 8:9)
• Never fear to risk our lives when it comes to glorifying God. (Job. 1:21; Rom. 4:21; Ps. 34:1)
• The Lord Jesus is so great that no one can separate us from His love. (1 John. 4:18; Eph. 3:17; Rom. 8:35)

Right Response

• Passive faith praises in the light, when sun shines. Active faith will praise in the darkest night. Which faith is yours? (Is. 38:5; Ps. 42:8; Dan. 6:6)
• When I cannot enjoy the faith of assurance, I live by the faith of adherence. (Luke. 17:5; Acts. 16:5; 1 Cor. 16:13)
• He never comes too late; He knows what is best; so, vex not yourself in vain until He comes – REST. (Luke. 1:20; 1 Pet. 5:6; Gal. 6:9)

Facing Difficulties

• When the skies grow dark, the stars begin to shine. (1 John. 2:8; Is. 45:1; 60:1-2; Col. 1:12)
• Knowing that God is in control can keep us from being discouraged as we face difficult situations. (Is. 51:22; 58:11)
• You cannot prevent the birds of sorrow from flying over your head, but you can prevent them from building nests in your hair. (John. 14:1; Phil. 4:6; Col. 3;12)

Some Encouraging thoughts from Johny (Late John George Samuel)

Love and Sacrifice

• True love is always ready to make sacrifices. (Rom. 8:31-35; John. 3:16; 1 Cor. 13:6-8)

• We should ‘die’ for God here on earth to ‘reign’ with Him in Heaven. (John. 12:24; Phil. 3:11; Heb. 11:25-26)

• Belonging to God involves willingness to sacrifice. (Luke. 9:23; Heb. 11:8; 1 Cor. 9:25)

Hope

• No man ever sank beneath the burden of the day. It is when tomorrow’s burden is added to the burden of today that the weight is more than we can bear. It is delightfully easy to live one day at a time. (1 Pet. 5:7; Matt. 11:28; 6:34)

• When it’s time to die, make sure that’s all you have to do. (John. 9:4; 2 Cor. 5:8; 2 Tim. 4:7)

God’s Intervention

• It is not for us who are passengers to meddle with the chart and compass. Leave the all-skilled Pilot alone to do His work. (Heb. 3:6; Job. 19:25; Luke. 21:36)

• Your guide will keep to no beaten path. He will lead you by a way such as you have never dreamed your eyes would look upon. He knows no fear, and He expects you to fear nothing while He is with you. (Is. 40:11; 58:11; Ps. 23: 1-2; 80:1)

• The things which are impossible with men, are possible with God. (Gen. 18:14; Mat. 19:26; Luke. 1-37; 18:27)

Some Encouraging thoughts from Johny (Late John George Samuel)

Right Response

• Have you ever been waiting upon God, dear troubled one, during long nights and weary days, and have feared that you were forgotten? Nay, lift up your head, and begin to praise Him now for the deliverance which is on its way to you. (Ps. 34:1; 61:1; Is. 57:10)

• Passive faith accepts the word as true- but never moves. Active faith begins the work to do, and thereby proves. (Luke. 17:5; Acts. 14:22; 1 Tim. 4:1)

• Passive faith praises in the light, when the sun shines Active faith will praise in the darkest night. Which faith is yours? (Is. 38:5; Ps. 42:8; Dan. 6:6)

God’s Sufficiency

• “Human need is the key that unlocks the storehouses of God’s provision for the children of men”. (Ps. 62:8; 66:20; 68:19-20)

• When God says, “Ask anything”, He does not expect us to be selfish, but to be grateful. (gen. 18;25; 1 Cor. 3:8; Rom. 14:10)

• If nothing is too hard for the Lord and if we, His children, are controlled by Him, then nothing is too hard to believe. So trust Him. (Prov. 20:24; Ps. 31:14; Is. 49:6)

Character Improvement

• Trials, when very heavy, kill little people. But they make great ones. (2 Tim. 2:3; Gen. 22:1; Deut. 8:2)

• Do not be afraid of His Prisons. Get into His purpose for you, and you will grow stronger and more patient there. (Ps. 142:3; Gen. 31:12; Rev. 2:11)

• Delayed answers to prayer are not only trials of faith, but they give us opportunities to honor God by keeping our steadfast confidence in Him under apparent repulses. (Mark. 4:40; John. 20:14; Luke. 24:17) 

Some Encouraging thoughts from Johny (Late John George Samuel)

Faith

• My God will accomplish all that my faith has laid on Him. (Phil. 4:19; Ps. 37:5)

• Christ said, “Let us go to the other side”, not into the middle of the lake to be drowned. (Ps. 139:7; 116:15; 36:7; 1 Sam. 25:29)

• No, dear suffering child of God, you cannot fail if only you dare to believe to stand fast and refuse to be overcome. (2 Sam 17:2; Ps. 138:3; 2 Chr. 15:7-8; Deut. 20: 4, 8)

Prayer

• When God says, “Ask anything”, He does not expect us to be selfish, but to be grateful. (Rom. 7:24; Luke. 2:27; Ps. 116: 16, 17)

• God hears many and varied requests. And yet, He never makes a mistake in answering any of them. His answer may not always be our way, but His perfect way is best. (1 John. 3:20; Heb. 13:9; 1 Thess. 3:13)

• How much does prayer really mean to us if we can so easily set it aside? (Ps. 105:4; Is. 55:6; Acts. 17:27)

Facing Difficulties

• The burden of suffering seems like a tombstone hung about our necks, while in reality, it is only the weight which is necessary to keep down the diver while he is hunting for pearls. (Luke 15:18; 1 Pet. 4:16; Col. 3:12)

• “The blue of Heaven is larger than the clouds”. (Ps. 91:14; 1:29; Heb. 12:5)

• The storms of life prove the strength of our anchor. (Ps. 27:3; Acts. 27:23; Matt. 7:24)

Some Encouraging thoughts from Johny (Late John George Samuel)

Faith

• Even though we come to the end of the rope, we never come to the end of our hope. (Jer. 29:11; 2 Cor. 4:8-9; Col. 1:27)

• Praise God in all circumstances, whether they seem good or bad. Trust God for His wonderful plan for your life. (Ps. 34:1; 22:23,24; Acts. 16:25; Is. 42:10) 

• “The things which are impossible with men, are possible with God”. (Luke. 18:27; 1:37; Jer. 32:27; Gen. 18:14) 

Prayer 

• You have not always promised me rest from my burden, but You have always offered me rest in my burden. (Prov. 6:4; Ps. 106:43; 2 Kin. 17:39) 

• Don’t pray with sympathy, pray with power. (Rom. 8:35; Acts. 27:25; Eph. 6:10) 

• “The promises of God are certain, but they do not all mature in ninety-days”. (John. 11:6; 2 Pet. 3:9; Ps. 69:3) 

Facing Difficulties 

• Consider it pure joy… whenever you face trials of many kinds. (2 Cor. 4:8; Ps. 34:19; Ps. 119:71) 

• Though winds are wild, and the gale unleashed, my trusting heart still sings. (2 Tim. 1:12; Rom. 8:28; Ps. 140:12) 

• “When each earthly prop gives under, and life seems a restless sea, are you then a God-kept wonder, satisfied, calm and free?” (Prov. 22:12; Ps. 18:23; Jer. 2:25)