Quotes from Scotty Smith

Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. (1 Pet. 5:7)

Jesus, right now I submit to you as my Prophet, Priest, and King. You're my wisdom and my righteousness, my holiness and my redemption (1 Cor. 1:30). I boast in you plus nothing, for there's nothing boastworthy in me.

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. (Col. 3:12–14 NIV)

I am left speechless—overwhelmed at the beauty, Jesus, of belonging to you, being desired by you, being "known" by you in the most intimate of all ways.

A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found. But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy peace and prosperity. The wicked plot against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them; but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he knows their day is coming. (Ps. 37:10–13 NIV)

Since your joy is my strength, Father (Neh. 8:10), cause my heart muscle to beat afresh with your joy, the joy that fills the courts of heaven. Holy Spirit, since joy is one of the fruits you grow in the lives of the children of God, please weed, prune, and fertilize my heart for a fresh crop.

The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. (James 5:16 NIV)

I need you to free me from both extremes of naive passivity and fear-mongering aggression.

But he [Jesus] has appeared once for all at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him. (Heb. 9:26–28 NIV)

Heavenly Father, my heart goes out today to those whose feet are in the mud and mire of various slimy pits—friends whose weariness is growing and whose patience is growing thin.

And he said to them, "O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?" And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. (Luke 24:25–27)

The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. (Prov. 12:18 NIV)

Father, I pray both for those needing a lift from "the pit" and for the lifters, for those needing help and for the helpers. We're all in need of what you alone can give.

I'm not asking you to make the mud and the mire go away; just make the Rock, Jesus, more evident and beautiful to all. Cause our feet to stand upon Jesus, the only firm foundation in this life and the life to come, in times of great adversity, in times of great prosperity, and in all the in-between times.

Your answer to me today in this Scripture is just what I need. You won't give me a date, but as always, you do give me yourself.

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. (Col. 3:23–24)

No one yet grasped that your mortal punishment would bring our eternal peace, that your fatal wounding would secure our everlasting healing, and that your being crushed would lead to our being cherished by the thrice holy God (Isa. 53).

Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. (Ps. 51:12)

Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you. (Ps. 63:3–5 NIV)

Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?" that is, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Matt. 27:46)

Father, I also need you to re-parent me as a parent. You've already forgiven me for the years I spent parenting by fear and control and out of guilt and pride. Now I pray for the redeeming of those years. Indeed, Father, teach me what it means to parent by grace, in every season of our relationship. Write stories of restoration and renewal.

Truly, there is no other Lord but you, Jesus. You are the Christ, the promised and present Savior. Through you the Father created the world, through you he granted salvation, through you he's sustaining all things, and through you he'll complete his great story of redemption and restoration. It is through you that I live and move and have my being, Jesus (Acts 17:28).

And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, "Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death." (Rev. 12:10–11)

I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. (John 14:18)