ROMANS 12:16: Do not be proud, but be willing to a.s.sociate with people of low position. Do not think you are superior.

Anger

EPHESIANS 4:26: In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry.

JAMES 1:20 (NCV): Anger will not help you live the right kind of life G.o.d wants.

Justice

ISAIAH 1:17: Learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.

ISAIAH 61:8: For I, the LORD, love justice; I hate robbery and wrongdoing. In my faithfulness I will reward my people and make an everlasting covenant with them.

PROVERBS 19:17: Those who are kind to the poor lend to the LORD, and he will reward them for what they have done.

Wisdom

JAMES 1:5: If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask G.o.d, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.

MATTHEW 10:16 (KJV): Be therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

PROVERBS 17:28: Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent, and discerning if they hold their tongues.

Security

ROMANS 8:38a39: For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of G.o.d that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Power

PHILIPPIANS 4:13: I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

MARK 10:27: With human beings this is impossible, but not with G.o.d; all things are possible with G.o.d.

ZECHARIAH 4:6: "Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit," says the LORD.

Contentment

PHILIPPIANS 4:11: I have learned to be content whatever the circ.u.mstances.

HEBREWS 13:5: Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have.

1 TIMOTHY 6:6: G.o.dliness with contentment is great gain.

Peace

JOHN 14:27a: Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.

MATTHEW 5:9: Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of G.o.d.

PHILIPPIANS 4:7: The peace of G.o.d, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

APPENDIX 2.

"IS THIS WHISPER.

REALLY FROM G.o.d?".

OVER THE YEARS I HAVE COMPILED A SHORT LIST OF filters that help me test every whisper I receive. No matter how confusing, challenging or unsettling a prompting may be, if it pa.s.ses the following five filters, I attempt to obey it every time. Similarly, if a whisper seems like a no-brainer from a human standpoint, but it doesn't stand up under the scrutiny of these five filters, I am reticent to accept it as being from G.o.d without further careful examination.

FILTER #1: Is the Prompting Truly from G.o.d?

Whenever you receive a prompting-whether from G.o.d directly or through the lips of another-take whatever time is necessary to ask, "G.o.d, is this message from you? Does this square with who I know you to be? Is it consistent with your character? Is it aligned with your attributes? Is this you trying to convey something to me, or are there other voices getting into my head?" Before taking a single step to obey the whisper you've received, be sure you get the all-clear that the voice you have heard could be from G.o.d.

FILTER #2: Is It Scriptural?

Scripture is replete with examples of how G.o.d would behave in any given life situation, and the Example's name is Jesus Christ. Whenever I sense a prompting from G.o.d, I ask myself if I could imagine Jesus doing whatever action the prompting is suggesting I do. If I can't envision Jesus following suit, I fear my wires somehow must have gotten crossed. Check every prompting you receive against the thematic teachings of Scripture. Messages that contradict Scripture are not from G.o.d.

FILTER #3: Is It Wise?

G.o.d's whispers rarely go against wisdom and common sense. The entire book of Proverbs is devoted to dissecting wisdom and all her attributes. For example, the wise one loves knowledge, while the fool hates it; the wise one practices gentle speech, while the fool uses harsh, incendiary words; the wise one lives blamelessly, while the fool is utterly corrupt; the wise one follows a straight path, while the fool rejoices in the perverseness of evil; the wise one inherits honor, while the fool is held up to shame. Scripture is relentless in exhorting us to be wise in all our dealings, to be wise in all our ways.

G.o.d's direction rarely violates the wisdom test. Be sure you're not sidestepping what is wise in favor of acting quickly on whispers. If G.o.d is indeed in the plan, it will likely not involve blatantly unwise action.

FILTER #4: Is It in Tune with Your Own Character?

I caution people against running headlong into a field that is totally foreign to their wiring patterns, their education, their expertise and their experience in life thus far. It's not that G.o.d can't endorse a dramatic 180-degree turn. It's just that typically when he does so, it gets affirmed through a series of whispers, from several sources, in a variety of different ways.

FILTER #5: What Do the People You Most Trust Think about It?

Whenever you sense that G.o.d is speaking to you, find two or three veteran Christ-followers-preferably people who know you well and who are further down the spiritual path than you are-and take some time to describe the situation to them in detail. Humbly ask them, "Do you think G.o.d really did speak to me? Is this the voice of G.o.d I'm hearing, or in your estimation did I get my wires crossed?" Then, listen openly and intently to the answers you receive, because they might just save your hide. Subject every prompting to the G.o.dly counsel test. It will save you from boatloads of heartache and just might affirm G.o.d's best will for your life.

NOTES.