Psalm 37:7

Psalm 37:7 (MSG)
Quiet down before god, be prayerful before him. Don't bother with those who climb the ladder, who elbow their way to the top.

Psalm 34:4

Psalm 34:4 (MSG)
god met me more than halfway, he freed me from my anxious fears.

Psalm 31:24

Psalm 31:24 (MSG)
Be brave. Be strong. Don't give up. Expect God to get here soon.

The Great Reversal

Matthew 19:28-30 (MSG)
Jesus replied, "Yes, you have followed me. In the re-creation of the world, when the Son of Man will rule gloriously, you who have followed me will also rule, starting with the twelve tribes of Israel. And not only you, but anyone who sacrifices home, family, fields—whatever—because of me will get it all back a hundred times over, not to mention the considerable bonus of eternal life. This is the Great Reversal: many of the first ending up last, and the last first."

Psalm 22:26

Psalm 22:26 (MSG)
Down-and-outers sit at God's table and eat their fill. Everyone on the hunt for God is here, praising him. "Live it up, from head to toe. Don't ever quit!"

Matthew 18:19-20

Matthew 18:19-20 (MSG)
When two of you get together on anything at all on earth and make a prayer of it, my Father in heaven goes into action.

Matthew 16:25

Matthew 16:25 (MSG)
Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self.

Put this on the top of your list

Proverbs 4:3-9 (MSG)
When I was a boy at my father's knee, the pride and joy of my mother, He would sit me down and drill me: "Take this to heart. Do what I tell you—live! Sell everything and buy Wisdom! Forage for Understanding! Don't forget one word! Don't deviate an inch! Never walk away from Wisdom—she guards your life; love her—she keeps her eye on you. Above all and before all, do this: Get Wisdom! Write this at the top of your list: Get Understanding! Throw your arms around her—believe me, you won't regret it; never let her go—she'll make your life glorious. She'll garland your life with grace, she'll festoon your days with beauty."

Matthew 12:6-7

Matthew 12:6-7 (MSG)
"There is far more at stake here than religion. If you had any idea what this Scripture meant—'I prefer a flexible heart to an inflexible ritual'—you wouldn't be nitpicking like this. The Son of Man is no lackey to the Sabbath; he's in charge."

Matthew 11:28-30

Matthew 11:28-30 (MSG)
"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."

Large calling, start small

Matthew 10:41-42 (MSG)
Accepting a messenger of God is as good as being God's messenger. Accepting someone's help is as good as giving someone help. This is a large work I've called you into, but don't be overwhelmed by it. It's best to start small.

Matthew 10:5-23

Matthew 10:5-23 (MSG)
Jesus sent his twelve harvest hands out with this charge: "Don't begin by traveling to some far-off place to convert unbelievers. And don't try to be dramatic by tackling some public enemy. Go to the lost, confused people right here in the neighborhood. Tell them that the kingdom is here. Bring health to the sick. Raise the dead. Touch the untouchables. Kick out the demons. You have been treated generously, so live generously.

Proverbs 3:9-10

Proverbs 3:9-10 (MSG)
Honor God with everything you own; give him the first and the best.

Matthew 9:10-13

Matthew 9:10-13 (MSG)
Later when Jesus was eating supper at Matthew's house with his close followers, a lot of disreputable characters came and joined them. When the Pharisees saw him keeping this kind of company, they had a fit, and lit into Jesus' followers. "What kind of example is this from your Teacher, acting cozy with crooks and riffraff?"

Psalm 9:9-10

Psalm 9:9-10 (MSG)
god's a safe-house for the battered, a sanctuary during bad times. The moment you arrive, you relax; you're never sorry you knocked.

Simplifying Prayer

Matthew 6:6-8 (MSG)
"Here's what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won't be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace.

Matthew 5:48

Matthew 5:48 (MSG)
"In a word, what I'm saying is, Grow up. You're kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you."

Matthew 5:3-10

Matthew 5:3-10 (MSG)
"You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.

Psalm 138:8

Psalm 138:8 (NLT)
The LORD will work out his plans for my life— for your faithful love, OLORD, endures forever. Don’t abandon me, for you made me.