ABC's of Christian Faith

As a fun Bible exercise, I tried to remember scripture verses for each letter of the alphabet. It worked for most letters, with some minor exceptions, especially depending on which Bible translation was used.

While I was searching online for images, I found a "Gospel Alphabet" already done! It was shared by a blogger at this link. All verses below were found at BibleGateway.com. Enjoy, and come up with another list!

A

"...All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23 NASB)

B

"But as many as received Him, to them gave He the right
to become children of God." (John 1:12 NASB)

C

"Create in me a clean heart O God;
and renew a steadfast spirit in me." (Psalm 53:10 NIV)

D

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility
value others above yourselves." (Phillipians 2:3 NIV)

E

"For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive
to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against
those who do evil." (1 Peter 3:12 NIV)

F

"The fool says in his heart there is no God." (Psalm 53:1 NIV)

G

"God opposes the proud,
but gives favor to the humble." (1 Peter 5:5b NIV)

H

"... Be holy, [God says],
because I am holy." (1 Peter 1:16 NIV)

I

Jesus answered, "I am the way, the truth, and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6 NIV)

J

"Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant." (Hebrews 7:22 NASB)

K

"Keep in mind Jesus Christ, risen from the dead." (2 Timothy 2:8)

L

"Let us love one another. Love is from God." (1 John 4:7)

M

"May grace and peace be multiplied to you." (1 Peter 1:2 ESV)

N

"Now without faith it is impossible to to please God." (Hebrews 11:6 HCSB)

O

"Obey your leaders and submit to them." (Hebrews 13:17 HCSB)

P

"Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is
to look after orphans and widows and
keep oneself unspotted by the world." (James 1:27)

Q

"...Be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger." (James 1:19 ESV)

R

"...Reject foolish and ignorant disputes,
knowing that they breed quarrels." (2 Timothy 2:23 HCSB)

S

"...Submit to God, resist the Devil and he will flee from you." (James 4:7 HCSB)

T

"The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid." (Hebrews 13:6)

U

"...Understand what the Lord's will is." (Ephesians 5:17)

V

"...Vengeance is mine, I will repay says the Lord..." (Hebrews 10:30 AMP)

W

"We love because He [God] first loved us." (1 John 4:19 AMP)

X

"Examine yourself to see whether you are in the faith." (2 Corinthians 13:5)

Y

"You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy people." (1 Peter 2:10)

Z

"Never be lacking in zeal, but keep
your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord." (Romans 12:11)

Prayer, Faith, and Trusting God

The Importance of Prayer

Jesus taught us to pray in the New Testament. This was the prayer that our church congregation recited every Sunday morning by memory when I was growing up. Today, it still reminds me how I ought to pray, although I often forget.

Matthew 6:9-13, King James Version (KJV)

After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

The Challenge to Pray

I am often too "busy" to pray at length, but I have been recently challenged to spend more time in prayer. I began a list of specific family, friends, projects, personal goals or needs, etc. to pray for during a time I set aside, either during a quiet devotional time or while I am walking. For anyone reading this, join me in this challenge, even if it is only 2-3 times a week at first.

How to Pray

Praying is simply talking to God, either verbally or in one's mind. It acknowledges a relationship with our Creator, and it exercises faith. I recited many prayers as a child during Sunday school or church, and I did believe in God, but it was not until I was 15 that I actually prayed a fervent prayer of faith.

This was a prayer that acknowledged my need for God to be with me, not just an idea but more of a daily source of trust and companionship with the Almighty God. It went something like this:

"God, if You are there, and you truly hear my prayer. I need You to be with me, to save me, and to help me."

The words of the psalm below often remind me of how I felt at one emotional low point:

Psalm 40:2, Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB) 

He brought me up from a desolate pit,
out of the muddy clay,
and set my feet on a rock, making my steps secure.

"Thank you, Lord, for the times when you have delivered me from trials or danger, sadness, or pain. Please continue to guide my steps, and keep me safe in Your presence."

Prayer Guidebook
Our prayers are more effective when we truly believe in the power of prayer, and we pray according to God's will, or biblically (not just for things we want).

I did an online search for prayer resources, and I found this helpful list of scripture references (see the Praying In Victory and Praying Scriptures links below) to use during prayer times, as a reminder of the promises we can claim in the presence of God.

Each page is categorized by need, and it is has been translated in a few other languages. Thank you, PrayingInVictory.com and PrayingScriptures.com for these online websites!

Psalm 145

"Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." (Romans 10:13)

"Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, He gave the right to become children of God." (John 1:12)

Be Sensible: Teach Sound Doctrine and Faith

In Titus, chapter 1, Paul gave instructions to Titus on how to appoint godly leaders. In chapter 2, Paul commands Titus and the church leaders to be sound teachers. This includes older men, older women, young men, and even slaves are instructed to demonstrate utter faithfulness to their master so that they might "adorn the teaching of God our Savior in everything." 

How does a slave obey and show utter faithfulness to a master? This is a concept we, Americans, have a difficult time grasping in the 21st century. However, we must go back to what the church was instructed to be. In Titus 2, older men were to be: self controlled, worthy of respect, sensible, and sound in faith, love, and endurance. Older women were to be: reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not addicted to much wine, teachers of what is good, and encouraging younger women to love their husbands and children.

Young men were to be: sensible "about everything," an example of good works, having integrity and dignity in teaching, having a message that is beyond reproach so that the opponent would be ashamed and have nothing bad to say.

Since the word sensible was used throughout this chapter, I decided to look it up online. This is what I found on dictionary.com.

Synonyms

1. intelligent, sagacious, rational, reasonable. See practical. 2. conscious, understanding, observant. 4. perceptible, discernible, palpable.

At this point, I have modified my blog from my original post. How does sensibility, intelligence, consciousness, and understanding (a few of the key words above) relate back to sound teaching?

The words intelligent and sagacious remind me of the many scriptures that explain how we are to seek wisdom from God. Some examples: 1 Corinthians 1, James 1:5.

And applying this wisdom to faith, it is impossible to please God if we do not have faith, live a life worthy of Him, evidenced by good works (Colossians 1:10).

In the Bible in Ephesians chapter 2, verses 8-10, we learn that it is not good works that save us, it is our faith--the good works result from this faith and this relationship with God:

"For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God's gift--not from works, so that no one can boast. For we are His creation--created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them."

The last part of Titus 2 concludes with verses 11-15, and they are very important and noteworthy for all people as an eternal promise and gift from God, if we choose to accept His gift of salvation.

"For the grace of God has appeared, with salvation for all people, instructing us to deny godlessness and worldly lusts and to live in a sensible, righteous, and godly way in the present age, while we wait for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. He gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for Himself a special people, eager to do good works. Say these things, and encourage and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you."