“I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.” (Proverbs 8:17) NIV
I love the Lord with all my heart, and I seek Him everyday, especially in my quiet time. The Lord says "go into your closet." I do that every morning. It is a growing, learning experience of great joy.
“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6) KJV
When I started writing a book for the age group I taught, I had no sense of what held them together. I prayed, and God gave me the outline in Shadow of His Wings. I trust Him to reach the ones He will. I believe He is directing my path.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled." (Matthew 5:6) NKJV
I have sought righteousness for many years. God has filled me with good things.
"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God and who are called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28 (NIV)
I heard a whole sermon on this verse once. Even bad things "work together for good." I can see so clearly where even the bad things have worked together for my good and those around me. To be "called according to his purpose" means to be saved and set apart for God.
"But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold." (Job 23:10) NIV
Gold is refined seven times in the hottest fires possible. Each time they skim off the dross (impurities) and put it back in to "cook" some more until it is 100% pure gold. As believers we have trials and suffering, but in the end we will turn out as gold: 100% pure gold.
"I have loved you with an everlasting love. I have drawn you with loving kindness. I will build you up again, and you will be rebuilt." (Jeremiah 31:3b-4a) NIV
When I got this verse, I wasn't sure what being rebuilt meant; I wasn't even sure what love meant. I looked rebuilt up in the dictionary and found out it means: "to restore to a previous condition; to repair or remodel extensively, as by taking apart and reconstructing, often with new parts." That is what God did for me. That is what He will do for you. The definition for love is three inches long in the dictionary. The meaning I chose is "God's benevolent concern for mankind and man's devout attachment to God." When we are devoutly attached to God, we meet His directive in John 13:34.