I do a few exercises when I first get up (before a bath). These are recorded.

MATTHEW 6:9-13
This is the only exercise in the King James Version – I learned as a child.
I lay down on a mat and bring my right knee to my chest with my left leg straight:
“…Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name…”
I bring my left knee to chest:
“… Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven…”
Right knee to chest:
“…Give us this day our daily bread…”
Left knee to chest:
“… Forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors…”
Right knee to chest:
“… And lead us not into temptation…”
Left knee to chest:
“… but deliver us from evil…”
Right knee to chest:
“…for thine is the kingdom…”
Left knee to chest:
“…and the power…”
Right knee to chest:
“…and the glory…”
Left knee to chest:
“…forever. Amen”

GALATIANS 5:22-23
I stretch on the mat with my arms over my head and my legs straight, flexing in ankles and my wrists up and down:
“But the fruit of the Spirit is…”
I stretch as far as I can from one side to the other, still lying on the mat with arms overhead:
“…love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”

PSALM 19-7-19
I bend my knees and press my back into the mat:
“The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul…”
I stretch my knees to opposite sides:
“…The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple…”
I bring both knees to the left side as far as possible while lying on the mat:
“…The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart…”
I bring both knees to the right side as far as possible:
“…The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes…”
I bring both knees to the left side as far as possible:
“…The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever…”
I bring both knees to the right side as far as possible:
“…The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous…”
I bring both knees to the left side as far as possible:
“They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold…”
I bring both knees to the right side as far as possible:
“…they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb…”
I bring both knees to the left side as far as possible:
“…By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward…”
I bring both knees to the right side as far as possible:
“…Who can discern his errors? Forgive my hidden faults…”
I bring both knees to the left side as far as possible:
“…Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. …’
I bring both knees to right side as far as possible:
“…Then will I be blameless, innocent of great transgression…”
I bring both knees to the left side as far as possible:
“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight…”
I bring both knees to the right side as far as possible:
“…O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.”

1 JOHN 5:14-15
I bring both my knees to my chest and hold:
“This is the confidence we have in approaching God; that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.”

PHILIPPIANS 4:4-8
With my back pressed into the mat I put my right ankle over my left knee while bringing my left knee as close to my chest as possible and hold:
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus…”
With my back pressed into the mat I put my left ankle over my right knee while bringing my left knee as close to my chest as possible and hold:
“…Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.”

ROMANS 8:26-27
Lying on mat I bring my right arm above my head with my right leg straight and my left knee bent, then at same time as bringing my right arm to my side, I bring my left arm above my head, straighten my left leg bending my right leg. I do this exercise over and over while saying this verse a couple times:
“…In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.”

COLOSSIANS 4:2-6
I stand straight, bring my shoulders up, then back, then down with my shoulders as far back as possible, then to my sides and repeat this exercise and this verse five times:
“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should…”
I repeat this exercise five times with this part of the verse:
“… Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” 

Following are the Bible verses I use. These have taken me several years to memorize and align them with exercises I want to add. It helps me to remember these verses by saying them every day. I often pray for what or whom these verses remind.

Some of these verses I need to hear and apply every day. For instance:
JAMES 1:2-7
I hold small weights and lift my arms overhead and back down several times:
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6 But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.”

OLD TESTAMENT verses for exercises:
2 CHRONICLES 7:14, 2 SAMUEL 22:33-37 & PSALMS 18:32-36, PSALM 16:1-11, PSALM 23, PSALM 37:4, PSALM 51:1-17, PSALM 73:23-26, PSALM 81:13-16, PSALM 91, PSALM 92:21-25, PSALM 118:28-29, PSALM 119:1-20, PSALM 119:32-34, PSALM 119:125, PROVERBS 2:1-12, PROVERBS 3:5-6, PROVERBS 4:20-23, PROVERBS 14:30,
PROVERBS 15-13, PROVERBS 15:15, Proverbs 15:30 , PROVERBS 16:24, Proverbs 16:24, PROVERBS 17:22, PROVERBS 24:10-11, PROVERBS 29:4, ISAIAH 26:3,ISAIAH 30:15, ISAIAH 40:28-31, ISAIAH 50:10, JEREMIAH 12:5, JEREMIAH 17:14, HABAKKUK 3:17-19

NEW TESTAMENT verses for exercises:
MATTHEW 5:3-12, LUKE 11:13, JOHN 1:1-5, JOHN 1:10-14, ROMANS 8:1-6, ROMANS 8:28, ROMANS 11:33-36,
ROMANS 12:1-2, 1 CORINTHIANS 10:12-13, 1 CORINTHIANS 13:4-7, 2 CORINTHIANS 10:3-6, 2 CORINTHIANS 12:9-10, EPHESIANS 1:13-14, EPHESIANS 1:15-19, EPHESIANS 2:8-10, EPHESIANS 3:16-21, EPHESIANS 5:15-17, EPHESIANS 6:10-20, , COLOSSIANS 3:1-4, COLOSSIANS 4:2-6,
TITUS 2:3-5, TITUS 2:11-14, JAMES 5:13-20, 1 PETER 1:3-9, 1 PETER 4:1-2, 2 PETER 1:3-11,

God bless!

Sometimes people imply that the God of the Old Testament is not the God of the New Testament – that God changed. That is not true. Similarities between the Old Testament and the New Testament are more important than the differences.

“Both testaments reveal the same holy, merciful, and righteous God who condemns sin but desires to save sinners through an atoning sacrifice. In both testaments, God reveals Himself to us and shows us how we are to come to Him through faith (Genesis 15:6; Ephesians 2:8).” gotquestions.org

Both testaments are about Jesus. In fact, Jesus is the Word:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life… The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us…” John 1:1-14

“the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption to sonship; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of the Messiah, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen.” Romans 9:4-5

“And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.” Colossians 1:18

Following are a few examples of God saying the same thing in the OT as in the NT:

GOD DOES NOT CHANGE
OT
“God is not a man, that he should lie, nor the son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?” Numbers 23:19
NT
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” Hebrews 13:8

THE WORD OF THE LORD ENDURES FOREVER
NT QUOTING OT
“For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. For, ‘All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord endures forever.’ Isaiah 40:6-8
And this is the word that was preached to you.” 1 Peter 1:23-26

DO NO ADD TO HIS WORD
OT
“Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar.” Proverbs 30:5-6
NT
“I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.” Revelation 22:18-19

GOD OF WRATH
OT
“When such a person hears the words of this oath and they invoke a blessing on themselves, thinking, “I will be safe, even though I persist in going my own way,” they will bring disaster on the watered land as well as the dry. The Lord will never be willing to forgive them; his wrath and zeal will burn against them. All the curses written in this book will fall on them, and the Lord will blot out their names from under heaven. The Lord will single them out from all the tribes of Israel for disaster, according to all the curses of the covenant written in this Book of the Law.” Deuteronomy 29:19-21
NT
“Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.” Revelation 20:11-15
 “Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness… Romans 11:22

 SALVATION
OT
“I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes…” Job 19:25-27
“Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.  Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit.” Psalm 32:1-2
“But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve you.” Psalm 130:4
NT
“…We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved…”
“Blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.” Romans 4:7
“If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9

 WHAT WE DO TO PLEASE GOD IS TO BELIEVE IN HIM
OT
“What shall I return to the Lord for all his goodness to me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord.” Psalm 116:12-13
NT
“Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”
Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” John 6:28-29

 COMPLETE OBEDIENCE BRINGS ANSWER
OT
“If my people would only listen to me, if Israel would only follow my ways, how quickly I would subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their foes!” Psalm 81:13-14
NT
“And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete.” 2 Corinthians 10:6

 MEEK WILL INHERIT THE LAND
OT
“But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy peace and prosperity. Psalm 37:11
NT
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” Matthew 5:5

 GOD WILL JUDGE
OT
“Far be it from you to do such a thing—to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?” Genesis 18:25
“Let the trees of the forest sing, let them sing for joy before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth,” 1 Chronicles 16:33
“Can anyone teach knowledge to God, since he judges even the highest?” Job 21:22
“…God will bring into judgment both the righteous and the wicked, for there will be a time for every activity, a time to judge every deed.” Ecclesiastes 3:17
NT
“…For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat.” Romans 14:10
“Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially…” 1 Peter 1:17
“But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.” 1 Peter 4:5

 WICKED GOING INTO CAVES ON DAY OF WRATH
OT
“Go into the rocks, hide in the ground from the fearful presence of the Lord and the splendor of his majesty!…
People will flee to caves in the rocks and to holes in the ground from the fearful presence of the Lord and the splendor of his majesty, when he rises to shake the earth. In that day people will throw away to the moles and bats their idols of silver and idols of gold, which they made to worship. They will flee to caverns in the rocks and to the overhanging crags fro the fearful presence of the Lord and the splendor of his majesty, when he rises to shake the earth.” Isaiah 2:10-21
NT
“I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair,
the whole moon turned blood red, ¹³ and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind. The heavens receded like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place.
Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and everyone else, both slave and free, hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. They called to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can withstand it?” Revelation 6:12-17

 GRAPES TRAMPLED – JUDGEMENT
OT
“Come, trample the grapes, for the winepress is full and the vats overflow—so great is their wickedness!” Joel 3:13
NT
“Still another angel, who had charge of the fire, came from the altar and called in a loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle, “Take your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of grapes from the earth’s vine, because its grapes are ripe.” The angel swung his sickle on the earth, gathered its grapes and threw them into the great winepress of God’s wrath. They were trampled in the winepress outside the city, and blood flowed out of the press, rising as high as the horses’ bridles for a distance of 1,600 stadia.” Revelation 14:18-20

 SUN, MOOM, STARS
OT
“When I snuff you out, I will cover the heavens and darken their stars; I will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon will not give its light. All the shining lights in the heavens I will darken over you; I will bring darkness over your land, declares the Sovereign Lord.” Ezekiel 32:7-8
“Before them the earth shakes, the heavens tremble, the sun and moon are darkened, and the stars no longer shine.” Joel 2:10
“The sun and moon will be darkened, and the stars no longer shine.” Joel 3:15
NT
“Immediately after the distress of those days “‘the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’” Matthew 24:29 Mark 13:24 Luke 21:25
“In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Acts 2:17-21 quoting Joel 2:28-32
“I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind. The heavens receded like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place.” Revelation 6:12-14

 JESUS NOT ABANDONED TO GRAVE
“I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest in hope,  because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, you will not let your holy one see decay.  You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.” Acts 2:25-28 quoting Psalm 16:8-11

 GOD THE FATHER TALKING TO JESUS
“The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” Acts 2:24-25 Psalm 110:1

BABYLON DESTROYED
OT
“…I am, and there is none besides me. I will never be a widow or suffer the loss of children.’ Both of these will overtake you in a moment, on a single day: loss of children and widowhood. They will come upon you in full measure, in spite of your many sorceries and all your potent spells. You have trusted in your wickedness and have said, ‘No one sees me.’ Your wisdom and knowledge mislead you when you say to yourself, ‘I am, and there is none besides me.’ Disaster will come upon you, and you will not know how to conjure it away. A calamity will fall upon you that you cannot ward off with a ransom;
a catastrophe you cannot foresee will suddenly come upon you. “Keep on, then, with your magic spells and with your many sorceries…” Isaiah 47:8-12
NT
“Give her as much torment and grief as the glory and luxury she gave herself. In her heart she boasts, ‘I sit enthroned as queen. I am not a widow; I will never mourn.’ Therefore in one day her plagues will overtake her: death, mourning and famine. She will be consumed by fire, for mighty is the Lord God who judges her.” Revelation 18:7-8

 GOD DOES NOT WANT ANYONE TO PERISH
OT
“Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign Lord. Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live?” Ezekiel 18:23
“Say to them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways!…’” Ezekiel 33:11
NT
“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9

 DEATH IS A LESSING FOR THE CHRISTIAN
OT
“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful servants.” Psalm 116:15
“On this mountain he will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations; he will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove his people’s disgrace from all the earth. The Lord has spoken.” Isaiah 25:7-8
“The righteous perish, and no one takes it to heart; the devout are taken away, and no one understands that the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil” Isaiah 57:1
“I will deliver this people from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death. Where, O death, are your plagues? Where, O grave, is your destruction…” Hosea 13:14
NT
“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” Romans 8:18
 “I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” 1 Corinthians 15:51-55
“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” Philippians 1:21
“And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’^[b] or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” Revelation 21:3-4

THERE WILL BE A MARRIAGE SUPPER OF THE LAMB
“On this mountain the Lord Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine—the best of meats and the finest of wines.” Isaiah 25:6
NT
“Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: “Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.” (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of God’s holy people.)
Then the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!”…” Revelation 19:6-9

In both testaments a complete contrast is made between those who trust in God and those who don`t.
“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” Romans 8:1-4

Jesus did tell His disciples:
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another” John 13:34

 But even this love was demonstrated in the Old Testament in the story of Ruth. Naomi, Ruth and Boaz showed this kind of love toward each other. Ruth set this love in motion when she declared to Noami:
“But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.  Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.” Ruth 1:16-17

Jesus summed up the law of the Old Testament into two commands:
“Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments” Matthew 22:37-40

Jesus fulfilled the Law in the New Testament:
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.” Matthew 5:17-18

 Much of what was said in the Old Testament is repeated in the New Testament. Any differences in the Testaments when understood demonstrate that the God of the Old Testament is the New Testament.

My church went into battle
And what a funny sight
They hardly had their armor on
So they couldn’t fight.

Helmets were on almost all
But shields there were few
And rarely did I see a sword
Poor defense I knew.

The breastplate of righteousness
Had long been left behind
But in it’s place sharp, fiery darts
Were all I could find.

But then what really shocked me
Was when I saw their hands
They had no belt of truth on so
They held up their pants.

Over-sized shoes too heavy
They surely held their peace
But their feet were so cumbersome
Few steps were released.

To make it worse, one brave man
Approached the watching crowd
For they had no armor on, and
didn’t make a sound.

Earnestly he called to them
“You need God! Follow me!”
But his pants fell to his ankles and
The crowd laughed with glee.

“Just look at you,” they told him,
“You can’t stop fiery darts
You say you have the answers but
You just fell apart.”

The man gave up and walked away
Mooning the crowd behind
He hid behind the others and
Threw his shield aside.

As I watched I thought aloud
“If not for God my King,
I think I’d say the same.” Instead,
I began to sing.

“Holy, holy, holy,
Is the Lord God Almighty
Who was, and is, and is to come.”
Revelations 4:8b

Who knew it would mean so much?
Praise is an awesome thing
And as the others joined my song
The darts lost their sting.

One by one we grabbed our swords
And then picked up our shields
Singing louder we got our belts
Less shoes we did wield.

We then shined up our helmets
Our singing shook the ground
Then last we put our breastplates on
Righteousness now found.

The crowd around stopped laughing
As darts fell to the dust
True praise and righteousness restored,
God stood around us.

Isaiah 58:8
Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.

Isaiah 61:11
For as the earth brings forth its sprouts, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to sprout up, so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to sprout up before all the nations.

Jesus is the answer, even if you can’t feel His presence or understand His council. Maybe it will take time, but there is hope because the God who created you can and wants to help you.

There are many circumstances that cause depression. It helps to know the reason because it involves a false belief. Jesus said:
“Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:32

Jesus is the Truth:
“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

Jesus is the Word:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made…
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:1-14

Because Jesus is the Word, the Bible is helpful in overcoming depression. God can even speak to a person with a passage that seems totally unrelated:
“The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart.” Psalm 19:8

At times David was depressed. At one time he spent years running from an insanely jealous King Saul. He had the hope that God had anointed him king, but that must have seemed dim at the time of his continuous stress:
“How long, LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me? Look on me and answer, LORD my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death, and my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,” and my foes will rejoice when I fall. But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing the LORD’s praise, for he has been good to me.” Psalm 13
Yet he knew what to do during these times to overcome his depression. He called out to God. He made wise decisions. These struggles brought him close to God. They prepared him for being king and for eternity.

God called David a man after His own heart:
“…God testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’” Acts 13:22

We must make sure we have no other gods. David says:
“The sorrows of those will increase who run after other gods.” Psalm 16:4
The gods of this age are food (if the wrong kind or too much), sex (if outside of marriage), alcohol, drugs, cigarettes, music (godly music can be uplifting). TV (most programs), people (sometimes God directs you to go to the right person), etc. Examine yourself to see if there is anything you go to for comfort instead of Jesus.

One time the Lord spoke this passage to me:
“If my people would only listen to me, if Israel would only follow my ways, how quickly I would subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their foes! Those who hate the LORD would cringe before him, and their punishment would last forever. But you would be fed with the finest of wheat; with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.” Psalm 81:13-16
If I listened to God, He would quickly defeat my enemies. How was I not obeying God? Who were my enemies? I didn’t feel I had any enemies. It was a miracle how my situation was made right when I did what I felt the Lord asked me to do (and it took searching). I realized these enemies/foes were evil forces.

As children of God, we have power over evil forces:
“Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Ephesians 6:11-12
Our spiritual weapons are truth, obedience, love, wisdom, the Word of God and prayer.

If we are battling depression we can use the weapon of prayer and ask others to pray for us:
“Surely you need guidance to wage war, and victory is won through many advisors.” Proverbs 24:6

What the Apostle Paul prayed for those he knew, was the best that could happen for them:
“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” Ephesians 3:16-21
Jesus “is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine”. That is what we can believe for no matter what our situation.

We can pray (it seems David had a special time of prayer in the morning) and “wait expectantly” because we can know God will answer:
“Listen to my words, LORD, consider my lament. Hear my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray. In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.” Psalm 5:1-3

Every morning God has something new for us. He loves us so much. Each day can contain a joyful surprize:
“Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23

The Apostle James give us practical ways to avoid depression:
“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” James 1:27
He tells us to guard against the false pleasures of the world, and, also, to give to others.

Paul tells the Philippians (and us) to rejoice in the Lord and not be anxious about anything:
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Philippians 4:4-8
He tells us how to keep our minds from being polluted by the world.
Paul has learned the secret of contentment and implies that we can too:
“I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.” Philippians 4:11
It will take time, but that is God’s plan for each of us.

Job was depressed – with good reason. The Lord allowed Satan to take everything, including his health, from him. Job suffered so much he wished he had never been born (Job 3:3-26).
Job’s suffering caused him to search for God. His search caused him to know God:
“My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.” Job 42-6
Job saw that he was unworthy of any blessing and repented of thinking his own works could justify him. When Job recalls his life, he will say it was worth it all just to know God.

Job never knew why he had suffered. God was proud of Job – He told Job’s friends they were wrong to accuse Job unfairly (Job 42:7), called Job His servant (Job 42:8) and gave Job twice as much as before (Job 42:10-17).

Life is getting better for the child of God, not only in eternity but for now. Circumstances may not be getting better, but we can know that we are gaining more wisdom, getting to know God better and are closer to our goal:
“The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.” Proverbs 4:18

As children of God, we can rejoice in Him:
“But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you. Surely, LORD, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.” Psalm 5:11-12

We can purposely choose joy and praise to fight mourning and despair:
“…to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.” Isaiah 61:3
Praise and worship is a major weapon against depression.
We can have “a continual feast”. Often it is just choosing to do so:
“All the days of the oppressed are wretched, but the cheerful heart has a continual feast.” Proverbs 15:15

The secret to having “perfect peace” is to steadfastly trust God:
“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” Isaiah 26:3

We can know that if we ask anything that is His will, we will receive it:
“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.” 1 John 5:14-15
Sometimes people distort this passage because they think that what is their will is God’s will. However we know that:
“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights…” James 1:17
His gifts are perfect and His will is best.

Jesus came to give us a full, abundant life:
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10
“I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them.” John 17:13

Anyone who knows Jesus has the Spirit of the Lord within them, “and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom”:
“But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” 2 Corinthians 3:16-18
Even if circumstances are not getting better we can have more joy because we “are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory”.

Paul had not become all he should be, but he purposely forgot the negatives in his past and strove to be what Jesus called him to be:
“Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13-14

Paul knew that Jesus would cause the circumstances of his life to bring glory to God:
“I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” Philippians 1:20-21

It is God who changes us into mighty warriors, sometimes through suffering – just let him:
“It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure. He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he causes me to stand on the heights. He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze. You make your saving help my shield; your help has made me great. You provide a broad path for my feet, so that my ankles do not give way.” 2 Samuel 22:33-37 Psalm 18:32-36
He even keeps us from what is too difficult for us.

We are to “encourage one another” that we will “meet the Lord in the air. And so be with the Lord forever”.
“For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.” 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18

We are citizens of heaven:
“But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.” Philippians 3:20-21
“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory” Colossians 3:1-14
We shouldn’t expect everything to be perfect on earth. Life on earth is nothing in time compared to eternity – it is important because we choose where we will go for eternity.

Following are some specific circumstances that might depress us and people in the Bible who experienced them:

If you cannot have children:
“Let no foreigner who is bound to the LORD say, “The LORD will surely exclude me from his people.” And let no eunuch complain, “I am only a dry tree.” For this is what the LORD says: “To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths, who choose what pleases me and hold fast to my covenant—to them I will give within my temple and its walls a memorial and a name better than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that will endure forever.” Isaiah 56:3-5
You will have an everlasting memorial and name.
The prophet Daniel was a eunuch. He was taken captive and entered into the king’s service. He had done nothing deserving this fate. Isaiah prophesied that because of Israel’s disobedience the nation would be taken captive, and specifically the king’s disobedience would result in some of his descendants being eunuchs:
“And some of your descendants, your own flesh and blood who will be born to you, will be taken away, and they will become eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.” Isaiah 39:7
Yet the Bible records only good concerning Daniel and calls him “highly esteemed” Daniel 9:23 10:11, 19

If you think you are not attractive – neither was Jesus:
“He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.” Psalm 53:2
We all beautiful in God’s opinion:
“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand—when I awake, I am still with you.” Psalm 139:13-18
Someday we will be given new bodies:
“So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.” 1 Corinthians 15:42-44

If there is a sin in your life that you can’t seem to conquer:
“Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.” Romans 7:20
If you are God’s child, you do not want to sin, and that sin isn’t really you:
“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering…” Romans 8:1-3
Because Jesus died for you, that sin is paid for and will someday be destroyed:

God knows each of us and will not allow any temptation that we cannot conquer:
“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it,” 1 Corinthians 10:13
God understands and will provide a way out for you. Be patent. Keep praying and listening for His direction.

If your friends desert you, so did Paul’s:
“At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth.” 1 Timothy 5:16-17
God is always with you. Sometimes you don’t realize how close He is until everyone else is gone.

If you are getting old – so was Paul:
“…Paul—an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus” Philemon 9
“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” Philippians 1:21
Put everything in perspective.

If you are not satisfied with your living situation:
“The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice…” Philippians 1:17-18
Paul knew he was in prison for Christ’s sake. You are where God put you. You can ask and maybe God will change the situation, but even if He doesn’t, know that you can bring Him glory where you are.

If you are afraid of death:
‘For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory. 1 Corinthians 15:53-54
“We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” Romans 6:4

If you are worried about the world situation:
“Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the LORD and against his anointed, saying, “Let us break their chains and throw off their shackles.”
The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them. He rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying, “I have installed my king on Zion, my holy mountain.” Psalm 2:1-6
“Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil. For those who are evil will be destroyed, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.” Psalm 37:7-9
The Lord has everything under control:
“There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord.” Proverbs 21:30

There are many potentially distressing situations, but the Holy Spirit, usually through Bible, has the answer for everyone of them.

Jesus has to best solution to all depression:
“If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father’s glory that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in His love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you an that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down hi8s life for his friends>’” John 15:7-13
Remain in Jesus by always listening and obeying Him, and love others more than you do yourself.
Paul says:
“Each of you should look not only after your own interests, but also to the interests of others.” Philippians 2:4

James tells us we should “consider it pure joy” when we face trials. He also implies that no matter what our problems, God is able to solve them for our good and His glory. If we need wisdom we can be assured He will give us wisdom, no matter how we have sinned – no matter what we deserve or feel we deserve. But it is important that we do believe that He will answer and that His answer is good:
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.” James 1:2-8
We can consider trials “pure joy” because God who loves us unconditionally and is able to bring good out of the greatest trouble is always with us waiting to hear our requests and praise.
The goal of our trials is to test our faith and make us “mature and complete, not lacking anything”. Can you think of a more valuable goal?

In summary, Paul gave one sentence of how to have “pure joy”:
“Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
We can be “joyful always” if we “pray continually” and “give thanks in all circumstances” and we know this is possible because it is God’s will for us.

Why not select and memorize several Bible verses that are meaningful for you?

What does it mean to be “reverent” or “reverent in behavior” NKJV NRSV in the way I live?
Synonyms are respectful, devout, dutiful, humble and obedient. Antonyms can be just as revealing – impolite, rude Thesaurus.com. Examples of women with these qualities from the Old Testament are Ruth and Esther (no wonder they have books named after them). New Testament examples are Mary and Elizabeth (Luke 1).

The reverent older woman is obedient to God, kind, pleasant, quiet, humble, submissive, thankful, joyful, compassionate, helpful, appreciative, strong, responsible, resourceful. The “woman of noble character” in Proverbs 31:10-31 is a wonderful example –  “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.” Proverbs 31:29

Older women are “not to be slanderers”.
Older women usually have more time to be busybodies (the younger woman is busy with her family):
“We hear that some among you are idle and disruptive. They are not busy; they are busybodies.” 2 Thessalonians 3:11
Although Paul is talking about those who refuse to work, his statement can be applied to anyone who doesn’t make good use of their time but finds the time to be a slanderer.

Gossiping begins in the heart with hypocritical judging:
“You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.” Romans 2:1

Older women can judge and gossip or slander, but they can also realize that nothing good is in them and become understanding and compassionate. They can spend extra time praying instead of gossiping. What would we like others to do for us when they see a fault? Pray for us:
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” Philippians 2:3-4

They can spend their time on the forefront fighting spiritual battles. Being a reverent servant leader of women (and in some cases men) like Deborah (Judges 4-5) is an example strongly needed.

Older women are not to be “addicted to much wine”. They should guard against being addicted to anything – food, lust, gambling or fashion (which can be pride or self-exaltation):
“I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.” 1 Timothy 2:8-10
Anything can be wrong if it becomes more important than Jesus.

Older woman should be able “to teach what is good”. How can they teach what is good unless they understand what is good and are living it themselves? The qualities that the younger woman should have are qualities that are should be evident in the older woman – “Then they can train the younger women”.
Paul says that older women are to teach what is good. Notice the parallel to his charge to Titus in verse 1. Teaching “what is good” would naturally mean teaching what accords with sound doctrine.” Ourspoken Tulip headstickdeb.com

Older woman have more experience than younger women and are usually wiser. However, exact ages are not given. Godly woman acquire wisdom much sooner than other women.

Older woman need to train younger women “to love their husbands and children”.
The Apostle Paul defines love:
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Proverbs 31 gives the practical aspects of loving your husband and children:
“A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value.  She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.  She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.  She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar.  She gets up while it is still night; she provides food for her family and portions for her female servants.  She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.  She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks.  She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night.  In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers.  She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy. When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet.  She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple.” Proverbs 13:10-22 She is trustworthy, industrious, wise, ambitious (not lazy), resourceful, caring and confident.

The book of Ruth gives an understanding of a Hebrew word for love: hesed (kh-sed) or “loving-kindness”.
Examples of hesed: “This list is adapted from the introduction to Ruth in the JPS Commentary by Tikva Frymer-Kensky and Tamara Cohn Eskanazi:
• Ruth refuses to abandon the widow, Naomi.
• Boaz goes beyond obligation to show kindness to Ruth and Naomi.
• Naomi seeks a way to help Ruth.
• Ruth offers herself to Boaz and encourages him to become her redeemer.
• Boaz extends his care to Ruth and Naomi.
• Boaz goes even beyond all this and marries Ruth.
• The community acts with hesed in affirming this marriage.
• Hesed heals Moabite-Israelite relations in one small circle of people.
• Hesed is a light in the dark days of the Judges in one place in Israel.
• A chain of hesed leads to the birth of David and, ultimately, Messiah. .” Derek Leman
Ruth is the perfect example of “a woman of noble character” – she was directed by God in big and small ways.

Older women should teach younger women to love their husbands and children with hesed or “loving-kindness”.

 “Jesus replied, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments. ’”, Matthew 22:38-40, 19:18-19  Mark 12:31-33 Luke 10:27
Husband and children are a wife and mother’s closet neighbor.

A wife needs an understanding of what marriage involves because sometimes it is not easy to feel love for your husband, and because Satan works to break up marriages and cause permanent harm to children.

God gives mothers an innate love for their children but that feeling needs to be accompanied by wisdom and an understanding of what unconditional love is. Treat your children as the Lord treats you, with loving-kindness:

Sometimes loving discipline is necessary:
“Discipline your children, for in that there is hope; do not be a willing party to their death.” Proverbs 19:18

The Lord disciplines those He loves:
“because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.” Proverbs 3:12

The wise mother disciplines and teaches her children with kindness:
“The wise in heart are called discerning, and gracious words promote instruction.” Proverbs 16:21

Older women should teach younger women “to be self-controlled and pure”:
Self-control is one of the fruits of the Spirit. The fruit of the Spirit  “…sums up nine attributes of a person or community living in accord with the Holy Spirit…” Wikipedia
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control…” Galatians 5:22-23

The fruit of the Spirit is the results of Jesus being those who believe. Jesus is God, He is perfect and. He is in us.

Jesus/God works in us “to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose”:
“…continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.” Philippians 2:12-13

Paul tells the Church a great mystery – that Jesus will be in them:
“… the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people. To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Colossians 1:27

Self-control is controlling ourselves by obeying what we know to be God’s will. It is God who accomplishes this, but at times He uses older women to teach younger women.

Self-control is closely related to purity. Impurity involves lack of self-control. Primarily pure in this case is free from sin, especially from sexual experience or thoughts. Older women, not men, even pastors unless accompanied by their wives, should not be take it upon themselves to be involved in this way with younger women.

Older woman should teach younger women “to be busy at home”:

This doesn’t mean that women need to only stay at home. The Bible has many examples of women who didn’t –
Miriam, Deborah, Esther, Priscilla, Lydia, but if a woman has a husband and/or children she should follow the example of the woman of noble character in Proverbs 31:
“She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.” Proverbs 31:27
A woman’s first responsibility is her home.

Older women should teach younger women to be kind. Kindness is a fruit of the Spirit. Men and women are admonished to be kind. The woman of noble character also has this characteristic:
“She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.” Proverbs 31:20

Older women can best teach kindness by being kind – showing example of hesed – loving-kindness.

Older woman should teach younger women “to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.”
Being subject to your husband means “no one will malign the word of God.” Malign means evil in nature, injurious, harmful. People will say something evil, injurious or harmful about the word of God because of a wife not being subject to her husband. Offensive to everyone (except perhaps the rebellious feminist) is an abrasive, bossy wife. If she is a Christian, she is certainly being a bad example that will turn people away from Jesus and His word.

Several passages in the Bible make it clear that wives are to submissive to their husbands (1 Corinthians 11:1-16 Ephesians 5:21-33 1 Timothy 2:8-15 1 Peter 3:1-6).

Submission does not mean that the wife doesn’t do some tasks or that she always does others. For example, sometimes a wife might handle the finances. Sometimes the husband might do the cooking or look after the children. Submission means that the husband has the final authority, the final responsibility. Some husbands will not take that authority or responsibility which makes it difficult for the wife, but with God’s help, she can be the submissive wife He wants her to be.

Being subject to your husband should bring the result given the noble woman in Proverbs 31:
“Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.” Proverbs 31:11-12
“Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.” Proverbs 31:28-29

The older women have a great responsibility in teaching the younger women, but it can also be a great joy:
“A person finds joy in giving an apt reply— and how good is a timely word!” Proverbs 15:23