Christianity Oasis Forum

[dema]

Day 14 – God Is Able

To be able means to have sufficient power or resources.

God doesn’t owe us anything.

Job 41 (New International Version)
10 …
Who then is able to stand against me?
11 Who has a claim against me that I must pay?
Everything under heaven belongs to me.

But, God alone has sufficient resources for all our needs.

2 Corinthians 3 (New American Standard Bible)
5Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God,

And God is able to provide for us sufficiently and more than sufficiently.

2 Corinthians 9 (New American Standard Bible)
8And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed;

Why? So that we may have abundance to do good deeds. Read it again – that we many have sufficiency, enough, for ourselves and abundance for good deeds.

Ephesians 3 (New American Standard Bible)
20Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us,

God is able to give us all that we need and more – when His power is working in us.

What is God able to do? Anything that we need Him to do.

Daniel 3 (New American Standard Bible)
15"Now if you are ready, at the moment you hear the sound of the horn, flute, lyre, trigon, psaltery and bagpipe and all kinds of music, to fall down and worship the image that I have made, very well But if you do not worship, you will immediately be cast into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire; and what god is there who can deliver you out of my hands?"
16Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to give you an answer concerning this matter.
17"If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king.
18"But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up."

Sometimes, it seems that people in general feel like God is at risk if events don't appear to be happening in accordance with their conception of God. God is not at risk. Our perspective may be at risk, but God never is.

Shadrach, Mechach and Abednego were facing death by fire. And still they stuck to their faith, summing up faith principles beautifully.
1. God is able.
2. God will fulfill his promises.
3. But, even if the promises are not fulfilled according to my own understanding of them, I will still continue to serve God according to my understanding - unto death if necessary.

And God did rescue them – they were thrown into the fiery furnace and the guard who threw them in died from the flames. But they lived, walking around in the flames and not even having the smell of smoke on them when they came out.

Acts 20 (English Standard Version)
32And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

Our Lord is able to build us up. Sometimes that seems more impossible than anything else. Little old pitiful us. Powerless though we may feel some days, God is still able to use us for His purpose.

And He will keep us:

2 Timothy 1 (New American Standard Bible)
12For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.

Jude 1 (English Standard Version)
24 Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy,

God is able. We don't have the resources to be able of ourselves. We need to let go and let God.

[dema]

Day 15 – Love Yourself

Matthew 22 (New International Version)
39And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'

Thou shalt love your neighbor as a turnip?
Thou shalt love your neighbor as a thorn in the side?
Thou shalt love your neighbor as a piece of chocolate cake?

Do you love yourself? You need to love yourself before you can fulfill this second greatest commandment.

How do you show love for yourself? Do you love getting a massage? Maybe you should rub someone else’s back. Do you love being forgiven? Being treated with respect? Are there acts of love and respect that you give yourself and expect others to give you?

Luke 17 (New International Version)
3So watch yourselves.
"If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. 4If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, 'I repent,' forgive him."

Sometimes we need to remember this love your neighbor as yourself and think about the implications. If we need to forgive ourselves seven times in a day, or seventy times seven, then we should do it. Certainly, if we are upset with ourselves there is desire for repentance.

And certainly God forgives us:

1 John 1 (New American Standard Bible)
9If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Matthew 6 (New American Standard Bible)
12'And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
14"For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
15"But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.

This says that if we forgive men, God will forgive us. Well, aren't you yourself a man (or woman - it's obviously mankind which is meant here)? Isn't it required that you forgive you?

Luke 6 (New International Version)
37"Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.

Don’t judge yourself. Don’t condemn yourself. Forgive yourself. You deserve it. If you are living in guilt, then obviously you are sorry. Your heart is changed, and you are repenting – even if you backslide 7 times or 70 x 7 times in a day.

Romans 8 (New International Version)
36As it is written:
"For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." 37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

If God loves us so much, who are we to be down on ourselves?

[dema]

Day 16 - Security

I was just reading about the Israelites and how they claimed that God had taken them out of Egypt to destroy them in the wilderness, and later, to destroy them in battle in the promised land. In hindsight, we can see God’s ongoing plan for them and how the Israelites increased their troubles by their doubt and unbelief. And eventually, several times in history, there were periods of peace and blessings from God.

Most of us have history in our own lives to show that the bad things do not last. We may feel like we're surviving on bread and water (or manna) for a while, but the meat comes eventually. (Our waistlines tend to testify to that!)

Psalm 115 (English Standard Version)
13he will bless those who fear the LORD,
both the small and the great.

The Bible is full of promises. But these promises require a commitment on our part. If we have fulfilled the requirement, or have strived to do so while asking for God’s help, then we should EXPECT to receive from God. This is faith.

Psalm 112 (English Standard Version)
1 Praise the LORD! Blessed is the man who fears the LORD,
who greatly delights in his commandments!

If you have served God with respect and tried to follow His commandment’s cheerfully then:

2His offspring will be mighty in the land;
the generation of the upright will be blessed.
3 Wealth and riches are in his house,
and his righteousness endures forever.

You should expect to have prosperous children and prosperity in your home. Keep in mind, most kings in history have not lived in the comfort in which we live today. Most of us have wealth and riches that people of history couldn’t even imagine. And security against adversity. Our castles do not lie under siege until people eat dung or their own young. Our villages do not get razed to the ground.

If you handle your business honorably, and help others, and think of others in the way in which you do your work:

4Light dawns in the darkness for the upright;
he is gracious, merciful, and righteous.
5It is well with the man who deals generously and lends;
who conducts his affairs with justice.
6For the righteous will never be moved;
he will be remembered forever.
7He is not afraid of bad news;
his heart is firm, trusting in the LORD.
8His heart is steady; he will not be afraid,
until he looks in triumph on his adversaries.

Then you should expect God to lead you victoriously through difficulties. You need to be challenged. You need to operate your faith. It isn’t pleasant – but it is a need in order for you to grow. There will be darkness and there will be bad news.

9He has distributed freely; he has given to the poor;
his righteousness endures forever;
his horn is exalted in honor.
10The wicked man sees it and is angry;
he gnashes his teeth and melts away;
the desire of the wicked will perish!

But righteousness will triumph. And those who come up against you will not prosper in doing so.

[dema]

Day 17 - Anxiety

I have seen so many people self-destruct worrying about something that never happened.

Matthew 6 (New International Version)
34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

We shouldn’t hide our heads and refuse to face the music. Sometimes we need to act, and act in ways that are appropriate – no matter how unattractive they are. However, most of what we spend time brooding over doesn’t require action.

Matthew 6 (English Standard Version)
34 "Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

We really need to keep our attention on today. Deal with today’s troubles – but then, celebrate today’s joys.

We are not competent to micromanage the whole world as many of us would like to do. We aren’t even competent to control our own lives.

2 Corinthians 3 (New International Version)
5Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.

Nor are we sufficient to make our lives a success.

2 Corinthians 3 (English Standard Version)
5 Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God,

Nor are we even adequate in making life into what we want it to be.

2 Corinthians 3 (New American Standard Bible)
5Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God,

No matter how you cut it, we need God.

2 Corinthians 12 (New American Standard Bible)
9And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness " Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.

God has a plan. Lean on him while He carries it out.

1 Peter 5 (New American Standard Bible)
7casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.

[dema]

Day 18 – Protection

I’ve heard people in their 50’s describe themselves as an orphan after losing their parents. Not only do we have one of the closest bonds possible with those who raised us, but they also represent safety and a place of refuge.

2 Samuel 22 (New International Version)
3 my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield and the horn of my salvation.
He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior—
from violent men you save me.
31 "As for God, his way is perfect;
the word of the LORD is flawless.
He is a shield
for all who take refuge in him

God can and will protect us, and in ways that penetrate every aspect of our lives. The Lord can protect us from ourselves – and do so flawlessly.

Oh the agony of having put my foot in my mouth. The pain of having chewed on my toes before finally extricating my mangled figurative appendage. But God can protect us from ourselves and can cover for our foolish words.

Psalm 9 (English Standard Version)
10And those who know your name put their trust in you,
for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you.

But God can take care of us in every aspect of life – and promises to do so for those who seek Him and trust.

Psalm 37 (English Standard Version)
3 Trust in the LORD, and do good;
dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.
4 Delight yourself in the LORD,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the LORD;
trust in him, and he will act.
40The LORD helps them and delivers them;
he delivers them from the wicked and saves them,
because they take refuge in him.

Why does God deliver?

Because we take refuge in Him.

When does God act?

When we become committed to Him.

Why will God give you the desires of your heart?

Because you delight yourself in Him. Delight is an intense emotion.

Delight – the response you hope to see in your children’s eyes on Christmas morning.

Expect delight. In all your days in all your ways, commit to God and expect to be delighted.

[dema]

Day 19 - Stand Strong

Ephesians 6 (New International Version)
14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

14Stand firm then,
Stand - have confidence.
with the belt of truth buckled around your waist,
Know and stand on the truth.
with the breastplate of righteousness in place,
Be protected by the righteousness of Jesus - not of ourselves.
15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
Walk in peace, peace from the good news of Jesus.
16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
Believe in the promises of God and, as a result, Satan and the world will have no power over you. Believe with confidence and you will be protected against whatever Satan throws at you.
17Take the helmet of salvation
Know that your head, and the brain within it, is protected by the fact that you are saved.
And the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God
And that you can attack any situation with promises from the word of God.
18And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.
Pray.
With this in mind, be alert
Be alert.
and always keep on praying for all the saints.
Pray for others.

The helmet of salvation protects you from the crazymaking thoughts of panic and despair and other forces of evil. Remember:

2 Timothy 1 (Amplified Bible)
7For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.

God wants you to have a well-balanced mind. One that is calm, and disciplined and that has self-control. God isn’t going to come in and take over you mind. He is going to give you the ability to have self-control. If you let Him.

[dema]

Day 20 – Impossible

It’s possible. What? Everything!

Philippians 4 (New International Version)
13I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

Matthew 19 (New International Version)
26Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

Mark 9 (New International Version)
23" 'If you can'?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for him who believes."

Luke 18 (New American Standard Bible)
27But He said, "The things that are impossible with people are possible with God."

I love the Rogers and Hammerstein tune, Impossible, from Cinderella. The first rendition of this refrain starts out “Impossible!” and the second is “It’s Possible”

But (for) the world is full of zanies and fools.
who won't believe in sensible rules
who won't believe what sensible people say
and because these daff and dewey-eyed dopes
keep building up impossible hopes
Impossible, things are happening every day
It's possible…..

Be dewey-eyed . Believe in the impossible promises of God instead of what is visible and practical and professed by the unbeliever. All things are possible when you believe.

[dema]

Day 21 - Perfect

I find that people have huge expectations in regards to perfection. The definition that I see being applied is, “The standard by which all else can be measured, without flaw, exemplary in every way.” Of course, this definition can generally only be applied theoretically, because in life, it doesn’t exist.

I looked up "perfect" in various publications. The definitions in the dictionaries are not so all-encompassing. Being perfect can mean being expert or being proficient. Or it can merely mean being sufficient –meeting a need. It can also mean “not having flaws.” That’s a huge range – from being good enough, to not having anything definably wrong, to being one of the best.

Other definitions include faithfully reproducing the original, corresponding
to an ideal standard or concept, lacking in no essential detail.

So, how does the Bible use the word? For sacrifices, without flaw or blemish is the working definition:

Leviticus 22 (New American Standard Bible)
21'When a man offers a sacrifice of peace offerings to the LORD to fulfill a special vow or for a freewill offering, of the herd or of the flock, it must be perfect to be accepted; there shall be no defect in it.

And it seems that this may be what God is requiring in Deuteronomy, based on
context:

Deuteronomy 18 (New American Standard Bible)
13"You shall be blameless before the LORD your God.

But what is the standard when referring to God?

Deuteronomy 32 (New American Standard Bible)
4"The Rock! His work is perfect,
For all His ways are just;
A God of faithfulness and without injustice,
Righteous and upright is He.

God Himself is the standard – His work is our example. The live of Jesus is our guide.

Our hearts are to be perfect:

1 Kings 8 (New American Standard Bible)
61"Let your heart therefore be wholly devoted to the LORD our God, to walk in His statutes and to keep His commandments, as at this day."

meeting God’s standard of devotion and obedience.

Now David's heart was perfect:

1 Kings 11 (Young's Literal Translation)
4And it cometh to pass, at the time of the old age of Solomon, his wives have turned aside his heart after other gods, and his heart hath not been perfect with Jehovah his God, like the heart of David his father.

but we know that David did some very bad things. Obviously, 'without blemish' is not the working definition. How was it perfect?

1 Kings 11 (New International Version)
4 As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father had been.

David’s heart was devoted to God – fully devoted. Total devotion apparently meets God’s standard of perfection.

1 Chronicles 28 (New American Standard Bible)
9"As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a whole heart and a willing mind; for the LORD searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thoughts If you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever.

A seeking heart and willing mind seem to be standards for a perfect heart. It is astounding how flawed and real the patriarchs are. It is amazing that our Biblical heroes are revealed warts and all. I believe the reason is that God doesn’t want us to be able to use the excuse, “I’m just not good enough,” as a reason to not serve.

Perfection – being sufficient to meet a need. Being able to be a tool in God’s hand. A shard of pottery can be used to plant a seed or to work the soil around a young plant. Actually, a perfect vase would be pretty useless in that application.

Is your heart seeking? Is your mind willing? Then you are perfect in God’s hands.

[dema]

No, you haven't missed a bunch - the others are revisions - and have been prettified. This one is new and so pretty rough. But, it felt important.

Day 62 – Treasure

Why are we here? Why do we walk this earth? To be successful in business? To have a big house and a fast car? To provide for our children to the point they have no need to compete in society?
Matthew 6:19
American Standard Version (ASV)
19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon the earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break through and steal:
Matthew 6:19-23
New International Version (NIV)
19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
This is a temporal place. It will not last.

The World is Too Much With Us
by William Wordsworth
The world is too much with us; late and soon,
Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers;
Little we see in Nature that is ours;
We have given our hearts away, a sordid boon!
This Sea that bares her bosom to the moon;
The winds that will be howling at all hours,
And are up-gathered now like sleeping flowers,
For this, for everything, we are out of tune;

Why are we here? What is life about?

Matthew 25:30-40 New International Version (NIV)
31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

What is important? What is treasure?
1 Thessalonians 2:19-20
New International Version (NIV)
19 For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? 20 Indeed, you are our glory and joy.
“What” isn’t treasure at all. “Who” is treasure. People are treasure. Why are we here? Not for our pocketbooks, but for our hearts.
1 Corinthians 9:24-25
New International Version (NIV)
24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.
Keep your eyes on the prize. And also, remember what isn’t the prize.

[dema]

Day 22 - Perfect

In the Old Testament, men were described as having perfect hearts – God’s way was
described as being perfect. I was surprised to find that perfect is
applied to man in the New Testament, generally as an admonition, more than
it is to God. Perfect is used to describe love, the mind, the heart, the
spiritual being.

In general conversation, everyone knows what a perfectionist is, and
perfectionism is generally considered to be a character flaw, if not
actually a fault. The whole concept brings paradoxes and oxymorons. The
definitions of 'perfect' are broad, however, what a perfectionist tends to
care most about – and dictionaries concur- is flawlessness.

'Perfect', in the Bible, appears to refer to meeting a standard, more
than it does to being without flaw. It refers to doing, to action required in meeting goals, rather than in abstaining from activity in order to prevent blunders.

Who is more perfect? The person who is out doing extraordinary work for others, and making many mistakes, or the one who stays home 'not sinning'?

Luke 6 (New American Standard Bible)
40"A pupil is not above his teacher; but everyone, after he has been fully trained, will be like his teacher.

The word translated “fully trained” here is also translated as “perfect” in other versions.

Jesus was 'perfect' however, he was a Jew and Jews were supposed to honor
their father and mother and keep the sabbath. They also were to wash their
hands before eating. Our Lord broke both regulations. Jesus set a standard of service above the letter of the law. When given a choice – he chose people over flawless adherence to rules and regulations.

So what is perfection?

Ephesians 4 (English Standard Version)
13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,

Ephesians 4 (Amplified Bible)
13[That it might develop] until we all attain oneness in the faith and in the comprehension of the [full and accurate] knowledge of the Son of God, that [we might arrive] at really mature manhood (the completeness of personality which is nothing less than the standard height of Christ's own perfection), the measure of the stature of the fullness of the Christ and the completeness found in Him.

A measure, a standard, THAT is the definition of our goal of perfection. I find that the method of grading by subtraction from 100% is totally inappropriate in many contexts. A Pullitzer Prize winning article isn't merely "meeting the basic requirements' and 'without error'. Extra credit is wonderful. It encourages superlative action. The measure should be from negative infinity to positive infinity.

Galatians 3 (New American Standard Bible)
3Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?

Our perfection isn't done through fleshly acts (or fleshly self-discipline,
though the lack of this can definitly get in our way). But by obedience to God.

James 1 (New American Standard Bible)
4And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
17Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.
25But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.

Romans 12 (New American Standard Bible)
2And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

Perfection comes from striving to be like our Lord Jesus.

And, I wish to add, when you are looking at yourself – do not focus on your flaws and mistakes. Look at all the wonderful acts that you DO. The smiles you give, the kindness, the love to others. See your own beautiful attributes. Focus on what is good and beautiful in yourself. We grow more from praise than from criticism – we should all remember that when thinking of ourselves.

[dema]

Day 63 – Discipline

I read this today in a book.

Hebrews 12:7-11Amplified Bible (AMP)
7 You must submit to and endure [correction] for discipline; God is dealing with you as with sons. For what son is there whom his father does not [thus] train and correct and discipline?
8 Now if you are exempt from correction and left without discipline in which all [of God’s children] share, then you are illegitimate offspring and not true sons [at all].
9 Moreover, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we yielded [to them] and respected [them for training us]. Shall we not much more cheerfully submit to the Father of spirits and so [truly] live?
10 For [our earthly fathers] disciplined us for only a short period of time and chastised us as seemed proper and good to them; but He disciplines us for our certain good, that we may become sharers in His own holiness.
11 For the time being no discipline brings joy, but seems grievous and painful; but afterwards it yields a peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it [a harvest of fruit which consists in righteousness—in conformity to God’s will in purpose, thought, and action, resulting in right living and right standing with God].

And I began to see something I had not seen before. In the King James version, the word for discipline is chasten. Well chasten isn’t a very happy thing.

Dictionary.com defines it as:

to inflict suffering upon for purposes of moral improvement; chastise.

So, I looked the word up in a concordance and found that the Greek word is “paideia”.

In ancient Greek, this word meant to educate. In fact, it was a tradition. The instructors were encouraged to fall in love with their students and impart to them a wonderful, cultural, aristocratic education. Paideia teaches the idea of perfection and excellence.

The image of the aristocratic child going off to be lovingly educated by an instructor impassioned with knowledge of a well-rounded, cultural education is a far cry from the King James concept of chastisement.

Hebrews 12:7-11
New International Version (NIV)
7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father?
Consider hardship to be an education. God is treating you as children, and is providing you with a well-rounded, aristocratic education. What father would leave his children ignorant?

8 If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline —then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. 9 Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! 10 They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best;
But God wants us to have a full and well rounded education. And he is a loving instructor – who wants to share this knowledge with us.
but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. 11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

[dema]

I take unto me the whole armor of God that I may stand, and having done all stand. I take the helmet of salvation, the breastplate of righteousness, my loins are girt about with truth, me feet are shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, above all I take the shield of believing wherewith I shall quench all the fiery darts of the wicked ones, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. No weapon formed against me shall prosper and I shall have an answer for everyone who asketh of me. By Jesus' stripes I am healed and I prosper and am in health.

Taken in part from:

Ephesians 6 (New International Version)
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 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. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Other verses are from Isaiah and Philippians I believe.