HERE’S THE PROOF Isaiah 53:4, 5 Isaiah prophesized God would provide healing through Christ. “Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; AND with his stripes we are healed,” (emphasis mine). Matthew 8:17 Amp. The Holy Spirit through Matthew declared Isaiah’s prophecy fulfilled. “And thus He fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah, He Himself took [in order to carry away] weaknesses and infirmities and… 

Everyday is a new day. Fresh opportunity is mine for the taking. There have been plenty of times in my life when I didn’t feel that optimistic. There have been times when I felt so discouraged that I didn’t feel like I had the strength to meet life’s challenges one more day. Paul explained it like this: “For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:” (2 Cor. 1:8). Paul endured hardship and heartache. He experienced… 

Years ago I heard a story about a man named Bernard. For many months he saved his money to purchase a ticket on a passenger ship traveling from Europe to America. The price of the ticket was so expensive it left little money for him to buy food for his journey across the ocean. So instead of packing clothes to begin his new life in America, Bernard filled his suitcase with sardines and crackers. While the other passengers enjoyed hearty meals in the beautiful dining room he ate his sardines and crackers all alone in a corner of the ship….