Dare ya if I may to.. know the Prince of Peace well.. Him who well-knows what's coming next and far beyond that too. We can know Him well ‘til we are well .. while making Him well known.

But how? Here's how. You can by your life of joy, your attitude of pure love, and your practical deeds that are really helpful. God empowers us!

1. Right Praying (biblical, promise-based in faith)
2. Right Thinking (helps with a good attitude)
3. Right Living (in God’s Spirit, His will and wisdom).

Remember, the world is changed through prayerful believers suffering strong in God’s will..according to God's word.

Jesus did that--He changed the world. (and I don’t mean here that we are to religiously suffer by our own volition, liking suffering and trying to earn God’s favor and grace. Nope).

What are the three types?

1.) The suffering of circumstances.

2.) The suffering from persecution.

3.) The suffering of choosing to.. along with others.. suffer as the Holy Spirit personally directs you into this.

Factoid: The lighter our cross, the weaker our witness. Am not sayin' I know what your cross or suffering will be.

It's just part of the Christian life (false teachers won't tell you this 'bout suffering). Consider trials not strange.
Remember how Nehemiah suffered in God's will -- learn from his prayer principles:

1. Nehemiah acknowledged the greatness of God. You’re awesome, praise You. (get things in perspective. Lord’s prayer--hallowed be your Name)

2. Nehemiah reminded the omniscient God of His promises--(That's sort of reminding self).

“And now, our God, the great and mighty and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of unfailing love, do not let all the hardships we have suffered seem insignificant to you. Great trouble has come upon us and upon our kings and leaders and priests and prophets and ancestors—all of your people—from the days when the kings of Assyria first triumphed over us until now." Neh. 9:32

Some Bible promises are obviously made to Israel. And many were made to Christians in Christ’s Church, even for us today.You’re Christian life won’t work unless you follow His plan. Believer, you have God’s power and His promises, His plan and purpose. “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. Through these He has given us His precious and magnificent promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, now that you have escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.” 2 Peter 1:3-4

God's power is not available apart from the Scriptures. His divine power is connected to His precious and magnificent Bible promises. (See the context).

We get connected with God who is our power source... by the Word of God. By the exceeding great and precious promises of this Book, the Bible.

God's power is not available apart from the Scriptures if you want the power of God to be working in your life, then don't ignore this Book. It's His love letter to believers.

I've experienced.. several Christians longing for breakthrough. They come and talk about what's happening in their lives with all the struggles.

I like to ask them a couple questions about their personal connection. I say.. Man, don't complain about not having power in your life. Please. It's because connected between God and you are wires so to speak ..and the wires carry the power of God through, yes right from Him directly to you.. and what are those wires? They are His precious promises.

Why are these promises great? They are great because they come from a great God and they lead to a great life. That's why they're great!

Why do you and I even need to focus on this?

Well, number one.. God's promises are incalculable in their greatness. They're exceedingly great because we can't even for sure count them all while here. I mean no one can fully count the promises of God in the Bible. Many people have tried to.

I remember reading about a guy named Everett Storms of Ontario Canada. He took a couple years in his attempt--he decided to try and find out how many promises were in the Bible. He heard that there are 30,000 promises in the Bible. But wait.. there are only 31,000 verses in the Bible.

Q: So about how many Bible promises are in there, Kurt?

It’s been said that the grand total is: 8,810 promises in the Bible. And about 85% of them are made by God to human beings cuz God loves us!

Isaiah has more than 1000 promises in it.

Which chapter has the most promises? Well, in Psalm 37 -- see how practically every verse is a promise. Here's a challenge for ya: Read through, and pray through the entire Bible with its good promises. Memorize some.

Quickly in a nutshell, basically here are some promises for you to look up: You’ll never be alone, believer. God loves you and has a good plan. God will get you through all you’re facing, I mean deep waters etc. God will provide all your needs. See Matt. 6:33, Mal. 3:10. He’ll forgive us of all our sins. Ask, in Jesus' Name.

3. Nehemiah confessed sin in prayer.

He felt sorry for em and said, “We have acted very corruptly against you and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, and the rules that you commanded your servant Moses.” Neh 1:7