Contrary to hope

"Who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, so shall your descendants be.” Romans 4.18

When physical conditions say no, when the circumstances say no, when the voices around you and everything else say no, it is not possible... the voice of the Almighty comes, which is even contrary to the remains of hope. That was the voice that made ​​Abraham believed against hope. This is the faith that justifies and saves.

The sheep

"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me." John 10.27

What characterizes the relationship between shepherd and sheep is the shepherd's voice. No sheep from a certain flock follows the voice of a shepherd of another flock.
It was common that several shepherds would gather their respective flocks to drink from the same stream. But once their thirst was quenched, each sheep would follow the voice of their respective pastors.
The followers of the Good Shepherd, hear His voice and follow Him. That is, obey.

When in distress

"When you are in distress, and all these things come upon you in the latter days, when you turn to the LORD your God and obey His voice (for the LORD your God is a merciful God), He will not forsake you nor destroy you, nor forget the covenant of your fathers which He swore to them." Deuteronomy 4.30-31

In every promise there is a condition for compliance. Sometimes, because we are more emotional, we let the voice of the heart speak louder and despair at the sight of problems.
God is the Same. Just as He was in the past, He is in the present and will be in the future, forever. When we turn to Him and heed His voice, we reason, and He sustains us.

The secret to happiness

"But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does." James 1.25

It is impossible to walk in sin and be free. The spirit of sin has trapped its victims so that they cannot understand the reason for so much unhappiness.
Disorder, indiscipline and rebellion are elements of injustice that have prevented freedom. Freedom of life, of conscience... Consequently, even with the world at their feet, yet the slave of sin is unhappy.
That is why God, in creating man, also established righteous laws that, once practiced, leads to a life of freedom, peace within yourself and especially with God.

Listen

"But whoever listens to me will dwell safely, and will be secure, without fear of evil.” Proverbs 1.33

Listening means to obey. When we obey God's Word, faith is pure and does not allow room for doubts or fears of evil. That's a fact. Difficult is to use faith to obey. Difficult is to sacrifice the desires of the flesh. But who said that the road to salvation would be easy?

Obedience and fear

 ^"And He said, 'Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.'" Genesis 22.12

The LORD God tested Abraham's obedience. His response showed his fear. In other words, obedience is undeniable proof of faith and fear of God.
Whoever believes in God fears and obeys His Word; but whoever does not believe does not fear Him and therefore disobeys His Word.

Righteousness

"...For a throne is established by righteousness." Proverbs 16.12

In other words, it is through obedience to the Word of God that salvation is conquered.
One thing is to conquer salvation, another thing is to remain saved. The greatest difficulty is to maintain what you conquer, especially salvation. That is why Jesus said, "If anyone wants to follow Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross and follow Me." Not only for a few days, but every day. Follow Him every day to remain saved, and establish the throne of eternal life.