Favorite Scriptures
We all have our favorite scriptures that mean a great deal to us, for reasons of comfort or for important lessons.
The Bible verses:
For thus says the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel: "In
returning and rest you shall be saved; In quietness and confidence
shall be your strength." Isaiah 30: 15
This has been a reminder of peace and
stability since my childhood.
Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall
utterly fall, 31 But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their
strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run
and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.
Isaiah 40 30
There were times in my life when I was so utterly exhausted, when the obligations all seemed to large, and I seemed so small, that I cried out in desperation with this verse to God. He lightened my eyes to look above the most commonly repeated part of this scripture to "29 He gives power to the weak,
And to those who have no might He increases strength." I used to put my finger on those words aand say, "this is me, Lord" and look up with hope that the next part of the promise was surely for me. And He did , in time, strengthen and renew me.
Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom,
neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man
glory in his riches:
But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he
understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise
lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in
these things I delight, saith the LORD. Jeremiah 9: 22-24
This verse has given form to my goals in life,
and shaped my sense of perspective.
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can
be against us?
32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us
all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?
33 Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who
justifies.
34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is
also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes
intercession for us.
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation,
or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or
sword?
36 As it is written: "For Your sake we are killed all day long;
We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter."
37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him
who loved us.
38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor
principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come,
39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able
to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our
Lord.
I can't really comment much on this- it would take away from the sheer grandeur and power of the statement made of our exalted station in Christ. I think it is one of the most powerful statements of the entire Bible. If we can grasp the truth of this portion of scripture we can weather any storm of life, and be comforted in any time of trial.
Especially for Women
A gracious woman retains honor..
Proverbs 11:16
A gentle reminder of the reward of gentleness. Being gracious is not something actively taught to us as women and we sometimes have difficulty discerning between "what is expected" of women and what constitutes genuine character virtue.
That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. ~Ephesians 3:17-19
As women we need to know that love, especially when we feel unlovable. To realize that there always, always is enough for us: to heal our hurts and fulfill our wildest dreams.
Nevertheless she will be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control.~1 Timothy 2:15
Some find this verse confusing and some dislike the whole concept of it, but I have found solace and confident trust in times of pregnancy and childbirth because of what this promises. I didn't need to fear the risks of these times so long as I stayed on the Lord -no matter what- He brings us through. His salvation reaches even to the basic difficulties of pain in labor and delivery.
O LORD, You have searched me and known me.
You know my sitting down and my rising up;
You understand my thought afar off.
You comprehend my path and my lying down,
And are acquainted with all my ways.
~Psalm 139
This speaks of familiarity and acceptance, of the fact that we need never feel alone, if we will only understand it.
Fear not, for I am with you;
I will bring your descendants from the east,
And gather you from the west;
I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’
And to the south, ‘Do not keep them back!’
Bring My sons from afar,
And My daughters from the ends of the earth—
Everyone who is called by My name,
Whom I have created for My glory;
I have formed him, yes, I have made him.”
Perhaps like me you have endured some "prodigal son" times? Then you will understand why this is such a wonderful promise. Our sons and daughters are meant to be God's children, and He loves them so much more than we can even imagine. It is how He loves all of us, no matter how far away we seem to have wandered. Or circumstance has taken us.
Thus says the LORD:
“ Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom,
Let not the mighty man glory in his might,
Nor let the rich man glory in his riches;
But let him who glories glory in this,
That he understands and knows Me,
That I am the LORD, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth.
For in these I delight,” says the LORD.
To remember Who the Lord is, and what the goal of life is: to know Him, sets my priorities in order at the same time that it lifts my heart.