Word on the Word?
What is your favorite passage in the Bible? It could be a source of encouragment, a life verse, some wisdom you live by, etc.
When I was younger it was Jeremiah 29:11 and later became Zephaniah 3:17. I now take delight in a lot of Scripture. For any of you who know me well that's nothing short of a miracle! God's Word was death to me after my sister died. It felt like mockery. I could read the Psalms but little else. God has carried me through to a different place, one where His Word brings refreshment and encouragement. I pray this is the place you're in. If you're not- hang in there. God is not afraid of your anger, hurt and honesty. He is the ONE who showed Himself to Job. It's when you meet God, be with Him, that's what changes things, not the words that everyone wants to give you or the verses they shove down your throat. For me I know truly that my boundaries have fallen in pleasant places! (Psalm 16:6) But do remember Psalm 147:3 He is the healer of the brokenhearted. He is the one who bandages their wounds.
So bring it on people. If it's more than one passage or verse that's okay!
When I was younger it was Jeremiah 29:11 and later became Zephaniah 3:17. I now take delight in a lot of Scripture. For any of you who know me well that's nothing short of a miracle! God's Word was death to me after my sister died. It felt like mockery. I could read the Psalms but little else. God has carried me through to a different place, one where His Word brings refreshment and encouragement. I pray this is the place you're in. If you're not- hang in there. God is not afraid of your anger, hurt and honesty. He is the ONE who showed Himself to Job. It's when you meet God, be with Him, that's what changes things, not the words that everyone wants to give you or the verses they shove down your throat. For me I know truly that my boundaries have fallen in pleasant places! (Psalm 16:6) But do remember Psalm 147:3 He is the healer of the brokenhearted. He is the one who bandages their wounds.
So bring it on people. If it's more than one passage or verse that's okay!
Comments
Love you Jenn!!!
It has to be one of my favorite verses in Scripture. We actually picked it as Ava's life verse when she was dedicated. While the passage has been close to my heart for years, after Ava's seizure it took on new meaning. I still tear up whenever I think about how God is mighty to save. And how He sings over us.
When I was younger, I Corinthians 10:31 was IT.
Now, Isaiah 26:3 has become my most oft used and relayed verse.
Micah 6:8 is also becoming a very important verse, along with Matthew 25:31-46.
Those are some of my benchmarks, if you will, at this time.
Your writing gets better and better and your transparency is inspiring. Please keep it up. I love reading your thoughts and insights. Much Wisdom and Growth. To God be the Glory.
I would have to pick 1 Cor. 13 as my favorite text in the Bible. Love is the Message......Love is the Messenger and Love believes all, renews, Love came down to us.........and Love NEVER FAILS. Yep....LOVE
And I LOVE you very much.
faf
I'm so glad you ask thoughtful questions. :)
I'm with Liann about "favorite" verses...
But the following verses have been significant words God has spoken to me over the past few years (so some might sound familiar):
"He trusted in the LORD, the God of Israel, so that there was none like him among all the kings of Judah after him, nor among those who were before him. For he held fast to the LORD. He did not depart from following him, but kept the commandments that the LORD commanded Moses. And the LORD was with him; wherever he went out, he prospered." 2 Kings 18:5-7
Jeremiah 31--The whole chapter.
Psalm 73--A Psalm of Asaph.
"My steps have held fast to Your paths, my feet have not slipped."
Psalm 17:5
Psalm 37:3-7
"But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. 'The LORD is my portion,' says my soul, 'therefore I will hope in Him.' The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him." Lamentations 3:21-25
"But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." Matthew 6:33
John 11
Luke 9:57-62
John 21:15-19
Luke 11:1-13
"For I want you to know, brothers,that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, and all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did. Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written... We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, nor grumble,as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer. Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. Therefore, my beloved,flee from idolatry." 1 Cor. 10:1-14
John 13:1-20
Hebrews 1-13
Revelation 5
Revelation 21
okay...so maybe I shared a couple extra verses BUT all of these passages have greatly contributed to the way I view God, life, death, and the world around me.
God has used them to shape who am I am now and who I am yet to become.
I hope you can find some time to look them over...maybe on a beach in CA? ;)
Love you,
Kels
Isaiah 49:14-16:
"But Zion has said, 'The Lord has forsaken me, the Lord has forgotten me.'
Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne?
Though she may forget, I will not forget you!
See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands..."
Psalm 23 is one of my fave's. I could go on for a couple of days, but that's the main one I wanted to get out there.
I am also consistently challenged and inspired by Isaiah 58:6-12, particularly in The Message:
"This is the kind of fast day I'm after: to break the chains of injustice, get rid of exploitation in the workplace, free the oppressed, cancel debts. What I'm interested in seeing you do is: sharing your food with the hungry, inviting the homeless poor into your homes, putting clothes on the shivering ill-clad, being available to your own families. Do this and the lights will turn on, and your lives will turn around at once. Your righteousness will pave your way. The God of glory will secure your passage. Then when you pray, God will answer. You'll call out for help and I'll say: 'Here I am'. If you get rid of unfair practices, quit blaming victims, quit gossiping about other people's sins, if you are generous with the hungry and start giving yourselves to the down-and-out, your lives will begin to glow in the darkness, your shadowed lives will be bathed in sunlight. I'll always show you where to go. I'll give you a full life in the emptiest of places - firm muscles, strong bones. You'll be like a well-watered garden, a gurgling spring that never runs dry. You'll use the old rubble of past lives to build anew, rebuild the foundations from out of your past. You'll be known as those who can fix anything, restore old ruins, rebuild and renovate, make the community livable again."
JLN