I received an interesting question from a faithful reader this week. Judie S. took me seriously when I offered, right here in this blog several months ago, to pray for specific needs of my BFFs. Judie has regularly sent me prayer requests and updates on Papa God’s answers. I’m talking details of her life and thoughts and discouragements and small victories.
And a cool thing happened.
Judie and I have become penpals. I totally look forward to her wonderful, newsy emails about the craziness of life as she takes care of her handicapped adult son while dealing with her own severe health problems. Yes, her accounts are truly wonderful because Judie has an incredibly optimistic Christ-centered view of life. She has chosen to “look for the funny” and inspires me and everyone around her with her upbeat and often hilarious takes on what you or I might consider the terribly hard things that she encounters daily.
So this week, Judie asked me to share with her my favorite verses. My eyes immediately swiveled to the corner of my writing cave (read: office) where I keep my personal Mt. Sinai. (That’s the place where Moses heard from God in the middle of the desert in Exodus 19.)
My Mt. Sinai is actually a Styrofoam poster board plastered with dozens and dozens of sticky notes bearing scripture that has jumped off the page of my Bible and into my heart at various times in my life when I needed specific guidance from the Almighty.
Yep. My Mt. Sinai is the place where I hear from God in the middle of my desert.
Not very pretty or organized or even dignified, I’ll admit. But it’s a whole lot better than when I used to keep the growing mass of sticky notes on my bathroom mirror. Hey, I wanted to SEE them conveniently and be able to meditate on them while performing everyday tasks that I couldn’t avoid. But when it got to the point that you couldn’t see enough of your face to successfully brush your teeth, Spouse tactfully asked me to please consider moving my spirit-motivators to a different location. So I came up with the portable styrofoam mountain that can go with me wherever I wander.
(Since we had our bathroom remodeled with an even bigger mirror, I’ve begun discreetly sneaking new sticky note verses back there until they start to impede visual contact – it IS SUCH a fabulous location – at which time I transfer the dozen or so verses to Mt. Sinai and start over.) Am I bad or what?
So here are some of the verses that have inspired, aspired, and transpired my life over the past decades:
My Mission Verse while writing Too Blessed to be Stressed: “The Sovereign Lord has given me an instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary.” (Isaiah 50:4 NIV)
“Joy seeds are planted in good heart-soil. So, God’s people, shout praise to God, give thanks to our Holy God.” (Psalm 97: 11-12 MSG)
“Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him.” (Psalm 37:7 NASB)
“Live generously.” (Matthew 5:42 MSG)
“We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” (2 Corin 10:5b NIV)
“All this is for our benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause THANKSGIVING to overflow to the glory of God. Therefore do NOT lose heart.” (2 Corin 4:15 NIV, emphasis mine)
“When darkness overtakes the godly, light will come bursting in.” (Psalm 112:4 NLT)
“Your task is to be true, not popular.” (Luke 6:26 MSG)
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” (Proverbs 18:21 ESV)
“My cry brings me right into his presence – a private audience!” (Psalm 18:6 MSG)
“I love you, God – you make me strong.” (Psalm 18:1 MSG)
Plus a few from my mirror stash:
“Hold on to the good.” (1 Thes 5:21 NIV)
“God in dependable love shows up on time …” (Psalm 59:10 MSG)
“I will always show you where to go.” (Isaiah 58:11 MSG)
“Consider carefully how you listen.” (Luke 8:18 NIV)
“Be free to enjoy God! Oh, I’ll make you ride high and soar above it all.” (Isaiah 58:14 MSG)
“Rescue the perishing; don’t hesitate to step in and help!” (Prov 24:11 MSG)
And the one I’ve leaned heavily on time after time after time during the past year:
“Let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it.” (Hebrews 4:16 NLT)
So, dearest BFF, won’t you share your favorite verse(s) from your personal Mt. Sinai with your soul sisters? I’ll bet you a double scoop of Chunky Monkey that someone in our BFF community needs to hear how Papa God ‘s Word has specifically helped you so He can speak to her heart also. Hugs to you from me!
Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in the way. (Psalm 25:8, ESV)
[The mercy and grace of God, that He is willing to stoop to instruct someone like me!]
He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. (Psalm 103:10, ESV)
[More mercy and grace. What I need every second]
Thank you for sharing your message board. I have stacks of index cards with verses and need to go back to putting them where I will see them regularly. So simple, yet so very effective. The Lord bless you.
LOVED this post, Deb – – you always offer such inspiring messages for us!
How wonderful that you and Judie have become penpals, sharing and encouraging each other. She sounds like an amazing lady.
The Lord has encouraged me sooo many times over the years with messages from His Word, and one of my all-time favorites is Isaiah 41:10. I clung to this verse when I entered an Atlanta hospital to have my spine re-built (so many unknowns at the time, including the real risk of being parayzed). But that Scripture and the prayers of countless people (many folks I didn’t even know!) helped me through that terribly difficult ordeal (which ended up being 4 surgeries in an 8-day period and a 3-week hospital stay). Now, as I reflect back on that scary, painful time in my life, I’m always reminded of the comfort I felt from that Scripture in Isaiah, and have been able to share my experience with so many others.
I had to smile at your sticky notes, because for years I’ve had random sticky notes on the “upper part” of my desk (shelves and cabinets) so I can see them ALL the time – – and be reminded that He is always with me!
Thanks again for this wonderful post today, and for ALL you do to encourage us!!
Hugs from Georgia, Patti Jo
Another sticky note kindred spirit! Yay! I love how Is 41:10 was your go-to verse to get you through the back surgery. How are you doing now, my friend?
Matt 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you. Romans 14:17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. 2 Cor. 5:21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. God grabbed hold of me with Matt 6:33 and I needed to know what this kingdom of God and His righteousness were, that I was supposed to be seeking. In my studies, I read a translation that used ‘reign’ as the word for ‘kingdom.’ THAT opened up another way of looking at the kingdom of God for me because I saw it as seeking His reign in my life.
Romans 14:17 showed me that His kingdom is His righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit, His reign. 2 Cor 5:21 when I understood God’s grace, my desire – my only want – is HIS righteousness that HE gave me at the cross. Keeping my eyes, my heart on the truth that His righteousness has been given to me as a gift – that I cannot earn it – oh how my love, my appreciation for Him grows.
I love the translation that uses “reign” for “kingdom: – makes me want to compare it to how Papa God “reins” us in when we get off His path for us, and how His love “rains” down on us in unexpected downpours. And Kathy, I love your enthusiasm for growing steadily in righteousness … something we all need to get excited about! Hugs!
When I am totally overwhelmed and can’t find the answer to a particular problem, I go to my favorite Bible verse – Jeremiah 33:3 (Msg) Call to me and I will answer you. I’ll tell you marvelous and wondrous thing that you could never figure out on your own. When will I ever learn that I need to go to that verse FIRST?
I love Jer 33:3! It’s one of the scriptures I set to music years ago and have taught to my preschool kiddos as the Bible Story Lady. Here, I’ll sing it for you … (can you see the hand motions?) My fave part is “I will show you great and mighty things” because I get to make Popeye muscles!
Oh, Deb! You have and continue to be a blessing and inspiration to many of us. I, too, keep verses on my bathroom mirror and inside my daily prayer journal. I got that idea from you while reading, “Too Blessed to be Stressed.” This happened during a particularly rough patch (that has turned into a rough year) in my life. The verses and encouragement from you (an out-of-print devotional found in the office that houses your Mt. Sinai) have truly changed my life and outlook during this time. My go-to verses have been these:
1. Cease striving and know that I am God. Psalm 46-10
2. SURRENDER yourself to God and wait PATIENTLY for him. Psalm 37:7
3. Cast ALL your anxiety on him because he CARES for you. 1 Peter 5:7
4. For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11
Thank you so much for your encouragement and prayers for your BFFs!!
All right! A fellow mirror-verse gal! I just added Col 2:6-7 to my stash this morning. I’m so sorry you’ve had a bad year, my friend – I will stop right now and lift you up in prayer. A BIG hug to you, Lisa!
LOVE those verses from Colossians, Deb. (((HUGS))) back to you and many thanks for sustaining prayers. YOU have had a bad year, and I am sorry about that. I will send up prayers for continued heart healing. Sending love.
Ephesians 1: 4 – 5 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love 5 He predestined us to adoption as sons (and daughters) through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will.
I am His Beloved Child!!
You are, indeed, His beloved child. And my beloved friend. Thanks for sharing, Sandi. This is a verse we all needed to hear today.