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**Thanks to all who visited and commented on Keli Gwyn’s interview last Monday. The winner of the giveaway (your choice of Keli’s book
or a copy of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons)
is Donna Pyle! Donna, I’ll contact you for your info.**
or a copy of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons)
is Donna Pyle! Donna, I’ll contact you for your info.**
Sometimes, life is uncertain. It gets us down. We aren’t sure
of anything.
of anything.
But then, we read something from God’s Word or hear a song
with Scripture, and it does something to our souls.
with Scripture, and it does something to our souls.
It renews us.
Invigorates us.
Reminds us that there is more to this life—to this moment—than
what we can see.
what we can see.
I wanted to share with you some of the Bible verses that
have meant a lot to me lately. I’m going to share with you why they’ve spoken
to me as a writer, but I fully believe they can speak to you whatever, whoever,
you are.
have meant a lot to me lately. I’m going to share with you why they’ve spoken
to me as a writer, but I fully believe they can speak to you whatever, whoever,
you are.
Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with
all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit
to him, and he will make your paths straight.
all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit
to him, and he will make your paths straight.
My understanding is so limited. I can’t see what is ahead on
my writing journey. I only know that if I take the next step—the one He’s
illuminated for me—I am on the right path.
my writing journey. I only know that if I take the next step—the one He’s
illuminated for me—I am on the right path.
Philippians 4:4, 6-7
Rejoice in the Lord
always. I will say it again: Rejoice! … Do not be anxious about anything, but
in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests
to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard
your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
always. I will say it again: Rejoice! … Do not be anxious about anything, but
in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests
to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard
your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
I’m not supposed to be anxious, even when I’m waiting for an
agent or editor to respond to my submission. And I’m supposed to be thankful—and
rejoice—at all times. Yep, even when I get rejections.
agent or editor to respond to my submission. And I’m supposed to be thankful—and
rejoice—at all times. Yep, even when I get rejections.
Because it’s an opportunity to turn over my turmoil, my
doubts, to Him, the only one who can give me peace.
doubts, to Him, the only one who can give me peace.
Philippians 4:13
I can do all this
through him who gives me strength.
through him who gives me strength.
This one gives me chills. Every time. He’s promised me that
I can do this. In His strength. Not on my own. And that’s so often how I try to
do things.
I can do this. In His strength. Not on my own. And that’s so often how I try to
do things.
Such a good reminder.
Psalm 37:5
Commit your way to the
Lord; trust in him and he will do this.
Lord; trust in him and he will do this.
If my desire as a writer is truly to honor and glorify Him, I
need to give it to Him, and trust Him to take me wherever He wants—which,
ultimately, is where I desperately want to be.
need to give it to Him, and trust Him to take me wherever He wants—which,
ultimately, is where I desperately want to be.
Jeremiah 29:11b
(The Message)
(The Message)
I have it all planned
out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future
you hope for.
out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future
you hope for.
Again, He’s got this. Why do I worry? He wants good for me,
not bad. He wants to hold me, not let me go. He wants to give me the desires of
my heart. I just have to make sure the desires of my heart are in line with
what He wants for my life.
not bad. He wants to hold me, not let me go. He wants to give me the desires of
my heart. I just have to make sure the desires of my heart are in line with
what He wants for my life.
Hebrews 12:1-2a
Therefore, since we
are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything
that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with
perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus…
are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything
that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with
perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus…
Sometimes I find myself wanting to write for the wrong
reasons. Instead, my heart wants to forge ahead with nothing in sight but
Jesus.
reasons. Instead, my heart wants to forge ahead with nothing in sight but
Jesus.
To know Him and make Him known…
Philippians 1:6
…being confident of
this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until
the day of Christ Jesus.
this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until
the day of Christ Jesus.
Amen and amen.
Your Turn: What verse has
been speaking to you lately?
Ooh, I love all these verses, Linds. Especially Phil. 1:6. God never starts something He doesn't intend to finish. And I love that about Him!
Late in 2011 and early 2012, I was overly-stressed, enough that it took a toll on me physically. A verse that really spoke to me then and still does now is Isaiah 26:3–You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. It always all comes back to trust, doesn't it!
I also love Psalm 37:4–which comes right before one of the verses you mentioned! Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desire of your heart. My understanding of that truth has shifted over the years–it's not that I'm always going to get everything I want. But that as I delight in Him, He more and more becomes THE desire of my heart. 🙂
Yes, yes, yes! HE should be our delight, not achievements or what we define as success.
This morning I was going through one of my favorite books by Joyce Meyer: The Secret Power of Speaking God's Word. The verse that stood out to me today (in reference to my writing)is from Habakkuk 2:3 (TLB): But these things I plan won't happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. It is seems slow, do not despair, for those things will surely come to pass. Just be patient! They will not be overdue a single day!
Ooo, I love that, Gabe. I don't remember reading it before. I just love God's promises and how they are present throughout Scripture.
So many times it's easy for me to depend on money rather than God. This morning, He put a verse before me that really spoke to me:
1 Tim 6:17 "As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy."
He reminded me that it is He who provides us with everything to enjoy…not the money, or the job, or ourselves. HE IS THE PROVIDER.
Great post! Thanks for reminding us to rely on God's word for encouragement.
Yep, He provides. It's good to remember that He provides what we NEED, not necessarily what we WANT. But it's always better.
YAY! How exciting to be a winner. Eeek! Thanks so much!
Lindsay, what great, rock-solid Scriptures to hang on to and memorize. Those are some of my favorites. The verse that God has highlighted in my life recently comes from the Psalms:
"I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me. No wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice. My body rests in safety." Psalm 16:8-9 (NLT)
I'm entering a significant season of change – both personally and as a writer. Many things could shake me, so I know God has given me this verse to remind me that when He's my foundation, nothing can shake me loose. Thanks so much for filling us up with Scripture today!
I love the confidence we have in Him! He is our strength. Amen!
Congrats Donna!
Your post is just what I needed today. Love the scriptures you chose, and your own words about it. Phil 4:4 6,7 really speaks to me today. It's been a theme all weekend. Sometimes we simply forget to rejoice in it all.
Beautiful, encouraging post, Lindsay!
I'm so glad it encouraged you, Loree. Scripture is such a great source of encouragement for me. It reminds me what a personal God we serve.
These are great verses! Hebrews 12 really speaks to me today. To throw off everything that hinders and to run with perseverance is my desire. Thank you so much for posting these great verses…such an encouragement!
I love that one too! It reminds me where my focus should be. Not on what's around me, but what's ahead!