Category Archives: God’s Word

Hide It In Your Heart

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Lately, I’ve been pulling out Scriptures I memorized years ago. They serve as reminders, calm my stress, guide my prayers, and strengthen me in countless situations.

God’s Word stored in my heart is never out of reach.

We are encouraged to commit Scripture to memory for lifelong use (Psalm 119:11; Colossians 3:16).

Zechariah 4:6 reminds me that my own strength and power are nothing compared to the Spirit of the LORD.

Luke 6:45 keeps me aware that my thoughts influence my words and actions.

Proverbs 3:5-7 helps when my trust in people is low, and I’m stressing about what is happening around me. He is the One I can trust in every situation. Verse 7 adds another important reminder: “Do not be wise in your own eyes.” Sometimes I need to remember that I’m not nearly as wise as I may try to portray. My understanding is limited, but God’s wisdom never is. The older I get, the more I realize that true wisdom is not found in what I know, but in knowing I need Him. Without His guidance, I can easily miss the path He wants me to take.

Jeremiah 29:11-12 is another favorite. Many people, including me, love the promise found in verse 11. Yet verse 12 is equally powerful: when I come to Him and pray, HE WILL HEAR ME. What a promise! That reminder becomes especially meaningful when I feel that others are not listening.

The importance of memorizing Scripture appears early in the history of God’s people. Deuteronomy 6:6-9 instructs believers to keep God’s Word in their hearts, close to their bodies, part of their conversations, and visible in their homes. The message is clear: God’s Word should be woven into every moment of everyday life.

There is great comfort in having God’s Word so close that all I need to do is think about it. Long after my Bible is closed, His truth remains with me, ready to guide, encourage, correct, and remind me that I am never alone.

Small Stuff

Years ago, a book called Don’t Sweat The Small Stuff was recommended to me. I immediately didn’t like the title. First, I’m a personality that believes everything matters. Secondly, the One and Only God does not ignore the ‘small staff’.

God’s story is full of the ‘small stuff’. God used the cry of a baby to start the process of freeing the Israelites from Egypt (Exodus 2:1-10). David was just a little boy when he put the small stone in the sling and killed Goliath (1 Samuel 17). One boy’s lunch of 5 loaves and 2 fish fed 5000 men plus their families with 12 baskets left over (John 6). A rope kept the spies sent by Joshua into Jerico from being captured; consequently, that rope kept Rahab and her family safe from the invading Israelite army (Joshua 2 and 6:22-26). Paul was let down in a basket (Acts 9:23-25).

Never consider the small things worthless. God is exalted in both the small and the big stuff. He was able to create the universe with a word. 10 Commandments govern all His people. A tiny mustard seed becomes a ‘tree’ that can grow to 20 ft.

God cares about every small and large part of our lives. We need only trust Him!

God Does Not Show Favoritism

God’s Word is very clear about this subject. Just as God includes everyone we are to do the same. It does not matter whether we are male/female, rich/poor, educated, beautiful, young/old …

Look at James 2:1-13.  It’s really clear on the issue.  We are to welcome and love everyone who enters our ‘meeting’.  We are to be inclusive, not exclusive.

God loves us all the same.  So, if we’re truly trying to become more like Him, then, we are going to stop the favoritism game.  There’s a great song out right now by Mandisa, We All Bleed The Same, that says it all.  “…if we’re going to shout, let love be the cry.”

And so, in response to all he has done for us, let us outdo each other in being helpful and kind to each other and in doing good. (Hebrews 10:24) 

Blessings to you and yours!

This was first posted on May 11, 2018.

What We Think Is Not Always Trustworthy

A friend sent a message a few days ago and asked if I could give her some verses to help with her thoughts about herself. I gave this a couple of days of reflection and sent these words back to her:

One of the verses I often go to when my mind gives me all kinds of negative thoughts about who I am and what I am and what I’ve done is Proverbs 3:5 – Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. To me, that says put all of my trust in God. My own understanding is my thoughts of things that have happened or things that might happen. That is not what God wants. He wants me to consider His Word so that I will know what is really happening.

Sometimes I have to think through Philippians 4:8 over and over and over until my thoughts are focused once again on my God and not on the things running helter-skelter through my mind.

Abba, Father, help me (us) focus completely and totally on Your Word whenever our thoughts are troubling us. Remind us to put You in control of the things that are out of our control.

Watch Your Tongue

One of our biggest mistakes is thinking our words don’t matter. Yes, they do!

God created us with the ability to speak. We are the only part of His creation that can choose the words we say. Our words can lift up and tear down. Our words have the power of life and death. (Proverbs 18:21)

James 3:7-8 tells us that even though we can tame all the rest of creation we cannot do so with our tongues, the words we speak. So how do we control this small part of our bodies? Let me say this with as much love in my words as possible. We can’t do it alone! Matthew 19:26 holds the answer. Jesus, using words that give great hope, said this, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

There’s the answer! Give it to God! Ask for His forgiveness. Apologize and ask for the forgiveness of the person you have harmed with your words. Then, give God praise for His forgiveness.

Abba, Father, give us strength to control what we say. Guide our words. As David says in Psalm 119:133, “Direct my footsteps according to Your Word, let no sin rule over me.” Make it so in the Precious and Holy Name of Your Son, Jesus.