Tag Archives: Proverbs 3:5-6

The Call We Don’t Want To Answer

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Where—or what—is your Nineveh?
Where is God calling you?
Are you deliberately saying no?
Is your allegiance tied to something—or someone—else?

Jonah was a true believer. Up to the moment God called him to go to Nineveh, he had followed faithfully—in his life, his work, and his actions. But this? This was too much.

Jonah was deeply loyal to his country. He was willing to do and say whatever God asked…as long as it aligned with his own thinking.

But God said, Go to Nineveh.

In Jonah’s mind, there were already others—like Amos and Hosea—doing God’s work. Why send him somewhere so far outside his comfort zone? Surely someone else could go.

And we know how the rest of Jonah’s story unfolds…But what about our story?

What is God asking of us that we’re resisting? Where are we saying, “Lord, surely someone else would be better for this”?

Here’s the truth: God will accomplish His purposes. The question is—will we be part of it?

Will we miss the blessing of obedience because the calling feels too big, too uncomfortable, or too far outside our plans?

Look at Proverbs 3:5–6. When we trust in the Lord and honor Him in all our ways, He directs our paths. He never calls us to something beyond His ability to sustain—but He does call us to know Him, trust Him, and follow through.

Abba, Father, Creator of all this is, was, and is to come, give me an all-consuming desire to know Your Word so well that in every situation I recognize the path You’ve set before me. Lord, give me the courage to walk the path You’ve laid before me, even when it feels uncomfortable, unfamiliar, or too great for me. Help me to trust You fully, to lay aside my own plans. Give me the courage to say YES—no matter where my Ninevah is. Hear my prayer in Jesus’ holy name.

This blog was first published on 9,21,2011 as Ninevah or Bust.

NINEVAH OR BUST

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Jonah  1:1-3  Where or what is your Ninevah?  Where or to what has God called you?  Are you deliberately saying no to God?  Is your allegiance or agenda focused on something or someone else?

Jonah was a true believer.  Until the point of being told to go to Ninevah he had followed God in his life, career, and actions.  But this was just too much.  Jonah was loyally attached to his country and was more than willing to do and say whatever God wanted as long as it related to his own thoughts.   God was saying, look, Jonah, Amos and Hosea are already doing a really good job of getting the job done in Jerusalem, I need you to go to Ninevah and get the job done there.  Of course the rest of the story is really well-known.  But…

What is our story?  What is God calling/telling us to do that we are saying, look God, am I the only one who can do this particular thing right now, find someone else?  Not to sound defeatist, but He does get what He wants.  Will we be one of those who misses the blessings of obedience because the call is more than we can handle?

Look at Proverbs 3:5-6.  When we take the time to honor God and His Word, He directs us in the way we should go.  He does not give us directions to do things He can’t handle, but He wants us to know Him and follow through on what He wants of us. 

Proverbs 35-6

Father in Heaven, Creator of all that was is and is to come, give me an all-consuming desire to know Your Word so well that in any life situation I know the path to take.  I lift this prayer in the precious name of Jesus – make it so.

6 Steps To Memorizing Scripture

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Over the years it has become very important to me to memorize scripture.  The value of doing this is without measure.   There is more to memorizing scripture than just the words.  It is really necessary to  know what it means and to find ways to apply it to your life.  Years ago I determined to find a way to both memorize and give it meaning.  Using a journal specifically set apart for this method this is what I do:

Write it down…not just read it but write it down.

Think about it…what words stand out, why did I choose this verse, does it have a connection to my life circumstances, will it have an impact on my future?

Determine what God is trying to tell me.

How can I apply this to my life, my family, my career…

Pray about it.  Give it back to God while conversing with Him.

Pay attention to life circumstances.  I can’t tell you how many times I’ve memorized a verse then been made aware of it in the day to day ‘stuff’ of life.

Here are 7 scriptures that I have found to be very beneficial.

favorite-bible-verses

We are told, very clearly, in Psalm 119:11 why we need to memorize His Word (or hide it in our hearts, if you will).  It’s so we have a constant supply of God-given inspiration and information to keep us from sinning.thy-word-have-i-hid-in-my-heart

I do hope you are memorizing His Word.  Let me know what you’ve planted in your heart in the comments.  Perhaps you’ve memorized something that I need to add to my ‘arsenal’.

Blessings to you and yours!

Marie

Calming The Restless Mind

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What do you do when you find your mind is roiling? when stress is overtaking? When circumstances are overwhelming?  I have 10 memorized, go to, Bible verses that help calm my restless mind.  Many of you know me well enough to know I’ve memorized many more, but these are the ones I go to most often.

GodPsalm 46:10  Be still and know that I am God!  I have this on a plaque in my office.  It reminds me to sit back, relax, and simply know His presence.

2 Timothy 3:16-17  All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness so that the man of God is thoroughly equipped for every good work.   These words are a reminder that God has ‘breathed’ every word of the Bible to us because He wants us to be thoroughly prepared and ready for His work.

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.  In all your works acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.  I memorized this in college, at a time when I was making career and life choices.  It has served me well in the many years since when I’ve needed to make decisions.  Trusting Him has always paid off!

jesus-second-comingPsalm 20:7  Some trust in chariots and some trust in horses, but we trust in the Name of the LORD our God.  Years ago, Ray and I were at a dinner theater in the Great Smokey Mountains.  This verse was carved into the mantle of the gigantic fireplace of the building.  It still resonates loudly for me…TRUST IN GOD!

Galatians 4:4  When the fullness of time had come God sent forth His Son…  Everything that happens to me, to you, around this world, is happening at the exact time God wants.  It was planned before time even began and other events have already occurred to make God’s plan work!

thumbnailCA3JX40QEsther 4:4  And who knows that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this.  When I am questioning the plan, whining with a case of the why me’s, I sit back and reflect on this verse and Esther herself.  It reminds me that we do what we have to do because it is the right thing to do.

Luke 1:45  Blessed is she who has believed the LORD will fulfill His promises to her.  Although these words were directed to Mary, the mother of Jesus, they are for each of us who know the Promises and believe they are His Word to all people.

Philippians 4:8 Think on whatever is true, honest, just, pure, lovely, virtuous, praiseworthy and good.  If everything I’m thinking about falls into these categories then my mind is filled with peace and calm and relaxes into thinking about His plan for me.

John 3:17 For God sent forth His Son into the world not to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.  This verse follows the most memorized verse in the Bible…God so love the world…  It’s a reminder that we are so loved that He does not want to condemn us!  From the beginning, He wants us ‘saved’.  He wants us with Him!  He wants us.

My favorite verses of all the Bible are Psalm 23.  It calms me, supports me, heals me, focuses me, and absolutely delights me.

sheepThe LORD is my shepherd I shall not want.  He makes me lie down in green pastures.   He leads me beside still waters.  He restores my soul.  He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.  Yea, though I walk through the dark valleys, I will fear no evil for You are with me.  Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.  You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.  You anoint my head with oil.  My cup runs over.  Surely, goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

I challenge you to commit at least 10 Scriptures to memory.  The calming effect this will have on your mind, soul, and spirit is almost like being cradled in His arms.

Blessings to you and yours!

Marie

Thanks for the Memories

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Favorite Bible Verses

Lately, I’ve been pulling out scriptures I memorized in the past to use as reminders, for calming stress, for prayer, and a variety of other uses.  Remember, we are told to commit scripture to memory for life use (See Psalm 199:11, Colossians 3:16).

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

Proverbs 23:7 keeps me aware that my thoughts control my actions.

Proverbs 3:5-6 is useful when my trust in people is low and I’m stressing about what is going on around me.  He is all I need to trust in all of my life’s situations.

Jeremiah 29:11-12   Many people, including me, like the positivity of verse 11.  However, verse 12 reminds me that when I come to Him and pray to Him,  HE WILL HEAR ME.  What a promise!  The memory reminder that HE will hear me is especially powerful when I think others are just not listening.

It is so important that we memorize scripture that the ‘command’ is given early in the history of believers.  Deuteronomy 6:6-9 reminds us to keep the Word in our thoughts/hearts (through memory), close to our bodies (written on our hand), as part of our jewelry (frontlets or phylacteries), part of our conversation (at home and traveling), and as home decorations (on the doorposts).

It is very comforting for me to have God’s Word so close that all I need to do is think about it.