...but be transformed by the renewing of your mind
A week ago, I listened to a message in which the speaker slipped in this advice: don't ask people what they think I should do in my situation but instead ask people what God's word says God says I should do. A fascinating insight. Recently, I've sought out advice, received unsolicited advice, shot from the hip, myself...and wavered between trust and turmoil as I hope for my head and heart to stop spinning. I have not been good about seeking out God's advice.
My sister Jan sent me an email tonight. She didn't really offer any of her own specific thoughts; mainly just these verses. Wow. How fitting. How calming, cleansing; convicting, correcting, quieting. I am encouraged to be reminded that even the fire is of benefit when I'm continuing to be crafted by God. I got God's advice, and it was good.
I want you to experience peace in the midst of your storm, too. And so I pass on the encouragement that was passed on to me.
John,
Verses that God gave me for you...
Genesis 50:20 As far as I am concerned, God turned into good what man meant for evil.
Exodus 4:10-12 But Moses pleaded with the Lord, "I am not a good speaker. I never have been and am clumsy with words." The Lord replied, "Who makes mouths, who makes people so they can speak or not, hear or not, see or not see? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go and do as I have told you. I will help you speak well, and I will tell you what to say."
Numbers 23:19 God is not a man that He should lie. He is not a human, that He should change His mind. Has He ever spoken and failed to act? Has He ever promised and not carried it through?
Deuteronomy 6:4 You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your strength.
Deuteronomy 32:39 See now that I, I am He, and there is no god besides Me; it is I who put to death and give life. I have wounded, and it is I who heal; and there is no one who can deliver from My hand.
1 Chronicles 4:9,10 Jabez prayed to the Lord. "Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territories! Please be with me in all that I do, and keep me from all trouble and pain-–keep me from causing pain too." And God answered his request.
2 Chronicles 7:14 If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, the I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and heal their land.
2 Chronicles 31:21 Hezekiah sought God wholeheartedly. As a result he was very successful.
2 Chronicles 32:7,8 Be strong and courageous. We have the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles for us!
Job 23:10 But He knows where I am going. And when He has tested me like gold in a fire, He will pronounce me innocent.
Job 38:1 Then the Lord answered Job from [in the midst of] the storm.
Psalm 9:9,10 The Lord is a shelter for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. Those who know Your name trust in You, for You, O Lord, have never abandoned anyone who searches for You.
Psalm 19:13,14 Keep me from deliberate sins! Don't let them control me. Then I will be free of guilt and innocent of great sin. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to You, O Lord, my rock and redeemer.
Ps. 25:15 My eyes are always looking to the Lord for help; for He alone can rescue me from the traps of my enemies.
Ps. 27:1 The Lord is my light and my salvation—so why should I be afraid? The Lord protects me from danger—so why should I tremble?
Ps. 27:11 Teach me how to live, O Lord. Lead me along the path of honesty, for my enemies are waiting for me to fall.
Ps. 27:13 Yet I am confident that I will see the Lord's goodness while I am here in the land of the living.
Ps. 32:7 You are my hiding place; You protect me from trouble. You surround me with songs of victory.
Ps. 34 Read ALL of it.
Ps. 37:3-5 Trust in the Lord and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper. Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you your heart's desires. Commit everything you do to the Lord, trust Him and He will help you.
Ps. 62:11,12 God has spoken plainly, and I have heard it many times: Power, O God, belongs to you. Unfailing love, O Lord, is Yours.
Ps. 119:67,68,71 I used to wander off until You disciplined me--but now I closely follow your word. You are good and do only good...teach me Your principles. The suffering you sent was good for me, for it taught me to pay attention to Your principles.
Ps. 119:105 Your Word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path.
Psalm 139 Read ALL of it...especially verse%2023 and%2024.
Proverbs 3:5,6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will direct your paths.
Proverbs 15:1,4,14,22 A gentle answer turns away wrath, but harsh words stir up anger. Gentle words bring life and health. A wise person is hungry for truth, while the fool feeds on trash. Plans go wrong for lack of advice—many counselors bring success.
Prov. 17:28 Even fools are thought to be wise when they keep silent: when they keep their mouths shut, they seem intelligent.
Prov. 18:17 Any story sounds true until someone tells the other side [sets the record straight].
Prov. 18:21 Those who love to talk will experience the consequences, for the tongue can kill or nourish life.
Prov. 25:8,21,22,24 Don't be in a hurry to go to court. You might go down before your neighbors in shameful defeat. So discuss the matter with them privately. Don't tell anyone else, or others may accuse you of gossip. Then you will never regain your good reputation. If your enemies are hungry, give them food to eat. If they are thirsty, give them water to drink. You will heap burning coals on their heads, and the Lord will reward you.
Prov. 26:4,5 When arguing with fools, don't answer their foolish arguments, or you will become as foolish as they are.
Prov. 28:13 People who cover over their sins will not prosper. But if they confess and forsake them, they will receive mercy.
Prov. 29:1,20 Whoever stubbornly refuse to accept criticism will suddenly be broken beyond repair. There is more hope for a fool than for someone who speaks without thinking.
Ecclesiastes 4:9,10,12 Two people can accomplish more than twice as much as one; they get a better return for their labor. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back to back and conquer.
Isaiah 43:1,2 The Lord who created you says, "Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name. You are mine. When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you."
Isaiah 43:19 "For I am about to do a brand-new thing," says the Lord. See I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness for my people to come home. I will create rivers for them in the desert."
Isaiah 54:17 But in that day, no weapon turned against you will succeed. And everyone who tells lies in court will be brought to justice. The servants of the Lord enjoy these benefits; their vindication will come from me. I the Lord have spoken.
Isaiah 55:8,9 My thoughts are completely different from yours, says the Lord. And My ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts higher than yours.
Jeremiah 1:4 I knew you before I formed you in your mother's womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my spokesman to the world.
Jeremiah 17:14 O Lord, You alone can heal me: You alone can save. My praises are for You alone.
Jeremiah 29:11-13 For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for Me in earnest, you will find Me when you seek me. I will be found by you.
Jer. 32:17 O Sovereign Lord, You have made the heavens and earth by your great power. Nothing is too hard for You.
Lamentations 3:22 The unfailing love of the Lord never ends. By His mercies we have been kept from complete destruction. Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each day.
Lamentations 3:55-58 I called upon You from deep within the well, and You heard me! You listened to my pleading; You heard my weeping. You came at my despairing cry and told me... Do not fear! Lord You are my lawyer! Plead my case! Be my judge, and prove me right.
Habakkuk 1:5 The Lord replied, "Watch and be astounded at what I will do! For I am doing something in your own day, something you wouldn't believe even if someone told you about it."
John 8:31,36 Jesus said, "You are truly my disciples if you keep obeying my teachings. And you will know the truth and the truth will set you free. If the Son sets you free, you will indeed be free."
Romans 8:28,38 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purposes for them. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from His love. Death can't and life can't.
I Corinthians 13:4-7 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. Love does not demand its own way. Love is not irritable, and it keeps no record of when it has been wronged. It is never glad about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.
Galatians 5:22 When the Holy Spirit controls our lives, He will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
Ephesians 4:31,32 [These behaviors grieve the Holy Spirit] so get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander... Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.
Ephesians 6:10-18 Be strong with the Lord's mighty power. Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all the strategies and tricks of the Devil. ... Use every piece of God's armor to resist the enemy, so that after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the sturdy belt of truth and the body armor of God's righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News. In every battle you will need your faith as your shield to stop the fiery arrows aimed at you by Satan. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. Pray at all times and on all occasions in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Philippians 2:13,14 For God is working in you, giving you the desire to obey Him and the power to do what pleases Him. In everything you do, stay away from complaining and arguing, so that no one can speak a word of blame against you.
Philippians 4:4–8 Always be full of joy in the Lord. Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Don't worry about anything—instead pray about everything. Tell God what you need and don't forget to thank Him for His answers. If you do this you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.
Phil. 4:13 For I can do everything with the help of Christ who gives me the strength I need.
Colossians 3:12,13 Since God chose you to be the holy people whom HE loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. You must make allowance for each other's faults and forgive the person who offends you. Remember the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.
Love,
Jan
I look to you for guidance,
deliverance and strength
In the midst of all my troubles
~ I will wait for you ~
I am confident that I will see
Your goodness in my heart
I will wait for you, O Lord
~ I will wait for you ~
Wait for the Lord
Be strong and take heart
I will see the goodness of
the Lord
Wait for the Lord
Be strong and take heart
I will see the goodness of
the Lord
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