Christians Unite!

[Changing4Best]

Psalm 16
A psalm of David.
1 Keep me safe, O God,
for I have come to you for refuge.

2 I said to the Lord, “You are my Master!
Every good thing I have comes from you.”
3 The godly people in the land
are my true heroes!
I take pleasure in them!
4 Troubles multiply for those who chase after other gods.
I will not take part in their sacrifices of blood
or even speak the names of their gods.

5 Lord, you alone are my inheritance, my cup of blessing.
You guard all that is mine.
6 The land you have given me is a pleasant land.
What a wonderful inheritance!

7 I will bless the Lord who guides me;
even at night my heart instructs me.
8 I know the Lord is always with me.
I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.

9 No wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice.
My body rests in safety.
10 For you will not leave my soul among the dead
or allow your holy one to rot in the grave.
11 You will show me the way of life,
granting me the joy of your presence
and the pleasures of living with you forever

 

[anonymous]

Psalm 91
1 Those who live in the shelter of the Most High
will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 This I declare about the Lord:
He alone is my refuge, my place of safety;
he is my God, and I trust him.
3 For he will rescue you from every trap
and protect you from deadly disease.
4 He will cover you with his feathers.
He will shelter you with his wings.
His faithful promises are your armor and protection.
5 Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night,
nor the arrow that flies in the day.
6 Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness,
nor the disaster that strikes at midday.
7 Though a thousand fall at your side,
though ten thousand are dying around you,
these evils will not touch you.
8 Just open your eyes,
and see how the wicked are punished.

9 If you make the Lord your refuge,
if you make the Most High your shelter,
10 no evil will conquer you;
no plague will come near your home.
11 For he will order his angels
to protect you wherever you go.
12 They will hold you up with their hands
so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.
13 You will trample upon lions and cobras;
you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet!

14 The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me.
I will protect those who trust in my name.
15 When they call on me, I will answer;
I will be with them in trouble.
I will rescue and honor them.
16 I will reward them with a long life
and give them my salvation.”

 

[Changing4Best]

OOPS! I posted that last one. Somehow my anon box got clicked!

 

[Changing4Best]

I have been having some rough nights. Sleep has been alluding me and I am in a manic, (I am Bipolar as well as PTSD). So much is rapidly changing in my life. I am in love and want to remarry, but I would probably lose all my benefits including my medical ins. I am on some dozen meds! What we do for love... I will do. I know it would be easy! Any sage advice here? What Psalms would you read, or verses would you quote to me while I am in love and in distress!

 

[The Albatross]

Isaiah 41:10 So do not fear for I am with you. Do not be dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Psalm 27:5 For in the day of trouble He will keep me safe in His dwelling. He will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high upon a rock.

Romans 12:12 Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble and keep on praying.

 

[Changing4Best]

Thanks, I really needed that. As the old cliche goes, where there is a will, there is a way! I will continue to hope.

 

[Changing4Best]

This is a friend of the man named Job who thought he knew all about God:
14 “Pay attention to this, Job.
Stop and consider the wonderful miracles of God!
15 Do you know how God controls the storm
and causes the lightning to flash from his clouds?
16 Do you understand how he moves the clouds
with wonderful perfection and skill?
17 When you are sweltering in your clothes
and the south wind dies down and everything is still,
18 he makes the skies reflect the heat like a bronze mirror.
Can you do that?

 

[alrite]

I recently read "the Shack" it was interesting but was mostly inline with my understanding of God, but presented in an interesting way. I thought it might be more helpful to people who were struggling with why God allows bad things to happen.

I more struggle with why it takes so long to get through this stuff. But I know the answer is my subconscious is well defended against trusting anyone or feeling much of anything. I believe God is working as quickly as I allow and brings helpful stuff to my attention. And I rejected it or dismiss it for a few years and then I comeback to it and recognize it's helpful. "The Shack" was one of those resources I took an instant disliking to and here I am x years later thinking it was helpful. God is good, I am not. But God is ok with that.
rest in His peace

 

[Changing4Best]

God Himself speaks on His own behalf asking the man Job, these questions:

Job 38New Living Translation (NLT)
The Lord Challenges Job
38 Then the Lord answered Job from the whirlwind:

2 “Who is this that questions my wisdom
with such ignorant words?
3 Brace yourself like a man,
because I have some questions for you,
and you must answer them.

4 “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?
Tell me, if you know so much.
5 Who determined its dimensions
and stretched out the surveying line?
6 What supports its foundations,
and who laid its cornerstone
7 as the morning stars sang together
and all the angels shouted for joy?

8 “Who kept the sea inside its boundaries
as it burst from the womb,
9 and as I clothed it with clouds
and wrapped it in thick darkness?
10 For I locked it behind barred gates,
limiting its shores.
11 I said, ‘This far and no farther will you come.
Here your proud waves must stop!’

12 “Have you ever commanded the morning to appear
and caused the dawn to rise in the east?
13 Have you made daylight spread to the ends of the earth,
to bring an end to the night’s wickedness?
14 As the light approaches,
the earth takes shape like clay pressed beneath a seal;
it is robed in brilliant colors.
15 The light disturbs the wicked
and stops the arm that is raised in violence.

16 “Have you explored the springs from which the seas come?
Have you explored their depths?
17 Do you know where the gates of death are located?
Have you seen the gates of utter gloom?
18 Do you realize the extent of the earth?
Tell me about it if you know!

19 “Where does light come from,
and where does darkness go?
20 Can you take each to its home?
Do you know how to get there?
21 But of course you know all this!
For you were born before it was all created,
and you are so very experienced!

22 “Have you visited the storehouses of the snow
or seen the storehouses of hail?
23 (I have reserved them as weapons for the time of trouble,
for the day of battle and war.)
24 Where is the path to the source of light?
Where is the home of the east wind?

25 “Who created a channel for the torrents of rain?
Who laid out the path for the lightning?
26 Who makes the rain fall on barren land,
in a desert where no one lives?
27 Who sends rain to satisfy the parched ground
and make the tender grass spring up?

28 “Does the rain have a father?
Who gives birth to the dew?
29 Who is the mother of the ice?
Who gives birth to the frost from the heavens?
30 For the water turns to ice as hard as rock,
and the surface of the water freezes.

31 “Can you direct the movement of the stars—
binding the cluster of the Pleiades
or loosening the cords of Orion?
32 Can you direct the constellations through the seasons
or guide the Bear with her cubs across the heavens?
33 Do you know the laws of the universe?
Can you use them to regulate the earth?

34 “Can you shout to the clouds
and make it rain?
35 Can you make lightning appear
and cause it to strike as you direct?
36 Who gives intuition to the heart
and instinct to the mind?
37 Who is wise enough to count all the clouds?
Who can tilt the water jars of heaven
38 when the parched ground is dry
and the soil has hardened into clods?

39 “Can you stalk prey for a lioness
and satisfy the young lions’ appetites
40 as they lie in their dens
or crouch in the thicket?
41 Who provides food for the ravens
when their young cry out to God
and wander about in hunger?

 

[Changing4Best]

@alrite I read THE SHACK too, it was a cool book, I think, even though a bit different than I would have expected. I was told that either I would love it or I would hate it. I get it, what the author is trying to say. I would recommend it, especially for folks who want a different viewpoint on God.

 

[deer_in_headlights]

"... Prayer means that God's miracle-working power is always a possible solution to whatever challenge stands before us.

... We can pray without ceasing (1 Thess. 5:17) and know we're being heard with crystal clear accuracy at all times. Prayer is privileged access to the God of the universe, bought and paid for by the blood of His Son on our account...

....Paul said by making our requests known to God "by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving" (Phil 4:6) results in an incredible exchange of energy. Instead of staying burdened and overwhelmed by the fear and worry of it all, we're given instead the "peace of God, which surpasses all understanding (comprehension)".
This kind of imprenetrable peace operates like an armed guard around our hearts and minds, preventing our torqued emotions from making us do things out of fear or desperation. Prayer enables us to rest and trust.

Prayer is like a standing counseling session, 24/7, no appointment necessary. Just walk in. And expect to find your Counselor - which is one of the ways Jesus described the Holy Spirit (John 16:7) - always fully understanding your situation and ready to impart timely wisdom...
In prayer, there's no need for any secrets. There is perfect honesty, perfect freedom, perfect forgiveness and perfect confidence..."

.... Prayer is what frames our pressing, short-term isues with God's eternal perspective, showing us just how temporary - and endurable, and winnable - even our most intense battles truly are. Prayer means hope. Prayer means help. Prayer means relief...."


Pgs 18 & 19. From the book: "The Battle Plan for Prayer: From Basic Training to Targeted Strategies", by Stephen & Alex Kendrick (movie War Room)

 

[Changing4Best]

Wow! That is an awesome bunch of quotes, thanks so much for sharing. I will read this again tomorrow, for it is just what I needed to read.