Spiritual

I write this post as a reference for myself to be able to come back to.  A place to come when I need to hear truth.  A truth reminder, for when I am fearful.

There are so many things that we can find, to be fearful of. Yet God tells us over and over, “do not fear.”  Yet, I do…

I read the following verses and feel so understood and taken care of by the God of the Universe.  He gets us. He gets that His children would struggle with fear.  He is this beautiful, perfect, Creator Being; reassuring us over and over that He’s got our backs.  Reassuring us that we can trust Him and His perfection. He is perfect, which means His plan for me is perfect, even if my world shatters around me.  

1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. 

Psalm 27:1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?

 Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.

 Genesis 26:24 I am the God of your father Abraham; do not fear, for I am with you.

 Numbers 21:34 Do not fear him, for I have delivered him [your enemy] into your hand. 

Deuteronomy 3:22 You must not fear them [spiritual or natural enemies], for the LORD your God Himself fights for you. 

Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.” 

Deuteronomy 31:8 And the LORD, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.” 

Joshua 10:8 And the LORD said to Joshua, “Do not fear them, for I have delivered them into your hand; not a man of them shall stand before you.”

1 Chronicles 28:20 And David said to his son Solomon, “Be strong and of good courage, and do it; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the LORD God–my God–will be with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you, until you have finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD. 

2 Chronicles 20:17 You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the LORD, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem!’ Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the LORD is with you.”

 Psalm 27:3 Though an army may encamp against me, My heart shall not fear; Though war may rise against me, In this I will be confident. 

Psalm 37:4 The Angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them. 

Psalm 46:2 Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; 

Psalm 56:4 In God (I will praise His word), In God I have put my trust; I will not fear. What can flesh do to me? 

Psalm 118:6 The LORD is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? 

Isaiah 35:4 Say to those who are fearful-hearted, “Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, With the recompense of God; He will come and save you.”

 Isaiah 41:10 Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.

 Isaiah 41:13 For I, the LORD your God, will hold your right hand, Saying to you, “Fear not, I will help you.

Isaiah 43:1 But now, thus says the LORD, who created you, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine.” 

Isaiah 43:5 Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your descendants from the east, And gather you from the west; 

Isaiah 44:8 Do not fear, nor be afraid; Have I not told you from that time, and declared it? You are My witnesses. Is there a God besides Me? Indeed there is no other Rock; I know not one.”‘ 

Isaiah 51:7 “Listen to Me, you who know righteousness, You people in whose heart is My law: Do not fear the reproach of men, Nor be afraid of their insults. 

Isaiah 54:4 “Do not fear, for you will not be ashamed; Neither be disgraced, for you will not be put to shame; For you will forget the shame of your youth, And will not remember the reproach of your widowhood anymore. 

Isaiah 54:14 In righteousness you shall be established; You shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear; And from terror, for it shall not come near you.

 Daniel 12:2 Then he said to me, “Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words. 

Daniel 10:19 And he said, “O man greatly beloved, fear not! Peace be to you; be strong, yes, be strong!” So when he spoke to me I was strengthened, and said, “Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.” 

Joel 2:21 Fear not, O land; Be glad and rejoice, For the LORD has done marvelous things! 

Haggai 2:5 “According to the word that I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt, so My Spirit remains among you; do not fear!‘

Psalm 91 1 He that dwells in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. 3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. 4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. 5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flies by day; 6 Nor for the pestilence that walks in darkness; nor for the destruction that wastes at noonday. 7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. 8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. 9 Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; 10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. 11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. 12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. 13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet. 14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. 15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. 16 With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation. 

Matthew 10:28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Matthew 10:31 Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.

 Mark 4:40 But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith? 

Luke 12:4 “And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.

 Luke 12:7 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.

 Luke 12:32 “Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

 Romans 8:15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”

Hebrews 13:6 So we may boldly say: “The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”

 Revelation 2:10 Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

I thought I would re-post this, as I’m enjoying company and have not had time to write.
I was over at Ann’s place today, and her post “How To Build A House Of Prayer” is a must read, and reminded me of how grateful I am to her for inspiring my own little area of prayer in our home.

I have found a spiritual mentor in blogosphere. Her name is Ann Voskamp and her blog is called “Holy Experience.” I have talked about her here, and continue to be a huge fan. The way she writes and experiences God just hits a chord with me. I feel she is able to put on paper emotions, feelings and thoughts I have but can’t express. She expresses her heart beautifully, I just jive with her! I am so thankful to have found her and can learn from her.

• It is a place that says “God, I want to meet with you”
• It is a place that allows me to stop and kneel for sixty seconds in the midst of busy life.
• It is a place that draws me to sit and stay, to meditate, journal, read and pray.

It is also place where others have been… John Piper writes…

“…when we bought our first home, I built a prayer bench with a place for my elbows in a kneeling posture, and a place for my bible to lie, and a shelf underneath for the Bible or other books and a notepad… There the prayer bench welcomes me every morning and several times during the day. God alone knows the tears and songs that have mingled there. I urge you to think creatively.

Seriously consider building a place of prayer…”

I found:

• A bench we have had sitting in our sunroom.
• A basket given to me by my mom for Christmas.
• A candle and matches.
• Books, Bible and journal.
• Pens and highlighter.
• Rocks that remind me to “remember the works of the Lord.”
• A pillow given to me from a friend.

And now I have a simple meeting place- A prayer bench. This post is linked to: Finer Things Friday @ The Finer Things In Life Show And Tell Friday @ My Romantic House

That is the title of Ann Voskamp’s latest blog post. I read her blog every day, and there are only a few of her posts that leave me with a dry eye.  She just touches my heart, and did it again today.  She finds truth within Truth that I never would have seen, then writes it beautiful.  I leave her space with the soothing music she plays in my head and His Word through hers, on my heart.  Once again, Ann, thank you.