What’s Your Favorite Bible Verse?
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Sunday, January 30, 2011I don’t know about you, but this is a question I always have a difficult time answering. It seems God is constantly revealing to me the hidden treasures of His Word through the most unlikely verses, and so it’s not uncommon for my favorite Scripture to change on a monthly, or sometimes even a weekly, basis. With that said, rather than trying to pin down one verse and calling it my favorite, I want to give you a list of four verses that have proven especially influential in my own life.
“The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people:”
-Deuteronomy 7:7
While this verse doesn’t necessarily answer the question “Why me?” that we so often ask ourselves, it does clear up any misconception that it was because we were something special. In Israel’s case, they were not chosen because they had impressed God or because they were a great multitude of people; in our case, it wasn’t because we had earned God’s favor or because we had anything great to offer Him. It is for this reason that Paul wrote, “…by grace are ye saved.” (Ephesians 2:8)
“Thou hast seen it; for thou beholdest mischief and spite, to requite it with thy hand: the poor committeth himself unto thee; thou art the helper of the fatherless.”
-Psalm 10:14
Most of you don’t know this about me, but I come from a broken home. About three years ago my life was turned upside down, and yet this is a verse that brought comfort to me countless times when nothing else could. Whether you are without a father, a mother, a healer, or a friend, know today that God can be whatever it is you have need of (Philippians 4:19). He can be your helper in a way that nobody else ever could.
“Nevertheless the LORD thy God would not hearken unto Balaam; but the LORD thy God turned the curse into a blessing unto thee, because the LORD thy God loved thee.”
-Deuteronomy 23:5
It’s amazing to me when I look back over the most difficult times of my life and see how God was able to bring good out of a situation that seemed completely hopeless at the time. I know now that if I hadn’t experienced some of those trials I most likely wouldn’t even been saved today, and perhaps wouldn’t be here at all. God’s love for Israel moved Him to turn their curse into a blessing, and I know that, if you let Him, He’ll do the same for you.
“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”
-Romans 8:1
Obviously I wouldn’t base the URL of this blog on a verse that didn’t have a very special place in my heart. When I remember the bondage of sin that used to weigh me down and then consider the freedom I now have in Christ, a sense of joy fills my soul that couldn’t possibly be described in a blog post. When the devil, the accuser of the brethren (Revelation 12:10), brings up our past sins to the Lord, I can imagine our heavenly Father answering, "Sin? I see no sin when I look on my child. He is without condemnation." Truly, there is no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.
So what about you? What Scriptures has God used to encourage, motivate, and uplift you when nothing else seemed to do the trick? Leave a comment and let me know, as I’m sure I’m not the only one who would love to read your story. Whether it’s one verse or even a whole chapter, I always love reading how God speaks to others through verses I myself might have been overlooking.
8 comments:
I do have one passage that has given me an unwavering hope through the years I have been a Christian. I am so grateful it is all in one chunk as well. It is Philippians 3:7-14.
"But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For this sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith---- that I may know him and the power of His resurrection, and may share His sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me His own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining for what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."
For the most part, the verse is pretty self-explanatory. When I first read it, I was amazed that a small piece of Scripture would literally explain the essence of the whole Bible. I press on to make it my own for Christ has made me His own. He has made me His own. Wow, how beautiful is that? I absolutely love that Scripture. :)
In Christ,
Joshua :)
I remember growing up listening to evangelists and missionaries come preach or report to our church. It was always a great time and back then, the cool thing for a future evangelist to do was get autographs in his Bible (was I the only one who did this?). Almost all of the autographs I got had a key verse written down below the name...meaning it was the favorite verse of that evangelist/missionary.
There are many verses that I value, most of them verses that I wouldn't share with a non-believer because they don't make sense to the non-believer. My favorite, currently, is Proverbs 6:10-11. It's about productivity.
Speaking of which, I need to get to work. Have a great day!
A passage that really speaks to me is Roman's 8:31-32.
"What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things"
This is a great encouragement for me these days, when the anti-Christian forces in our society seem so strong. But it also shows us our greatest hope: "that He spared not His own son, but delivered Him up for us" wow!
Anyway, hi from the Isle of Lewis, Scotland (I come up on feedjit as Glasgow)
DR (My Island Story)
Like you, I have several favorites.
Philippians 4:6-7: Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, with prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
I have a wonderful life, but there have certainly been struggles, and these two verses have upheld me through them.
Another favorite is pretty much the entire chapter of Isaiah 53. I was raised in the Jewish faith, and the passage about the suffering servant is where I "got saved." a dozen years ago.
Really enjoying this blog, Dakota.
How refreshing to find a young man in love with the Lord and His word! I found you through my husband's blog; Jesus in the Real World. May the Lord richly bless you and your work for the kingdom.
Here is one of my favorite verses: "The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your desires in desert places." Is 58:11
Thank you,
Jeanette Levellie
I have a good number of 'favorites' but the one that keeps coming to me over and over is: 1 Corinthians 4:20 (NIV) "For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power."
All of God's Word is true but my favorite verses tend to change dependent upon the season of my life.
Lol I was gonna post this a few days ago.. but obviously I’ve been busy studying to my western civ pt 2 clep… I really enjoyed reading your post… it reminds me of some of our convos we’ve had about God being sovereign in the midlist of all the various trials we face… God is sooooooooo good!!!!!
Well any way, you probably remember me putting this verse on the end of a few emails… “Look at the nations and watch— and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told.” Habakkuk 1:5… I rediscovered this verse a couple years ago when lots of miserable chaos was going on… I’d been depressed and nearly at the end of my rope, when I came across this verse again. This verse ever since has been one of my absolute favorites… it just helps me remember that no matter what’s going on in life, God truly is on the throne… he is capable and will do awesome things that bring him glory, and work for the good of his chosen people, in ways that awe us every time.
Another one I might have shared with you in the past is from the passage in 1 Chronicles 20. I’d encourage you to read the whole chapter (it’s such a phenomenal story), but here were the highlights for me. In verse 12 the king cries out, “ Our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” And in vs 15 b God speaks through a prophet saying, “This is what the LORD says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.” he goes futher in vs 17 to say , “You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the LORD will be with you.” I have fallen in love with this passage, and I hope it encourages you as it has me.
Numbers 6:24-26 “The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.”’
Keegan
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