There are times that “being a Christian” doesn’t mean very much to me. That is to say, it doesn’t ‘feel’ very good. I am off-track. I know, rationally, that we all go through these times, but when I am in the middle of one of them, I need some bible verses to inspire me. There is no substitute for inspirational bible verses-not even the kind words of a friend- when it comes to getting my feelings back in order, getting back on track where I belong. Here are five of my favorites.
When I Feel Like a Bad Christian
You know the feeling, don’t you? It’s as if you have never done anything right in you whole Christian life. There are times we have all felt we are better candidates for Hell than Heaven. Times like these, I go to 2 Corinthians 5:17 , to remind myself that there is no way back from where I have come. I need to be reminded that I have been made new, not just given a chance to change. This inspirational bible verse says, “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” It reminds me that
it’s not just about how I feel or act, it is about what Christ already did in and to me. He made me new, and there is no way to reverse that!
When I Feel Alone in My Sin
I hear a guy once say he was suffering from “Terminal Uniqueness”. That is, he felt like he was the only person in the whole world who had sinned a particular sin. How often have you felt that? We feel so much shame at our sin sometimes that we don’t dare confess it to another human, and end up feeling unique-in a very bad way. Well, whether for good or for bad, we are not ‘terminally unique’! And 1 Corinthians 10:13 reminds us of that: “No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.” I remember in my US Navy days times where I was sure I was the only sailor to be so tempted, and that there was no way out. This verse more than once ‘pulled me out’ of that trap, allowing me to not only endure the temptation, but to remember that I was not alone, that maybe another sailor needed my help with it as well.
When I Think God Has Finally Let Me Go
Been there? When you feel sure that you have just sinned your last sin, and there is now NO WAY back, that you have finally gone past God’s limit of grace and mercy. You knew better and you did it (again!). But you feel like this was ”one step beyond”. For inspiration, I go to this verse, 1 Peter 1:5, which says of us who are believers, “Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” This verse reminds us we are not kept by the power of our ‘faith-ing’ ourselves closer to God. Rather, God– in HIS power– is the one keeping us. Our ‘faith part’? Just believe it! It’s HIM, not our faith, that keeps us. And the “salvation” this verse is talking about? It is the final ‘leg’ of salvation: not just out of Hell or into good works on earth, but the final leg of salvation: life eternal in Heaven! Yes, He keeps us that long, that far, by HIS power. Will He let you go? Nope. It says we are “kept”, that is guarded, or as another translation puts it, “protected”. It’s all Him, so relax a little… and believe it!
When I Think I Have Done Enough Good Works
Have you come to the time in your Christian life were you are tired? Just plain tired, and don’t feel like doing any thing good any more? This temptation to quit is called burnout. Been there, done that! Titus 3:5-6 are just the right bible verses to inspire you. It says, “He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior.”
We didn’t work ourselves into this, and it’s not works that will keep us ‘in here’. And best of all, it isn’t our good works which will get the rest of the world into Heaven. (Shocked? Well, did you save your self with good works?) Give yourself a break, eh? I don’t mean retire, but do mean unload the world from your shoulders, and remember that “He saved us…by the Holy Spirit,” and He will do that for the rest as well. Take a break, thank Him for His work, and when you have gotten a good night’s sleep, a decent meal and some ‘down time’, THEN go back to work.
When I Can’t Seem to Please God No Matter What I Do
I save this one for last because it hits me so very often. I get to feeling I can not please God no matter what I do. Good works? Not enough! Bad works? WAY too many! And I want to just throw in the towel in disgust and shame and anger. What to do? Get inspired by this most excellent bible verse: Hebrews 11:6 “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.”
It is not about pleasing God the way you would please a boss at work! It takes only two things to please God. OK, only one! Believe Him! Take Him at His word. Look at this verse: First, “believe that He is.” That is, believe that He even exists. But believe that He is the God He presents himself to be, not the God you wish or fear that He is. Get your bible open and read lots of Old Testament stories, see how God works, who he loves, who He is.
Second, believe “that he is the rewarder of those who seek Him.” NOT those who seek rewards, but rather those who seek Him, himself. If you are working for points, for miracles, for ‘pennies from heaven’ (or dollars!) , stop! The rewards come when you go looking, chasing, pursuing the Giver of the Rewards. Have you wanted something from a person and been nice to them so they would give it to you? How’s that working for you? Love Him and He will reward you with what you need. Seek Him and he will reward your seeking. Look for anything else-any “reward” and the Rewarder will see you as a fake follower of Him.
So, when you get to these off-track places in your Christian life, go back to these inspirational bible verses for the word you need to get back on track.