Those that venerate the Bible as the Word of God, find great comfort, wisdom and advice within its pages. The Bible tells us how to live if we want to be happy. It warns us about other things, giving us guard rails to show us where danger lurks. It contains all that is needed to live. I love my Bible in its entirety, but there are a few verses that I count as my favorites. These are often the verses that helped me through various times in my life, inspired me and reminded me of the joy awaiting when life is over.
My favorite verse is Romans 5:8, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” I love this verse because it reminds me that God loves me so much, He sent His Son to die on the cross for me. He did it knowing I was a sinner who could not approach Him without someone to pay for my wrongs. He loved me in all my stinky mess, and sent Jesus to be my righteousness, as He was perfect. This is real love.
A verse I memorized as a child and often think of today is Proverbs 3:5-6. It says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge him, and he will direct your path.” This verse is one of those if/then verses. If I trust Him and look to Him, I can know for sure that He will direct my path. He will show me what to do and where to go, as He guides me through the shoals of life. He may not tell me ahead of time, but He will tell me in time.
Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” This verse brings hope. Even though things may seem difficult or even hopeless, especially when we are disciplined of the Lord, He, like the good Father He is, knows the end. He knows what this will bring about in our life. He knows restoration will come. Children seldom understand why they receive discipline, but the loving parent disciplines because he or she knows the consequences and hurt not disciplining will bring to the child’s life. So it is with God. He always has our ultimate good in mind.
“I sought the Lord and He answered me and delivered me from all my fears.” (NAS) Psalms 34:4 became almost a mantra to me during a really tough time in my life. Sometimes life can be scary, but God always hears my cries and delivers me. He reminds me that even though I go through hard, fearful times, I am never alone. He puts His arm around me and goes through it with me. This writer is so glad that she doesn’t have to feel the full brunt of life, only what God allows through for His purposes. He shelters me from so many things I may never know. How awesome is that?
Isaiah 40:31 tells us that, “they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” This if/then promise reminds me that my strength is not my own. God gives sufficient strength (and whatever else I need) to get me through when I wait on Him. Envision the eagle soaring high up in the clouds and feel the wind lifting you, even has it flows over you. You can see forever, so it seems, and yet you can pick out small movements below that might be lunch. Imagining this beauty and hope helps me when I have grown weary.
Psalm 103:5 (ASV) says, “Who satisfieth thy desire with good things, so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle.” Human beings tend to want to satisfy their desires in the wrong way, leading to destruction and only temporary satisfaction. These desires are God given, and He provides what we need to satisfy the desires in a good way. Satan comes along with alluring counterfeits and tries to lure us into seeking things that will never satisfy. But God says that He will satisfy our desire with good things.
Trying to keep an article about favorite Bible verses to a readable length is difficult. There are so many good ones, such as the entire chapter of Psalm 23. Then there are several, similar to I Thessalonians 4:13, which tell us that those who have gone before us in the Lord are waiting for us with God and we will be reunited some day. These verses bring comfort. What are your favorite verses and why? If you don’t have any, dig in to the scriptures, and I’m sure you will find some to hang on to.
{All non-designated references are from the King James Version of the Bible}