Reflections From This Past Week

This past week has FLOWN by. I have been incredibly busy at work, which is a good thing in a way. I've also had some heavy things on my mind this week. I often hesitate to post such heavy things on here but decided this week that I needed to at least write these things for myself. Maybe I'll post a different version of my first draft. We'll see.

The main thing I've been thinking about has been spurred by the study that I'm doing with my Bible Study girls. It's Beth Moore's Praying God's Word. I think I may have mentioned that this is the study that we're doing now. It's been good but each week is pretty heavy. And each week we come back to the same theory: anything in our lives can be an "idol" and we should turn to Jesus rather than these "idols" in our lives. The chapters are not all applicable to me. There has been a chapter about addiction, eating disorders, etc. Others, like this week, have seemed so much more applicable to my life and have been a very real comfort. I see myself turning again and again to this book in the future as a source of comfort or encouragement as I deal with difficult circumstances or help friends through difficult circumstances.

This week's chapter was called Overcoming Despair Resulting from Loss. What a heavy concept! I am pretty much exhausted after this week and my heart is heavy and hurting. I feel like I have suffered from loss over the past few years: jobs, community, people I love....I wish that I could type out all of the verses in this chapter here but these were my favorites from this week:

Because of Your great love, I am not consumed; for your compassions never fail. Lamentations 3:22 

You made me and You will carry me; You will sustain me and You will rescue me. 

Isaiah 46:4 

But You were pierced for my transgressions, crushed for my sins, the punishment that brought me peace was upon You, and by You wounds I am healed. Isaiah 53:5 

For You know the plans you have for me Lord. Plans to prosper me and not to harm me, plans to give me a hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11 

You have power to do what You promise. Romans 4:22 

O the depth of the riches of Your wisdom and knowledge, O God! How unsearchable Your judgements, and your paths beyond tracing out? Who has known the mind of you Lord? Or who has been Your counselor? Romans 11:33 

Lord, in my heart I plan my course, but you determine my steps. Proverbs 16:9 

Your love, O Lord, endures forever. Psalm 138:7 

May your unfailing love be my comfort, according to Your promise to Your servant.  Psalm 119:76 

Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the Lord has been good to you. Psalm 116:7 

I cry out to You, God Most High, to You who fulfills your purpose for me. Psalm 57:2 

I will be still and know You are God. Psalm 46:10 

I fix my eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 

You say to me Lord, "my grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness" 2 Corinthians 12:9 

Help me Lord not to be anxious about anything but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present my requests to You. And Your peace, O God, which transcends all understanding will guard my heart and my mind in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 

All things work together for the good of those who love You and are called according to Your purpose. Romans 8:28 

No eye has seen. No hear has heard. No mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him. 2 Corinthians 2:9 

Fear not for I have redeemed you! I have called you by name, you are mine! When you pass through the waters, I will be with you. When you pass through the Rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned. Isaiah 43:1-2 

Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4 

You, the God of all grace, who called me to Your eternal glory in Christ, after I have suffered a little while, will Yourself restore me and make me strong, firm and steadfast. 1 Peter 5:10 

I consider that our present sufferings cannot be prepared to the glory that You will reveal in me. Romans 8:18 

I do not know what I ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for me with groans that words cannot express. Your Spirit intercedes for me in accordance with Your will. Romans 8:26-27 

Now it is You, God, who made me for this very purpose and have given me the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. Therefore, we are always confident.  

2 Corinthians 5:5-6 

And I will leave you with this last verse: 

Peace. I leave with you my peace. Do not let your heart be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27