One of my best friends suggested that I make a list of favorite verses for my next post. So here they are: two of my favorite verses at this time in my life; the ones that I go back to over and over again for encouragement.
"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."--Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)
I love Jeremiah 29:11 because it reminds me that God has plans that will work out for my good, no matter how much pain I may be in at the moment. His plan is for my good, whether it involves dying peacefully surrounded by my great-grandchildren or whether it involves dying as a martyr in Africa at age 20.
"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. I and My Father are one.” --John 10:27-30 (NKJV)
This verse is one of the verses that I should read a lot more than I do. It's helpful when I'm struggling against the temptation to believe that something I could do would be so bad that God would let me go. He doesn't work that way. He saves you and you are saved. Nothing that you could do would ever be so bad that it would cause Him to leave you. This doesn't give you an excuse to sin; nothing ever gives you an excuse to sin! It should cause you to live for Christ even more, realizing His love for you and His mercy to you.
I pray that God would bring you encouragement through these verses, as He has used them to encourage me.
I would love to hear what some of your favorite verses are! Do you have a verse that speaks directly to your heart during this time in your life?
Love in Christ,
