星期四, 七月 17, 2025
New Testament Reading Plan: Hebrews 9
During Covid, when there was so much uncertainty and fear, God gave me Psalm 91. Verses 1-4 in my ESV Bible say:
“He [or She!] who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust.”
For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence.
He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.”
I leaned into those words for all I was worth. I memorized the entire psalm, personalizing it for me. Most days, I still repeat it in my time with God because it brings me so much comfort and confidence.
Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.
In my life, the Word of God is living and active. I have come to believe over my 30+ years of following Jesus that memorizing his Word allows his authority to speak into my life and guides me toward better decisions. But I need to really know and understand what it says for it to penetrate.
Recently, I looked for Bible studies to help me deal with a personal situation and came across “Loving God Greatly - Abiding in Jesus” on YouVersion. The verses in the plan were familiar to me, but through the lens of my anger, I came to realize that I was not taking advantage of the peace Jesus offers. By letting those verses speak to me in a new way, I was given a new perspective.
Through Scripture, God speaks to our hearts. It is a source of life and truth, guiding and transforming us along our journey. God’s Word cuts through the noise, helping us to stand firm and find our peace, just as these verses from Psalm 91:14-16 (ESV) have done for me:
“Because [she] holds fast to me in love, I will deliver [her]. I will protect [her], because [she] knows my name. When [she] calls to me, I will answer [her]; I will be with [her] in times of trouble. I will rescue and honor [her]. With long life I will satisfy [her] and show [her] my salvation.”
Questions:
How do you encounter God’s Word? Do you meditate on it and allow it to penetrate your heart?
Next Steps:
Memorization is hard, especially the older you get, but it is worth the effort! Grab a buddy and start a memorization plan. (YouVersion actually has a plan for memorizing all of 2 Peter.) Embrace the promises of Psalm 91!
Prayer:
Father, I pray that we do not let the lies of the enemy prevent us from learning and loving your Word. Give us the desire and capacity to learn great portions of Scripture so that we are armed against the attacks of the enemy. He is sneaky, but we need not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day (Psalm 91:5). Because we have made the Most High our dwelling, no evil will be allowed to befall us. You send your angels to guard us in all our ways (Psalm 91:11). We trust in your Word and in your love. Amen.
Series Theme Verse:
Psalm 85:8
I listen carefully to what God the Lord is saying, for he speaks peace to his faithful people. But let them not return to their foolish ways.
This post was written by Lauri White, an Oregon attendee, and a regular contributor to the Daily LivingItOut.