The Safe Place of Scripture
PONDER
I love reading Scripture! Don't get me wrong, I am not always consistent and often neglectful of God's Word. Some days it is easier to simply listen to Scripture! The Word accompanies me on walks, most recently in the Texan countryside. I am so glad of the memory verses that have become precious to me that speak volumes especially when those rough days come. The days when I collapse into bed and I realize that this is the first chance I have really allowed myself to talk with God.
Why is talking to God with the Scriptures close by a safe place for me? How do I know it is a safe place? How can I trust Scripture?
I am going to go to Scripture, God's Word, did you know that Jesus is the Word? to allow Scripture to be a witness to itself.
2 Timothy 3: 16-17: " All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. " NIV
ALL SCRIPTURE is God-breathed. Wow I can simply trust this or I can contend with this. I choose to trust and have faith that God has put together His words by his breath for our growth and equipping. We come to know Christ by believing in Him, repenting from sin, and having faith in what He accomplished for us on the cross and resurrection. A loving Father surely does not leave us alone...
Psalm 19: 7-9 is another beautiful passage to encourage us that His Word is safe and encouraging for us:
The law of the Lord is perfect,
refreshing the soul.
The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.
The precepts of the Lord are right,
giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the Lord are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.
The fear of the Lord is pure,
enduring forever.
The decrees of the Lord are firm,
and all of them are righteous.
The three words: perfect, trustworthy and firm are concepts to cling to when we are tempted to doubt that the Word of God is a safe place to go.
ACTION
When you begin to question God's Word, even the difficult parts remind yourself that you have a choice: allow the doubt to spiral into confusion or capture/give the doubt to Christ and ask Him to transform your thinking along the lines of the above passages.
PRAYER
Lord, I ask you to align my thoughts with Scripture. Help me to have faith in Your Word in the same way as I have trusted you for salvation. Amen
CHALLENGE
Memorize the above Scriptures and speak them out loud when you go through a time of doubt and insecurity, no matter how significant the life challenge is.