General Question

prolificus's avatar

For those who have memorized and meditated on Scripture (specifically the Bible), what has been your most helpful, turned-to passage and why?

Asked by prolificus (6583points) January 13th, 2011
17 responses
“Great Question” (5points)

Please refrain from debates, arguments, rhetoric, etc.  Thank you.

Also, I’m mindful of the many wonderful beliefs held by the many wonderful Jellies on Fluther. This said, I’d like to limit this particular thread to the Christian Bible. Perhaps in another thread, we could explore Scripture and passages from other resources.

My Story:  I grew up in a Christian environment and had the opportunity to memorize all sorts of passages. One of the first that I distinctly remember is Philippians 4:4–9:

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

In times of stress, my heart and mind return often to verses 6–7:

6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

This specific passage has been with me since childhood. Whenever life’s situations overwhelm me, I hear my inner-voice gently speaking to me “do not be anxious” (which I interpret as: “I know you’re anxious, but it’s okay to stop and breathe”).  Then I hear the affirmation, “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”  This comforts me, knowing and believing something greater than myself and my situation will keep the core of my being safe while I go through whatever it is I face.  This alone prompts me to pause and breathe, as anxiety often tries to undermine my best self.  After I meditate and act upon this passage by doing what it calls me to do, I notice a sense of peaceful clarity.

What’s your story and Scripture passage?

How has it helped you?

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Answers

BoBo1946's avatar

John 3:16 God gave us a way to overcome ourselves! Also, love the book of Proverbs…so much wisdom there.

SuperMouse's avatar

This prayer by Abdu’l-Bahá is incredibly awesome to me because it so beautifully sums up what faith in God is or at least should be. It depicts perfectly what I strive for every single day in my faith in God and Bahá’u’lláh. It helps me because every time I begin to feel disheartened or feel myself beginning to lose faith I recite it to myself to get back on track.

“O God! Refresh and gladden my spirit. Purify my heart. Illumine my powers. I lay all my affairs in Thy hand. Thou art my Guide and my Refuge. I will no longer be sorrowful and grieved; I will be a happy and joyful being. O God! I will no longer be full of anxiety, nor will I let trouble harass me. I will not dwell on the unpleasant things of life.

O God! Thou art more friend to me than I am to myself. I dedicate myself to Thee, O Lord.”

Summum's avatar

I like the one that says “Jesus Wept”. It shows how much he loved the people of the world. He was trying to teach and show them the way and they would not recieve it. I know how he feels so I relate to that one.

CaptainHarley's avatar

Romans 8:38–39 – For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor things impending and threatening nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Matthew 22:37–40 – ... You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as you do yourself. These two commandments sum up, and upon them depend, all the Law and the Prophets.

These two passages have helped me center my beliefs to that which is important and central to the faith.

Aesthetic_Mess's avatar

Isaiah 41: 10 and 13 is very comforting
Do not be afraid, for I am with you. Do not gaze about, for I am your God. I will fortify you. I will really help you. I will really keep fast hold of you with my right hand of righteousness. For I, Jehovah your God, am grasping your right hand, the One saying to you, ‘Do not be afraid. I myself will help you.’

Coloma's avatar

” This too shall pass”

” Before you attempt to remove the splinter from your brothers eye, remove the log from your own.”

ChocolateReigns's avatar

I’ve lived in a Christian home all my life, but ever since 7th grade I’ve had my doubts. I figured it out, though. I asked questions and got answers. I really like John 6:68 and 69. Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.”

CaptainHarley's avatar

For an old soldier, nothing beats Pslam 91. I especially love verse 14:

“Because he has set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him; I will set him on high, because he knows and understands My name [ has a personal knowledge of My mercy, love, and kindness – trusts and relies on me, knowing I will never forsake him, no, never! ]”

And Isaiah 54:17

“No weapon forged against you shall prosper, and every tongue that shall rise against you in judgment you shall show to be in the wrong. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord; this is the vindication which they obtain from Me, says the Lord.”

absalom's avatar

1 Corinthians 13:12

For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

Summum's avatar

Ezekiel 37:16–22 (King James Version)

16 Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim and for all the house of Israel his companions:

17 And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand.

18 And when the children of thy people shall speak unto thee, saying, Wilt thou not shew us what thou meanest by these?

19 Say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his fellows, and will put them with him, even with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they shall be one in mine hand.

20 And the sticks whereon thou writest shall be in thine hand before their eyes.

Because these sticks were writings the LDS believe that the Stick of Joseph is the Book of Mormon and the stick of Judah is the Bible and the set of scriptures that the LDS use is all together and called the standard works. So you can take the two sticks into one hand.

Summum's avatar

There is also one more and I can say I have my white stone.

Revelation 2:17
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

choreplay's avatar

I have the 23rd Psalm memorized as well as a handful of the salvation scripture.

John 3:17 is so overlooked as far as I’m concerned. So many non beleivers need to hear “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

One of my favorites is Second 2 Peter 1:5–8

Summum's avatar

For a few of you who have asked about finding information I will give you a key word to look at in the scriptures and other places. The word is cloud.

Exodus 13:20–22 (New King James Version)
20 So they took their journey from Succoth and camped in Etham at the edge of the wilderness. 21 And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so as to go by day and night. 22 He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day or the pillar of fire by night from before the people.

Summum's avatar

This will be my last response but look at how Jesus ascended to heaven and then watch the movie “Close Encounters of the Third Kind”.

Acts 1:8–10 (New King James Version)
8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me[a] in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Jesus Ascends to Heaven

9 Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel,

Nullo's avatar

Psalm 23 comes out whenever I’m sufficiently disconcerted.

@Summum If anything, Spielberg was copying.

Coloma's avatar

Thy will be done.

That’s a HUGE one I remember to say to myself when I catch myself trying to control something I have no control over.

CaptainHarley's avatar

1 Corinthians 13 (Amplified Bible)

1 IF I [can] speak in the tongues of men and [even] of angels, but have not love (that reasoning, intentional, spiritual devotion such [a]as is inspired by God’s love for and in us), I am only a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.

2 And if I have prophetic powers ([b]the gift of interpreting the divine will and purpose), and understand all the secret truths and mysteries and possess all knowledge, and if I have [sufficient] faith so that I can remove mountains, but have not love (God’s love in me) I am nothing (a useless nobody).

3 Even if I dole out all that I have [to the poor in providing] food, and if I surrender my body to be burned or [c] in order that I may glory, but have not love (God’s love in me), I gain nothing.

4 Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily.

5 It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God’s love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong].

6 It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail.

7 Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening].

8 Love never fails [never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end]. As for prophecy ([d]the gift of interpreting the divine will and purpose), it will be fulfilled and pass away; as for tongues, they will be destroyed and cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away [it will lose its value and be superseded by truth].

9 For our knowledge is fragmentary (incomplete and imperfect), and our prophecy (our teaching) is fragmentary (incomplete and imperfect).

10 But when the complete and perfect (total) comes, the incomplete and imperfect will vanish away (become antiquated, void, and superseded).

11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; now that I have become a man, I am done with childish ways and have put them aside.

12 For now we are looking in a mirror that gives only a dim (blurred) reflection [of reality as [e]in a riddle or enigma], but then [when perfection comes] we shall see in reality and face to face! Now I know in part (imperfectly), but then I shall know and understand [f]fully and clearly, even in the same manner as I have been [g]fully and clearly known and understood [[h]by God].

13 And so faith, hope, love abide [ love—true affection for God and man, growing out of God’s love for and in us], these three; but the greatest of these is love.

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