B - 52 Bible Verses You Should Have in Your Heart

Copyright 2016 by B&H Publishing Group

All rights reserved.

Printed in the United States of America

978-1-4336-4569-3

Published by B&H Publishing Group

Nashville, Tennessee

Dewey Classification: 242.5

Subject Heading: DEVOTIONAL LITERATURE \ MEDITATIONS \ BIBLEINSPIRATION

All Scripture is taken from Holman Christian Standard Bible ( hcsb ), copyright 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 21 20 19 18 17 16

Introduction

In the chaos of our world, no matter how hard we try we are unable to fit everything we would like to do into one day. There are only twenty-four hours, and unless you prioritize Gods Word, it is easy for it to be left on the list for another day. The truth is, the only way to know God is to know His Word, and the only way to know His Word is to spend time in it and spend time growing in a deeper understanding.

One of the many ways that the Bible is unique is it was both written to a specific audience, and also written to each Christian throughout all of time. Just as Paul spoke to the early church, he is currently speaking to each and every person who turns the pages to one of his letters. This transcendence of time is only possible because of the Holy Spirits inspiration of the Word.

Everyone has different ways of learning, and this book is designed to encourage you to memorize Scripture in the way that is most conducive to you. Take it easy and focus on one verse a week for a year. Feeling ambitious? Work on one verse a day. Feeling lost on a certain topic? Find powerful verses to meditate on. Need help memorizing Scripture? Cut out the verses from the back of the book and place them around your house, in your purse, or on your mirror. Read it straight through, or use it as a reference guide. Use this book as your resource to increase the amount of Scripture you have hidden in your heart. Allow God to draw you closer to Him as you get to know His Word.

I have treasured Your word in my heart so that I may not sin against You. Psalm 119:11

Matthew 11:28

Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

Endurance Stress Worry

Where Is It?

This verse comes at the end of a section where Jesus is describing who He is and the relationship between the Father and the Son. It comes at the end of a chapter where the followers of John the Baptist came to Jesus and asked if Jesus was the Messiah they had been waiting for. John and his followers are not the only ones who were wondering. There had been four hundred years of silence since the prophets of the Old Testament. The Jewish people were expecting a Messiah and waiting for God to save them, but they did not know the time or what the Messiah would look like. Jesus was speaking to crowds of people who had become desperate in their waiting for the Messiah to save them and who were looking to see if Jesus had the answers to their questions and concerns.

What Does It Mean?

Jesus explained in this chapter that when people are given the answers and shown the truth, they still fail in understanding and obeying. Just before this key verse, Jesus points out that God has revealed truths to infants that even the wise cannot understand. Verse 28 gives freedom! Jesus words here would have brought to mind, to His audience, a Jewish document that personified Wisdom. Jesus not only has all the answersis not only wiseHe is wisdom. Jesus gives rest to the weary because He allows them to release the responsibility of knowing the answers. They only need to know Him. They do not need to push to have all the answers. The only answer they need is Jesus. The burdened can lay down everything they are carrying and all they have to do is allow Jesus to guide them.

Why Does It Matter?

Jesus is wisdom. He is knowledge. He is understanding. Jesus understood that sin, Satan, stresses, and the worries of life weigh us down. The longer we carry them, mulling over their presence, grip, and incessant impact, the heavier they become. Every one of our worries and questions is a rock in the backpack were wearing, and Jesus tenderly invites us to come to [Him], and let Him carry it for us. When we come, He gives resta rest no one else can give. Even when we do not understand the answers to our deepest fears, we have the freedom to set down our anxiety because we have faith that we do not need to understand when we trust the one who does. But this freedom is not always easy for us. We have to be willing to let go of the idea that we are going to understand everything. We have to be able to pass our burdens to Jesus and say, I dont need to know everything, because I trust that You do.

Additional Verses

Psalm 46:1; Psalm 55:22; Nahum 1:7

Philippians 4:6

Dont worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.

Prayer Stress Worry

Where Is It?

The book of Philippians is a letter written by Paul to the church in Philippi. It is Pauls warmest letter, to a group of people he dearly loved, who were a strong support system for him. And he wrote it while in prison in Romecan you imagine writing a letter encouraging others while you are in prison? In the letter Paul teaches about genuine Christianity. Here, in the final chapter he gives practical advice and encouragement for how the people should live as Christ followers and how they can have peace in a world of rejection.

What Does It Mean?

Paul is telling a flourishing church not to worry. Paul understood worry. He was in prison! But he also knew the peace that can only be had through Jesus Christ. Paul knew that prayer was the only antidote for the worry that plagues humanity. In this verse Paul separates prayer, petition, and request and says they all need to be shaped by thanksgiving and given over to God. One way of seeing the difference between these three is a request for circumstance, a request for action, and a request for resources. In situations of anxiety, these are the three areas that Christians are called to trust God for provision. Paul encourages the people to be thankful for where God has placed them, how He acted for them, and what He has given them.

Why Does It Matter?

Life can easily be full of worry. Will I do well on my test? Will I get married? Will we have kids? Will our kids know Jesus? Will I lose someone I love? Will I be rejected? Will my favorite team win the championship? One of Satans favorite traps that we so easily fall into is the idea that worrying about the future will help change the outcome. Ultimately, the only one that has control of the future is God, and if you trust Romans 8:28, that all things work together for the good of those who love God, then you have no reason to worry because no matter how it turns out, it is ultimately for your good. This does not mean that God expects us to never have any concerns; but when we do, we can give them to Him andthen the difficult partlet Him have them. God knows what is in your heart and He wants you to talk about it with Him. Pray through your struggles, your stresses, your fears, and let Him leave you with the perfect peace that is only available through Him.

Additional Verses

2 Chronicles 7:14; Matthew 6:2534; Ephesians 6:18