Words of scripture are written to encourage us.
She is clothed with Strength and Dignity and she laughs without fear of the Future. (Proverbs 31:25)
Until they make us question ourselves as a bookmark (gift) did to me.When I turned it over, I saw the measurement “ruler”—-AARGG!
Conviction trumped encouragement.
Weariness had set in. I no longer had strength. I wasn't measuring up!
I was no longer clothed without fear! I seemed to daily put-on fear.
Was I measuring myself by the world's standards?
But God in His love and mercy used truth to remind me that the only true measurement we need comes from the shed blood of His son Jesus.
John 15, a fave chapter of Scripture for me, was the needed reminder......
apart from me you can do nothing. (v. 5) Doing for Him is not measuring up. That's more self-credit. Walking with Him in His grace displays His strength, NOT ours.
...In quietness and trust is your strength... (Isaiah 30:15b) More than just alliance, it's reliance. (G. A. Smith, The Book of Isaiah, 1:128)
Leaning in---relying on Him alone!
As I was typing these thoughts, the melody of the hymn, "My Hope is Built on Nothing Less" sealed it for me.
1 My hope is built on nothing less
than Jesus' blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
but wholly lean on Jesus' name.
Refrain:
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand:
all other ground is sinking sand;
all other ground is sinking sand.
2 When darkness veils his lovely face,
I rest on his unchanging grace;
in every high and stormy gale,
my anchor holds within the veil. [Refrain]
3 His oath, his covenant, his blood,
support me in the whelming flood;
when all around my soul gives way,
he then is all my hope and stay. [Refrain]
4 When he shall come with trumpet sound,
O may I then in him be found:
dressed in his righteousness alone,
faultless to stand before the throne. [Refrain]
Words of scripture written to encourage me/us that have me humming & tapping my toes while sitting in my prayer chair!
