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11 Bible Verses for Those Facing Natural Disasters
Whether you or a loved one is facing a natural disaster or coping with its aftermath, here are 11 of our favorite Bible verses offering comfort, hope and reminders of God’s loving care.
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10 Steps to Real Success
We live in an age of self-help books, get-rich-quick schemes and television infomercials. Everybody wants to change for the better. To make a success of their lives. But how do we do that?
We do it by turning to the most reliable source of all: the Bible. The Bible has something to say on any topic you can imagine, and it’s all rock-solid, true advice!
So if you want your life to be thriving and meaningful, here are the “secrets” to success:
1. “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).
2. “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21).
3. “Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be content with what you have; for he has said, ‘I will never leave you or forsake you’” (Hebrews 13:5).
4. “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7).
5. “Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another” (John 13:34).
6. “Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9).
7. “Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience” (Colossians 3:12).
8. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength” (Deuteronomy 6:5).
9. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5, 6).
10. “’Bring all the tithes into the storehouse… and try Me now in this,’ says the Lord of hosts, ‘If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it’” (Malachi 3:10).
Why not memorize these verses and carry their “success secrets” with you always?
Download your FREE ebook, Let These Bible Verses Help You: 12 Psalms and Bible Passages to Deepen Your Joy, Happiness, Hope and Faith.
10 Steps to Help You Make the Right Decisions
It is said that history turns on small hinges. The same could be said for your life–sometimes a seemingly small decision may turn out to be the big decision that shapes your life. Dr. Norman Vincent Peale compiled these 10 steps to help you make the right decisions.
10 Scriptures to Help You Pray Through Grief
God is close to those who grieve.
We may grieve for a friend or family member who has died or a loved one who has strayed. We may mourn the loss of a pet or a job or a prized possession. We may experience grief when our health wanes or a relationship sours. Whatever the source of our pain, the Bible assures us that the Lord “heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds” (Psalm 147:3 NIV).
When we experience loss, it only hurts more to ignore it or deny it; healing comes when we acknowledge and express what we’re feeling. While it’s therapeutic to talk to friends and counselors, there’s no one better to hear our sorrows than our gracious, compassionate and loving Lord.
There’s also no better way to pray through our grief than with the words of Scripture, allowing God’s own words to flow through our minds and hearts. Here are 10 scriptures that anyone can pray through grief:
1) 2 Samuel 12:23
“I will go to him, but he will not return to me” (2 Samuel 12:23 NIV). Or turn it around to heighten the promise in the verse: “He (or she) will not return to me, but I will go to him (or her).”
2) Psalm 31:9
Be merciful to me, Lord, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and body with grief (Psalm 31:9 NIV).
3) Psalm 34:18
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit (Psalm 34:18 NIV).
4) Psalm 73:21-26
When my heart was grieved
and my spirit embittered,
I was senseless and ignorant;
I was a brute beast before you.
Yet I am always with you;
you hold me by my right hand.
You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will take me into glory.
Whom have I in heaven but you?
And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever (Psalm 73:21-26 NIV).
5) Psalm 119:28
My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word (Psalm 119:28 NIV).
6) Psalm 147:3
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds (Psalm 147:3 NIV).
7) Matthew 5:4
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted” (Matthew 5:4 NIV).
8) John 16:22
“Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy” (John 16:22 NIV).
9) 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14
We do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 NIV).
10) Revelation 21:4
“‘[God] will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” (Revelation 21:4 NIV).
These are a mere sample of the many Bible verses that will help a grieving person process and pray through a season of grief. Feel free to print them and pray them as often as necessary, and even add other verses as you encounter them in your Bible reading.
10 Remarkable Women of the Bible
From Eve to Esther to Mary of Nazareth, many women in the Bible have powerful stories.
However, you might be surprised just how little they actually speak. Reverend Lindsay Hardin Freeman from Excelsior, Minnesota, led a study that counted every single word spoken by a woman in the Bible. They discovered that of the 93 women in the Bible, only 49 have names. And in total women only speak 14,056 words. Yet, consider how powerful those words can be.
“I think they have a lot to share with us about what it means to believe, what it means to have faith,” Reverence Freeman told Huffington Post.
In the stories of women in the Bible, we can find courage, strength, and resilience—but also gentle kindness and humility. Perhaps it is the complexity of these women that draw us to them and makes us want to learn more.
“These are ordinary people,” says Ann Spangler, one of the authors of the devotional, Women of the Bible. “They are not that different, emotionally, from us. They respond to God. Sometimes with faith, sometimes with very little faith. For me, that makes scripture even more authentic.”
If you are looking for guidance during a difficult time, or learning to trust the Lord when things are uncertain, these women’s stories can provide you with hope. Discover the background and life lessons of these strong women in the Bible.
10 Reasons to Give Thanks to God
When the Pilgrims celebrated their first Thanksgiving in 1621, half their original group had died. Our forebears were able to give thanks, because they focused on God’s goodness and mercy even in the midst of trials.
Perhaps they took a lesson from Paul and Silas who, while in chains in the prison at Philippi, “prayed, and sang praises unto God” (Acts 16:25). Or perhaps they were simply following the instruction of Philippians 2:5, which says, “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.” It was Christ who, knowing exactly what lay ahead, gave thanks on the very night in which He was betrayed.
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As Christians, we’re called beyond simple thanks for the good things God has sent our way. We’re also to give thanks for what He has done for us…and for who He is.
Scripture gives us so many examples of why we are to be thankful:
We are to be thankful for what God has given us:
1. His “unfailing love” (Psalm 107, numerous verses)
2. His grace “given you in Christ Jesus”
(1 Corinthians 1:4)
3. Victory “through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:57)
4. His “righteous laws” (Psalm 119:62)
5. The faith of others to sustain and cheer us (Philemon 1:4)
We are to be thankful for what God has done:
6. He has “answered me…[and] become my salvation” (Psalm 118:21).
7. He has redeemed us. “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).
8. He has qualified us “to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light” (Colossians 1:12).
We are to be thankful for who God is:
9. “He is good; His love endures forever” (1 Chronicles 16:34).
10. He is “faithful and just” (1 John 1:9).
Training our hearts to give thanks does many good things. It gives credit where credit is due. It keeps us from bitterness, arrogance and discouragement. It protects us from letting our lives be defined by what we don’t have. It keeps us humble and reminds us of our need for God.
15 Inspiring Bible Verses for Fasting
Fasting is the act of abstaining from something, sometimes a type of food or a personal pleasure, for a specific period of time. It has been used as a spiritual practice for centuries as a way to grieve, a way to show self discipline, and a way to draw closer to God. Fasting is found throughout the Bible and is still a popular practice during the Lent season. But why? Reading Bible verses for fasting can help us understand it in a deeper way.
If you’re considering a fast, check with your doctor before beginning to make sure it’s medically safe for you to do so.
Types of Fasting
There are many spiritual benefits to fasting and many ways to do so. Instead of abstaining from food, perhaps you are considering a different kind of fast (don’t forget that Sundays don’t count during Lent). Some other types of fasting include:
- Giving up technology or not doomscrolling
- Give up waste by going more green this Lent
- Not using a social media platform
- Stopping negative thoughts
- Giving up sarcasm
- Not gossiping
READ MORE: What to Give Up for Lent: 15 Meaningful Suggestions
Fasting in the Bible
In the Bible, there are various references to people fasting. Scripture with Bible verses for fasting include:
- Jesus fasted for 40 days in the wilderness, which is why we fast for 40 days during Lent (Matthew 4:1-11)
- The prophet Daniel fasted for 21 days, eating only fruits and vegetables and drinking only water (Daniel 10: 2-3)
- In the Book of Luke, a prophetess named Anna stays in a temple while fasting and praying (Luke 2:36–38)
- David and his men fast until evening after learning about Saul’s death (2 Samuel 1:12)
Whether you’re fasting as a personal spiritual exercise or as a community, and whether you’re limiting your food or your time online, the Bible offers many Lent verses and words of wisdom on fasting. Here are ten of our favorite Bible verses for fasting to motivate and inspire you to keep the faith during fasting.
15 Bible Verses for Fasting
- You know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. (James 1:3)
- And when you fast, do not look gloomy…anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. (Matthew 6:16-18)
![Fasting Bible verses stating Nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will [be done].](https://s48934.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Fasting-Bible-verses-stating-Nevertheless-not-what-I-will-but-what-You-will-be-done.-768x768.png)
- Nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will [be done]. (Mark 14:36)
- Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him and not to hide yourself from your own flesh? (Isaiah 58:6-7)
- So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer. (Ezra 8:23)
- Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. (Matthew 4:4)
- No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation He will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. (1 Corinthians 10:13)
- For because He himself has suffered when tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted. (Hebrews 2:18)
- But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. (Galatians 5:16)
- At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness, and he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him. (Mark 1:12-13)
- Pray that you may not enter into temptation. (Luke 22:40)
- “Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.” (Joel 2:12)
- Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ …your Heavenly Father knows what you need. (Matthew 6:31-32)
- I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. (John 6:35)
- Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God… (Ephesians 6:10)
READ MORE ABOUT LENT AND FASTING:
10 Favorite Scriptures of Presidents and Other Great Figures
In honor of Presidents’ Day, here are favorite Bible verses from America’s leaders and other great figures.
10 Fast Facts About the Bible
1. The Bible is inspired by God (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21).
2. The Bible is made up of 66 different books that were written over 1,600 years (from approximately 1500 B.C. to A.D. 100) by more than 40 kings, prophets, leaders, and followers of Jesus. The Old Testament has 39 books (written from approximately 1500-400 B.C.). The New Testament has 27 books (written from approximately A.D. 45-100). The Hebrew Bible has the same text as the English Bible’s Old Testament, but divides and organizes it differently.
3. The Old Testament was written mainly in Hebrew, with some Aramaic. The New Testament was written in Greek.
4. The books of the Bible were collected and arranged and recognized as inspired sacred authority by councils of rabbis and councils of church leaders based on careful guidelines.
5. Before the printing press was invented, the Bible was copied by hand. The Bible was copied very accurately, in many cases by special scribes who developed intricate methods of counting words and letters to insure that no errors had been made.
6. The Bible was the first book ever printed on a printing press with movable type (Gutenberg Press, 1455, Latin Bible).
7. There is much evidence that the Bible we have today is remarkably true to the original writings. Of the thousands of copies made by hand before A.D. 1500, more than 5,900 Greek manuscripts from the New Testament alone still exist today. The text of the Bible is better preserved than the writings of Caesar, Plato, or Aristotle.
8. The discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls confirmed the astonishing reliability of some of the copies of the Old Testament made over the years. Although some spelling variations exist, no variation affects basic Bible doctrines.
9. As the Bible was carried to other countries, it was translated into the common language of the people by scholars who wanted others to know God’s Word. Today there are still 2,000 groups with no Bible in their own language.
10. By A.D. 200, the Bible was translated into seven languages; by A.D. 500, 13 languages; by A.D. 900, 17 languages; by A.D. 1400, 28 languages; by 1800, 57 languages; by 1900, 537 languages; by 1980, 1,100 languages. (Source: The World Christian Encyclopedia.)
10 Biblical Reasons to Thank God
Remember the Gospel story of Jesus healing the 10 lepers (Luke 17:11-19)? It’s a wonderful recounting of Jesus’ generous and healing spirit. Nonetheless, it’s a troubling story, because only one of the lepers came back to thank Jesus. How could only one return? How could the other nine dance off in joy, completely forgetting how—and by whom—they were healed?
As Christians, we’re called beyond simple thanks for the good things God has sent our way. We’re also to give thanks for what He has done for us…and for who He is.
Scripture gives us many examples of why we are to be thankful.
READ MORE: WHY GOD ALWAYS SEES YOUR WORTH
We are to be thankful for what God has given us:
1. His love that “endures forever” (Psalm 107:1).
2. His grace, freely “given you in Christ Jesus” (1 Corinthians 1:4).
3. Continuous victory “through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:57).
4. “Righteous laws” to guide us (Psalm 119:62).
5. Fellow believers to sustain and cheer us: “I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers” (Philemon 1:4).
We are to be thankful for what God has done:
6. He has “answered me…[and] become my salvation” (Psalm 118:21).
7. He has redeemed us. “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).
8. He has qualified us “to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light” (Colossians 1:12).
We are to be thankful for who God is:
9. “He is good” (1 Chronicles 16:34).
10. He is “faithful and just” (1 John 1:9).
If you’re like me, you are probably good at saying “thank you” for some of these things, and not as good at showing appreciation for others. Why not set aside some time to up your ‘gratitude quotient’? Select one item to add to your daily prayers each week—that’s what I’m doing.
Deepen your prayer life with Guideposts’ free inspirational ebooks.
Last week I focused on being thankful that God will always love me; I never have to worry about being abandoned or mistreated. This week I’m praising God for His laws and asking Him to help me apply them to my life.
The Apostle Paul encourages us to “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts…And be thankful” (Colossians 3:15). Amen!
10 Bible Verses to Encourage a Military Loved One
In this blog, I focus a lot on the comfort that families can get from the Bible. Today I want to highlight some Bible verses that we can share with those who are serving in the military.
These are some of my favorites to include in letters and emails when I’m writing to someone on deployment. I often print a scripture out on a small card so they can easily be carried in a pocket.
10 Favorite Bible Verses to Comfort Those Serving in the Military
1) Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. (Joshua 1:9, NIV)
2) When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You. In God, whose word I praise, In God I have put my trust; I shall not be afraid. What can mere man do to me? (Psalm 56:3-4, NASB)
3) For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39, NASB)
Read More: 31 Days of Bible Verses for Those Who Serve
4) We put our hope in the Lord. He is our help and our shield. In Him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in His holy name. Let Your unfailing love surround us, Lord, for our hope is in You alone. (Psalm 33:20-22, NLT)
5) I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength. (Philippians 4:12-13, NIV)
6) The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety. He is my refuge, my savior, the One who saves me from violence. I called on the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and He saved me from my enemies.” (2 Samuel 22:2-4, NLT)
Read More: 31 Days of Bible Verses for Military Families
7) Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. (Ephesians 6:11, NASB)
8) So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you. (Deuteronomy 31:6, NLT)
9) And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. (2 Corinthians 9:8, NIV)
10) It will also come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear. (Isaiah 65:24, NASB)