Happy new week, friends! With the second week of September coming to a close, here are some thoughts I have about the second part of this month’s Scripture Writing challenge. Enjoy!
Day 5 – You are forgiven.
Who is a God like You, who pardons wrongdoing
And passes over a rebellious act of the remnant of His possession?
He does not retain His anger forever,
Because He delights in mercy.
19 He will again take pity on us;
He will trample on our wrongdoings.
Yes, You will cast all their sins
Into the depths of the sea.
20 You will give truth to Jacob
And favor to Abraham,
Which You swore to our forefathers
From the days of old.
Micah 7: 18-20 NASB
Today’s prompts have me pondering the different words used for sin in the New American Standard translation – iniquity, rebellious acts, sins, unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9 sums up the idea of Biblical justice perfectly: Jesus, the righteous and honorable, reaches down to us, in our position of shame and unrighteousness, and restores us to a place of honor. I LOVE the explanation of why God chooses to forgive His people in Micah 7: “He delights in unchanging love.” Finally, reading the context of the key verses I wanted to highlight in Psalm 103, I found that God “has not rewarded us according to our iniquities,” and I was reminded again of how great His love is for us.
Day 6 – You are not condemned.
Little children, let’s not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth. 19 We will know by this that we are of the truth, and will set our heart at ease before Him, 20 that if our heart condemns us, that God is greater than our heart, and He knows all things. 21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; 22 and whatever we ask, we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight. 23 This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us.
1 John 3:18-23 NASB
This is one of my favorite passages of Scripture that I didn’t even know existed until this past year! It’s the perfect response to all the self-condemnation that I struggle with on an almost-daily basis: If I’m doing my best to believe (put my confidence in) the Lord Jesus Christ, and loving all the people around me in the best imitation of His love that I can give, then I have full assurance before Him. Even when my heart condemns me again and again, He doesn’t condemn me, because He knows my heart even better than I do. Woo!! Amen?
Here’s a whole post I wrote last fall that largely focuses on this idea : )
Day 7 – You are safe.
The Eternal One is my shepherd; I will not be lacking in anything. Thanks to Him, I rest in vibrant green prairies, and it’s He who leads me along the shores of calm waters. He gives me new strength, and for the honor of His name, He brings me step by step on the right path. If I must traverse the valley where the shadows of death reign, I will fear no evil, for You are behind me: Your rod guides me and Your staff protects me. For me, You dress a table under the eyes of my enemies, You anoint with perfume my head, You make my cup overflow. Yes, all my life, Your goodness and Your love will accompany me, and I will be able to return to the temple of the Eternal One as long as I live.
Psalm 23 BDS (translated from French)
Today, I enjoyed reading and pondering on the familiar 23rd Psalm in French. I love doing this because different languages’ grammatical structures have different ways of translating the original languages of the Bible, and this brings out a new layer of meaning and truth for me. In this Psalm, I observed the intimacy and security not only in physical safety, but also in the future of the psalmist’s life and the relationship that he has with his Shepherd. Not only is he kept safe from the enemy, he is also abundantly provided and cared for, and the Shepherd’s presence clearly gives him comfort and strength and joy.
Day 8 – You are healing.
Behold, I am going to bring [to Jerusalem] healing and a remedy, and I will reveal to them an abundance of peace and truth.
Jeremiah 33:6 NASB
For today’s prompt I ended up going completely off-script and just looking up the word “heal” on blueletterbible.com. There are so many good verses that I found there! Many of them are in the book of Jeremiah, which makes me think maybe I should study that book sometime soon. I loved the use of the word “remedy” in this verse as it reminded me of one of my favorite Adele songs, which has spoken comfort and healing to me in some of the most difficult times of my life.
Here’s the full post that I wrote about that song in case you’d like to read more : ).
Some of the other verses that I found on the topic of healing and the process of healing are Jeremiah 17:9-14, Jeremiah 3:22, Isaiah 57:18, and Proverbs 3:5-8.
Day 9 – You are renewed.
But their [Israel’s] minds were hardened; for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains unlifted, because it is removed in Christ. 15 But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their hearts; 16 but whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 But we all, with unveiled faces, looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.
2 Corinthians 3:15-18 NASB
Today I again used the verses provided by the September Scripture Writing plan as a starting point, going from 2 Corinthians chapter 5 back to chapter 3 and landing on the verses above. I’m pondering the idea that transforming “from glory to glory” is a gradual process, and there is beauty in that process. Even when I can’t see the good that’s happening, God is still doing a good work in me. Even when I feel dull and unworthy, He is still refining and renewing me. I also observed the contrast between God’s original people, the nation of Israel, who saw His glory up close in very obvious, physical ways, but whose minds were still hardened by their stubbornness and rebellion. What causes someone’s mind to be hardened like this? How can that damage be undone?
Day 10 – You are calm.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and pleading with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7 NASB
Today I started with these familiar verses and went on a treasure hunt of all the cross-references, specifically focusing on verse 7. Some of them perfectly explained how the peace of God can and will guard our hearts, and they added a lot more depth to these verses that sometimes feel a little flat to me. “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in You, all whose thoughts are fixed on You! … LORD, you will grant us peace; all we have accomplished is really from You.” Isaiah 26:3, 12 NLT Knowing that everything that I accomplish is done through the Lord will help me to have peace and satisfaction in each day’s work the next time I feel tempted to focus on what hasn’t gotten done.
Day 11 – You are accepted.
11 Therefore remember that previously you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “Uncircumcision” by the so-called “Circumcision” which is performed in the flesh by human hands— 12 remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the people of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of the promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who previously were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, 15 by abolishing in His flesh the hostility, which is the Law composed of commandments expressed in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two one new person, in this way establishing peace; 16 and that He might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the hostility. 17 And He came and preached peace to you who were far away, and peace to those who were near; 18 for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.
Ephe3sians 2:11-22 NASB
Lots and lots of words in today’s Scripture writing prompt! Overall, the theme of the passage that I observed as I was writing it down is this: because of the Cross, I am accepted as a part of the household of God and a member of His chosen people. Because of this, I am also a part of the temple that is being built (metaphorically), on the foundation of all the prophets and apostles who lived and taught before me, and the cornerstone of Christ.
Conclusion
This was such a good week of Scripture writing, and I hope you are able to benefit from it as I have. Be sure to check out all the free resources and printables here, and join me on instagram to see all the current and future projects in the Word.
Happy journaling!
Let’s connect! Subscribe to email updates below so you never miss a new post from me 💖