***It’s Sunday evening and you just passed 500 comments on this post. YOU DID IT, GIRLS! Honestly, this is the most exhilarating thing I’ve ever seen. As you know, we’ve posted Scriptures many times, especially through our 2009 SSMT, but this is the first time we’ve had a theme like this. These verses will stand a woman to her feet and put a shout of praise on her tongue. Let’s remember this spot, Siestas, so we can return to it many times. As my grandmother used to say, “It’ll cure what ails ya.” Memorize the date of the post – 3/6/10 – and turn back to it any time you need Christ to fill your sweet soul with an extra measure of divine strength. Thank you so, so much for your participation here.
ORIGINAL POST:
I slept until 8:30 this morning! I can’t even remember the last time! I am so hyped up and happy I hardly know what to do! There ain’t no estimatin’ how different the world can look when we get a little sleep. Sometimes when we think we need a new man (I’m not thinking that right now, just using an example), a new job, a new set of kids, a new house, or a new friend, we may just need a nap. Maybe you can work one in today.
OK, Girls, I have a weekend assignment for you. I am so jazzed about our on-line journey through SLI and I am very happy with how it’s going. Please don’t misunderstand this to mean I’m not. I’m THRILLED with the honesty you guys are expressing and I hope you’ll keep it up. This is a safe place. But I agree with one of our sisters who said something like, “Let’s pour it out here but let’s get it dealt with and get out there and be strong.” All the moaning about how hard it is only makes it harder. Breaking Free will nearly kill you but then, if you stick with it, like many of us out here have, God will use it to turn around and heal you. We have to press through and not be so easily discouraged. Our attitudes will make or break us. Let me say just as quickly that so many of you have been tremendously encouraging in the journey even through the difficulty of what we’ve had to face. We just want to band together and reach out and pull some sisters up on their feet here.
Ladies, the devil knows that if we’re too scared to even face our insecurity, we’ll never get freed up from it. If we just put the book down because it’s too heavy, how are we supposed to get up? (No, you didn’t say you were putting it down and I’m so thankful for that. But I’m convinced it’s what the enemy’s trying to get some of us to do.) We can’t deal with what we won’t face. GIRLS, WE CAN DO THIS. Are you telling me it’s harder to face it and get over it than it is to deal with it day in and day out, letting it minimize us and make fools of us and mentor the next generation to be just like us? Not to me, it’s not. I’m a whole lot happier today than I was this time a year ago. Please, keep up the honesty and let’s work this thing out together but, if you are in Christ, stop giving yourself so little credit. YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES. We can do ALL THINGS through Christ who strengthens us. Let’s honor what He’s done for us by doing what it takes to accept it to the marrow of our bones. The question will ultimately be this: Do we believe what God’s Word says enough to act on it?
So, that brings us to our weekend assignment: (And this is not only for the ones going through SLI. All of us could use this.) Look up Scriptures that have to do with strength and power and victory and write some out in a comment to this post. Be sure to put the reference and the translation because your sisters will want to know where they can find many of them. Try to limit your comment to the actual Scripture so that we can read one after another and claim them for ourselves through the power of Christ in our inner man.
THEN, ladies, get on here and read some of them OUT LOUD. Restate them in first person between You and your God.
I’ll get us started with one I’m saying almost every morning right now. Isaiah 52:1 NIV says…
“Awake, awake, O Zion, clothe yourself with strength.”
I say it out loud and picture myself right then putting on the power and might of Christ like a coat. Sometimes I might even stretch my arms like I’m pulling them through sleeves. Go ahead and think I’m such a weirdo. It’s a well established fact but I have loved it and it’s working and, anyway, I think that kind of stuff makes God grin. I’ve used it in my journey to be physically restored after my surgery and through the pain of a badly herniated disk but it is just as pertinent to our present journey toward soul-deep security.
Your Siesta Mama loves you. This is how I would talk to my own daughters when they were growing up. They could well tell you that I only put up with “This is sooooooo haaaarrrrrddddd” so long. “It won’t be near as hard when you get your tail up and do it.”
Go for it, Girls! Get your tail up and do it. Let’s clothe ourselves with these:
valerie 
STRENGTH:
"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
Isaiah 41:10 NIV
POWER:
"The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds."
2 Corinthians 10:4 NIV
VICTORY:
"With God we will gain the victory, and he will trample down our enemies."
Psalm 60:12 NIV
"God sent me to announce the year of his grace – a celebration of God's DESTRUCTION of our ENEMIES! {insecurity, maybe?} and to comfort all who mourn, to care for the needs of all who mourn in Zion, give them bouquets of roses instead of ashes, messages of JOY instead of news of doom, a PRAISING HEART instead of a languid spirit…they'll rebuild the old ruins, raise a NEW CITY of the wreckage. They'll start over on the ruined cities, take the rubble left behind and MAKE IT NEW." Isaiah 61:2-3, The Message.
God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
I Peter 5:6-7
Oh!! This is sooo cool!!!
"Have you lost your senses? After starting your Christian lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort?" Gal.3:3 NLT
"It is not by strength that one prevails." I Sam.2:9b NIV
God, help me! May this sink into my brain/heart soon! I CANNOT do this alone!
For I will pour water upon him who is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground. I will pour My Spirit upon your offspring, and My blessing upon your descendants.
Isaiah 44:3 (Amplified Bible)
God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea. Let the oceans roar and foam. Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge!….Be still, and know that I am God!
Psalm 46:1-3, 10a (NLT)
Oh, Kristi! I shouted out loud with that Gal. 3:3! YES!!
"With God we will gain the victory, and he will trample down our enemies." !!!!!!!
Psalm 60:12 (NIV)
I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD
In the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD;
Be strong and let your heart take courage
Yes, wait for the LORD.
PS 27:13-14
Ex. 9:16 NKJV
But indeed for this [purpose] I have raised you up, that I may show My power [in] you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth.
Job 26:12 NKJV
He stirs up the sea with His power, And by His understanding He breaks up the storm.
Psa 59:16 NKJV But I will sing of Your power; Yes, I will sing aloud of Your mercy in the morning; For You have been my defense And refuge in the day of my trouble.
Psa 110:3 NKJV Your people [shall be] volunteers In the day of Your power; In the beauties of holiness, from the womb of the morning, You have the dew of Your youth.
I've always loved 2 Timothy 1:7
For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.
(NIV)
"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the POWER of God."
1 Cor. 1:18 (NIV)
Depend on the Lord and his strength; always go to him for help. 1 Chronicles 16:11 (NCV)
For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith.
1 John 5:4(NLT)
The voice of the Lord is powerful;
The voice of the Lord is full of majesty. Ps 29:4 (NKJV)
"He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord." Psalm 112:7 (NIV)
Isaiah 12:2 NIV
Surely God is my salvation;
I will trust and not be afraid.
The LORD, the LORD, is my strength and my song;
he has become my salvation.
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. RESTORE to me the JOY of your SALVATION, and UPHOLD me with your willing spirit.
Psalm 51:10-12 ESV
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. ~Matthew 6:34 NIV
"He is a shield for all who take refuge in him.
For who is God besides the Lord?And who is the Rock except our God?
It is God who arms me with STRENGTH and makes my way perfect"
"He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
You give me your shield of VICTORY; you stoop down to make me great."
2 Sam. 22:31b-33, 35-36 (NIV)
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
2 Timothy 1:7 KJV
Beth, What a great idea. We needed this. I think I'll cut and paste these into a spiral!
"Be strengthed with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance, patience and joy!"
Colossians 1:11 NIV
1Chronicles 29:10-13…"David blessed God in full view of the entire congregation: Blessed are you, God of Israel, our father from of old and forever. To you, O God, belong the greatness and the might, the glory, the victory, the majesty, the splendor; Yes! Everything in heaven, everything on earth; the kingdom all yours! You've raised yourself high over all. Riches and glory come from you, you're ruler over all; You hold strength and power in the palm of your hand to build up and strengthen all. And here we are, O God, our God, giving thanks to you, praising your splendid Name." -The Message
Psalm 93:1-2 ESV
The Lord reigns; He is robed in majesty; The Lord is robed; He has put on strength as his belt. Yes the world is established; it shall never be moved. Your throne is established from of old; You are from everlasting.
Deut. 4:37 NIV
Because he loved your forefathers and chose their descendants after them, he brought you out of Egypt by his Presence and his great Strength, to drive out before you nations greater and stronger than you and to bring you into their land to give it to you as your inheritance, as it is today.
Psalm 30:11
The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace.
Amen! Amen! Thanks Beth! This was SO GREAT to read all these verses from others, and find some to add.
Pamela
This is awesome! I feel like I need to print this comment section!
Mine is Psalm 121:1-3 NIV
"I lift up my eyes to the hills – where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip – he who watches over you will not slumber."
Casting Crowns has a song with this verse in it "Praise You In This STorm" – I LOVE it – the youtube is posted on my blog here:
http://womenlivingwell-courtney.blogspot.com/2010/02/unanswered-prayer.html
Courtney
2 Thessalonians 3:3 NASB
But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.
Ephesians 6:10 NASB
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.
"For EVERYONE born of God OVERCOMES the world. This is the VICTORY that has overcome the world, even our faith."
1 John 5:4 (NIV)
The Lord God is my Strength, my personal bravery, and my invincible army; He makes my feet like hinds' feet and will make me to walk [not to stand still in terror, but to walk] and make [spiritual] progress upon my high places [of trouble, suffering, or responsibility]!
Habakkuk 3:19 (AMP)
Patti Hayes – Lutz, Florida
"For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, BUT OUR EYES ARE ON YOU.
This is what the Lord says to you:
Do NOT be afraid or discouraged…
For the battle is NOT yours, but God's…STAND FIRM AND SEE THE DELIVERANCE THE LORD WILL GIVE YOU… The Lord will be with you…"
II Chronicles 20:12-15, 17 NIV
OH YEAH!!!!!!
HE WILL DELIVER US!!!!
"The ETERNAL GOD is your REFUGE,and HIS EVERLASTING ARMS ARE UNDER YOU.
He drives out the enemy before you;
he cries out, âDESTROY THEM!â
Deuteronomy 33:27 (NLT)
Yes and AMEN!!!!!!!!!!!
"For God is SO WISE and SO MIGHTY.
Who has ever challenged him successfully? Without warning, he moves the mountains, overturning them in his anger. He shakes the earth from its place,and its foundations tremble.
Job 9:4-6 (NLT)
THAT'S OUR GOD!!!!!!!
God gave me this verse yesterday, after a struggle w/ insecurity. I think it might fit w/ what you just said Beth!
Jesus replied, "Your problem is that you don't know the Scriptures and you don't know the power of God.
Mark 12:24 NLT
I took it as such a loving reminder that I needed to get my memorization going again!
"Do not be afraid as you go out to fight today! Do not lose heart or panic. For the LORD your God is going with you! He will fight for you against your enemies, and He will give you the victory!"
Deut. 20:1 NLT
"Blessed is 'she' who has believed that what the LORD has said to her, will be accomplished."
Luke 1:45 NIV
You give me your shield of victory; you stoop down to make me great.
2Sa 22:36 (NIV)
Zech. 4:6 So he said to me, "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the LORD Almighty.
7 "What [a] are you, O mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become level ground. Then he will bring out the capstone to shouts of 'God bless it! God bless it!'
Psalm 34:4
I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me, freeing me from all my fears.
Romans 12:2
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world,but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
2 Chron 16:9
The eyes of the Lord Range throughout the earth to STRENGTHEN those whose hearts are fully committed to Him.
A Psalm of David. Blessed be the LORD, my rock, Who trains my hands for war, And my fingers for battle;
Ps 144:1
I have been struggling with a lot of baggage for so long. Last Sunday night my pastor's sermon was from John 5.
6 When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, "Do you want to get well?"
7 "Sir," the invalid replied, "I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me."
8 Then Jesus said to him, "Get up! Pick up your mat and walk."
I have had so many excuses just like the man by the pool at Bethseda. Realizing I can do all things through Christ. God spoke so clearly: its time to get up and walk.
"Donât be afraid, for I am WITH you. Donât be discouraged, for I am YOUR God. I WILL strengthen you and help you. I WILL hold you up with my VICTORIOUS right hand." Isaiah 41:10 NLT (emphasis mine)
Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way; say to those with fearful hearts, "Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you."
Is. 35:3-4 NIV
Philippians 4:6
Don't worry about anything, instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank Him for all He has done. Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand.
New Living translation.
Peace=victory, sisters.
To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul;
in you I trust, O my God.
Do not let me be put to shame,
nor let my enemies triumph over me.
No one whose hope is in you
will ever be put to shame,
but they will be put to shame
who are treacherous without excuse.
Psalm 25:1-3
"For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory". Duet 20:4 N.I.V.
"You give me your shield of victory; you stoop down to make me great". 2Sam. 22:36 N.I.V.
"But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ". 1 Cor. 15:57 N.I.V.
SO DO NOT FEAR, FOR I AM WITH YOU; DO NOT BE DISMAYED, FOR I AM YOUR GOD. I WILL STRENGTHEN YOU AND HELP YOU; I WILL UPHOLD YOU WITH MY RIGHTEOUS RIGHT HAND. ISAIAH 41:10 (NIV)
A girlfriend gave me this the other day for a time I'm going through!
Psalm 91 (NIV)
1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. [a]
2 I will say [b] of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust."
3 Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare
and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
5 You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
8 You will only observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.
9 If you make the Most High your dwellingâ
even the LORD, who is my refuge-
10 then no harm will befall you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
12 they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread upon the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
14 "Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
15 He will call upon me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life will I satisfy him
and show him my salvation."
Donna (the mom of twin boys)
31 but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Isaiah 40:31
No one whose hope is in You will ever be put to shame.
Ps. 25:3
Beth, this is wonderful… and thanks to all the Siestas, too. I really needed this today!
Beloved, when you come to the end of your strength, remember the name of the Lord is a strong tower, the righteous runs into it and is safe.
Proverbs 18:10 (Sorry, I am unsure which translation.)
Col. 3:5
Put to death your old self with its practices and put on the new self which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its creator
Is. 62:11b
See your Savior comes! See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him
Isaiah 43:18-19 (NIV)
Forget the former things; do not swell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up, do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.
Psalm 105:4 (NLT)
Search for the Lord and for His strength, and keep on searching.
Psalm 18:29,32 (NLT)
In Your strength I can crush any army; with my God I can scale any wall….God arms me with strength, and He makes my way safe.
Psalm 89:17 (NLT)
When I pray, You answer me; You encourage me by giving me the strength I need.
2 Chronicles 16:9a (NIV)
For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him.
For who is God, but the LORD? And who is a rock, except our GOD? This God is my strong refuge and has made my way blameless. He made my feet like the feet of a deer and set me secure on the heights. 2Samuel 22:32-34 NIV
The Lord is my light and my salvationâso why should I be afraid?The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger,so why should I tremble?Psalm 27:1 NLT
New honors are constantly bestowed on me,and my strength is continually renewed.âJob 29:20 NLT
My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak,but God remains the strength of my heart;he is mine forever.Psalm 73:26 NLT
Common sense and success belong to me.Insight and strength are mine.
Proverbs 8:14 NLT
But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one.2Thess. 3:3 NLT
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, of love and of a sound mind!
2 Tim 1:7 KJV
You are awesome, O God, in Your sanctuary; the God of Israel gives power and strength to His people. Praise be to God!
Psalm 68:35
Mitzi
North Carolina