***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:
Dawn 
2 Cor. 10:4
The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds"!
What a great weekend this will be!
In His love and mine!
Isaiah 41:10 (New International Version)
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.
psalm 18: 28-30 NLT
You Light a lamp for me. The Lord ,my God, lights up my darkness.In your strength i can crush an army;with my God I can scale any wall. God's way is prefect all the Lord's promises prove true. He is a sheild for all who Look to him for prtection
psalms 31:14-15a NLT
But I trusting you, O LOrd, saying you are my God!" my future is in your hand.
Isaiah 40: 29-31a NLT
He gives prower to the wek and strength to the powerless.Even youth will become wek and tired, and young men will fall in exhastion But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength the will soar high on wings like eagles
Sisters let's start soaring like eagles
2 cor. 12: 8-9 NLT
Three dfferent times i begged the lord to take it away.each time he said MY GRACE IS ALL YOU NEED. MY POWER WORKS BEST IN WEAKNESS
thank you ,
Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you,
I will give men in exchange for you, and people in exchange for your life. Do not be afraid, for I am with you."
Isaiah 43:4-5a, NIV
Battling intense depression, I need to be reminded that God loves me and HE will deliver. He has been trying to teach me to not focus on the hurt, but on the fact that he is with me through everything.
2 Thessalonians 3:3 NIV
But the Lord is faithful and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.
Thanks Beth for doing this. It comes at such an appropriate time as we begin to work on the solution. We need His strength since we are unable of doing anything without Him.
April S. Port Orchard WA
No one is like you, O LORD; you are great, and your name is mighty in power. Jer 10:6 NIV
He said to me, "My grace is enough for you [sufficient for you; all you need]. When you are weak, my power is made perfect in you [For (my) power is perfected in weakness]." So I am very happy to brag [boast]. Then about my weaknesses Christ's power can live [reside, or rest] in me.
2 Cor 12:9 The Expanded Bible
Ooooh this is powerful! I can feel it!
Psalm 118:5-7
In my anguish I cried to the Lord and He answered by setting me free. The Lord is with me, I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?
The Lord is with me, He is my helper. I will look in triumph on my enemies.
You will keep him in perfect peace,
Whose mind is stayed on you,
Because he trusts in You.
Trust in the LORD forever,
For in YAH, the LORD, is everlasting strength.
Isaiah 26:3-4 (NKJV)
Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead, who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; iin whom we trust that He will still deliver us.
2 Corinthians 1:9-10 (NKJV)
The salvation of the righteous is from the LORD;
He is their strength in the time of trouble.
And the LORD shall help them and deliver them;
He shall deliver them from the wicked,
And save them,
Because they trust in Him.
Psalm 37:39-40 (NKJV)
"I am counting on the Lord; yes, I am counting on him. I have put my hope in his word." Ps. 130:5 (NLT)
Psalm 46:1-2
"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea."
If you have faith as asmall as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.
Mathew 17:20 NIV
He is your constant source of stability, He abundantly provides safety and great wisdom, He gives all this to those who fear Him.
Isaiah 33:6
(my word verification-'devalike'!!) Just about rolled on the floor!
Lord have mercy, I'm having personal revival here!
My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Psalm 73:26NIV
This is love for God: to obey his commands, And his commands are not burdensome,
for everyone born of God overcomes the world.
This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.
I John 4:3-4NIV
1 John 5:4
For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world–our faith.
1 John 5:4 NKJV
Carolyn
Oceanside,Ca
Even when you are old, I will be the same. Even when your hair has turned gray, I will take care of you. I made you and will take care of you. I will carry you and save you.
Isaiah 46:4
What incredible timing for this challenge. Yesterday morning I cried, "I just give up," because I failed in my attempts yet again. Thank YOU LORD for prompting us to encourage one another with YOUR WORD!
"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified or discourgaed, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9 NIV
I pray this verse over my children every day as they get out of the car to go to school, and I prayed it for myself this morning. I also printed out all posts so far and it's going to be my "Book of Strength." YES!
"For God did not give you a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." 2 Timothy 1:7 Not sure of the translation but it's been a lifeline to me.
Psalm 8:2 Out of the mouth of babes and infants, you have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger.
1John 5:4 For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world–our faith.
English Standard Version
"I run in the path of Your commands for You have set my heart free!" Psalm 119:32 (NIV)
"The Lord is my strength and my song and He has become my salvation." Exodus 15:2 NIV
This is the first Bible verse I ever memorized and it still is so significant to me.
"The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song."
Psalm 28:7
"so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saits, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you maybe filled to the measure of all the fullness of God."
Ephesians 3:17-19 NIV
1 Samuel 2:1,2 NIV
" My heart rejoices in the LORD;
in the LORD my horn is lifted
high. My mouth boasts over my
enemies, for I delight in your
deliverance.
" There is no one holy like the
LORD, there is no one besides
You; there is no Rock like our
God."
Do not be afraid of sudden terror, nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes; for the Lord will be your confidence, and will keep your foot from being caught.
Proverbs 3:25-26 NKJV
I can do all things through Christ which strengeth me.
Phil 4:13
KJV
Psalm 84:5 NIV
Blessed are those whose strength is in You, who have set their hearts on pilgrimage.
Exodus 14:14 NIV
The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.
Ephesians 3:20, 21 NIV
Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to HIS power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations for ever & ever Amen!!
These are all verses from my SMT 2009!
Philipians 1:6 NLT
And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.
There is no one like you, the God of Jeshurun, who rides on the heavens to help us and on the clouds in His majesty. You eternal God are our refuge and underneath are Your everlasting arms. You will drive out our enemy before us saying Destroy him!
Deut. 33:26-27
Thanks Beth, I so need this. I feel like it is going to be the death of me to be free.
Lyn
"The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,he enables me to go on the heights."
Habakkuk 3:19 (NIV)
Sweet Flip Flops, it's not gonna be. It's only going to be the death of that old destructive part of you. God has come to do a new thing! REAL LIFE. I love you.
He did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded THAT GOD HAD POWER TO DO what He had promised.
Romans 4:20-21, NIV
Flip Flops! You are not alone in this!!! We are all holding one another up in prayer and encouragement. Keep the faith sister, and you WILL see freedom! Why do I know this?! Because HE promised it and HE is faithful and HE is who HE says HE is! Praise the Lord!
"The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save."
Zephaniah 3:17 (NIV)
Psalm 29:11 NIV
The Lord gives strength to His people: the Lord blesses His people with peace.
The joy of the Lord is your strength – Nehemiah 8:10 NIV
A righteous man may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all – Psalm 34:19 NIV
Though the fig tree should not blossom, and there be no fruit on the vines, Though the yield of the olive should fail and the fields produce no food, though the flock should be cut off from the fold and there be no cattle in the stalls, yet I will exult in the Lord, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my STRENGTH, and He has made my feet like hinds' feet, and makes me walk on my high places.
Habbukuk 3:17-19 NASB
You have circled this mountain long enough. Now turn north. Deuteronomy 2:3 NASB (just had to repost this one. A wonderful new discovery)
Psalm 48:9-11 (NLT)
O God, we meditate on your unfailing love as we worship in your Temple. As your name deserves, O God, you will be praised to the ends of the earth.
Your strong right hand is filled with victory.
Thanks Beth for suggesting this…it has been awesome to read verse after verse declaring the strength and victory our God brings!
Isa 40:29 NKJV
He gives power to the weak, And to [those who have] no might He increases strength.
Mat 9:8
Now when the multitudes saw [it], they marveled and glorified God, who had given such power to men.
Eph 3:20-21 NKJV Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him [be] glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
The promise of "arrival" and "rest" is still there for God's people. God himself is at rest. And at the end of the journey we'll surely rest with God. So let's keep at it and eventually arrive at the place of rest, not drop out through some sort of disobedience.
Hebrews 4:9-11 The Message
Memorized this for the Siesta Scripture Memory challenge:
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 willuphold you with my righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:10
But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] shall change and renew their strength and power: they shall lift their wings and mount up [close to God] as eagles [mount up to the sun]: they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired. Isaiah 40:31 Amplified
For you did sympathize and suffer along with those who were imprisoned, and you bore cheerfully the plundering of your belongings and the confiscation of your property, in the knowledge and consciousness that you yourselves had a better and lasting possession. Do not therefore, fling away your fearless confidence, for it carries a great and glorious compensation of reward. Hebrews 10:34,35 Amplified
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand fim and then and do let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
Gal 5:1
NIV
My dear sisters in Christ:
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.
Joshua 1:9 (NIV)
7For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline
2 Timothy 1:7 (NIV)
2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
James 1:2-4 (NIV)
Margie
Hilton Head Island, SC
I pray that out of His glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through His spirit in your inner being.
Ephesians 3:16 NIV
I ask also for prayer tomorrow will be my son,Troys 13 birthday in his hevenly home. This was his life verse.
Psa 27:1The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? After God called him this was written out in his stuff on a index card Troy wrote. Left for me to stand on through the years sits in my kitchen window to great me each day.
Psa 27:14 Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.
Thank you so much Beth for initiating this today. I NEEDED THIS. This morning was especially "sooooo haaarrrddd" 😉
but I sensed Jesus Christ calling me to "get a grip" and saying in His firm/yet loving way:
SO DO NOT THROW AWAY YOUR CONFIDENCE; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God (dealing with these insecurities with Him), you will receive what He has promised.
Hebrews 10:35-36 NIV
"For God has NOT given us the spirit of fear, but of POWER, of love and of a sound mind."
2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV
Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice. Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always. Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced…
I Chronicles 16:10-12 (NIV)
Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor,
for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name.
I Chronicles 29:11-13 (NIV)
The LORD is for me, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me? Ps 118:6 NLT
AMEN AND AMEN!
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 56:4