***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:
Anonymous 
People with their minds set on You, You keep completely whole, Steady on their feet, because they keep at it and don't quit. Depend on God and keep at it because in the Lord God you have a sure thing.
Isaiah 26:3-4 message
Keeping up Scripture Memory with my 2 daughters & a friend! Thanks so incredibly much for your inspiration & motivation! I love you!
[Our pain and fear] were trying to intimidate us into quitting. They thought, "They'll give up; they'll never [overcome insecurity]!" [We] prayed, "Give [us] strength."
Nehemiah 6:9 The Message
[We] strengthened [ourselves] with trust in [our] God.
I Samuel 30:6 The Message
"The joy of the LORD is your strength." Nehemiah 8:10
"And you will make a new start, listening obediently to God, keeping all his commandments…God, your God, will outdo Himself in making things go well for you." Deuteronomy 30:8-9 (MSG)
"The LORD makes me very happy; all that I am rejoices in my God. He has covered me with clothes of salvation and wrapped me with a coat of goodness."
Isaiah 61:10 (MSG)
"The LORD is good, a stronghold in a day of trouble: He protects those who take refuge in Him, even in a rushing flood."
Nahum 1:7,8b
Bertie
50's
Married
Houston
Psalm 94:19 (NKJV)
In the multitude of my anxieties within me,
Your comforts delight my soul.
GLORY!
GJ
"He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken."
Ps. 62:6 NIV
"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love and of a sound mind."
II Timothy 1:7 KJV
"The Lord gives his people strength. the Lord blesses them with peace."
Ps. 29:11 NLT
"The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving."
Ps. 28:7 NLT
This is some POWERFUL reading, Siestas!
. . .greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. 1 John 4:4-5 NASB
Although this is David speaking to his enemy, I speak this directly to mine. He cowers every time. Praise Jesus!!!!! You can tell Keith this is my semi-automatic weapon and I can take care of a whole den of snakes with this one! Grin
1 Samuel 17:45-47 NLT
45 David replied to the Philistine, “You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies—the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 Today the Lord will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off your head. And then I will give the dead bodies of your men to the birds and wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel! 47 And everyone assembled here will know that the Lord rescues his people, but not with sword and spear. This is the Lord’s battle, and he will give you to us!”
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the POWER may be of God and not of us. We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed…therefore, we do not lose heart.
2 Cor. 4:7-9,16a (NKJV)
I wrote this verse in my spiral last February 15, 2009, with the personal aside, "I need to remember this one for times when I find myself negative, pessimistic, and see the glass "half empty"- when I am 'in the pit' and need OUT!" Maybe it will help someone else.
"Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." 1 Peter 5:8
When I read that verse it is so refreshing to remember this one
"I am able to do all things through Him who strengthens me."
Phillippians 4:13
God is for us! Who can be against us. Siestas!!!!? Hallelujah and AMEN!
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds Psalm 147:3 (NIV)
Psalm 20:5
We will shout for joy when you are victorious and will lift our banners in the name of our God. May the Lord grant your requests!
It is for freedom that Christ has set you free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by the yoke of slavery.
Galatians 5:1 NIV
One of my favorites.
I can do everything through Him who gives me strength!
Phil. 4:13NIV
This version is AWESOME!
I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who [a]infuses inner strength into me; I am [b]self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency].
Phil 4:13 Amplified Bible
Wendy
Wow! I now have a mega spiral! I will be saying these over and over again. I want to be free!
It has been so encouraging to read all the scriptures.
Thank you siestas,
I especially LOVE LOVE LOVE this passage from the Amplified Bible!
I memorized this last year as part of the Scripture Memory Team!!!
Psalm 91:1-2
1 HE WHO dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty [Whose power no foe can withstand].
2 I will say of the Lord, He is my Refuge and my Fortress, my God; on Him I lean and rely, and in Him I [confidently] trust!
"for it is GOD who works in you to will and to act according to His good purposes". Phil. 2:13 NIV
"I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will give you mighty inner strength through his Holy Spirit. And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of God's marvelous love. And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high and how deep his love really is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it. Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now glory be to God! By his might power at work within us, he is able to accomplish infinitely more that we would ever dare to ask or hope."
Eph. 3: 16-20
(the old New Living Translation)
I posted my verse earlier but wanted to add this. I need some prayer. I am having trouble with my hormones and balancing them. I am going to have a hysterectomy in June and that will help but til then it is really a struggle. They go up and down. It is a severe problem with some of the women in our family. Thanks for your prayers. This has really helped Beth as I try to cling to the Word when I am down or low. Thanks!
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
He gives STRENGTH to the weary and increases the POWER of the weak.
Isaiah 40:29
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Psalm 73:26 NIV
I will say of the Lord…HE is my Refuge and my Fortress, my God, on Him I lean and rely, and in HIM I confidently trust!
Psalm 91:2
Malinda Donelle
Secureinhim.blogspot.com
Bentonville, AR
Philippians 4:13 –
I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
Ecclesiastes 9:11 –
Again I saw that under the sun the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favor to those with knowledge, but time and chance happen to them all
2 Samuel 22:33-37
It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. 34 He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he enables me to stand on the heights. 35 He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze. 36 You give me your shield of victory; you stoop down to make me great. 37 You broaden the path beneath me, so that my ankles do not turn.
Isaiah 35
Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees.
Isaiah 45:5
I am the LORD, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God. I will strengthen you, though you have not acknowledged me,
Isaiah 35:2-4
It will burst into bloom; it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy. The glory of Lebanon will be given to it, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon; they will see the glory of the LORD, the splendor of our God. 3 Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way; 4 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."
Isaiah 40:31
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.
I do not trust in my bow, my sword does not bring me victory; but you give us victory over our enemies, you put our adversaries to shame.
In God we make our boast all day long, and we will praise your name forever.
Psalm 44:6-8 NIV
Paula
Deut 33:12 NIV
"Let the beloved of the LORD rest secure in Him, for He shields him all day long, and the one the LORD loves rests between His shoulders."
"Don't let evil get the best of you, but CONQUER evil by doing good."
~Romans 12:21, NLT
"…We grow only as we get our nourishment and STRENGTH from God. You have died with Christ, and He has set you FREE from the evil powers of this world…"
~Colossians 2:19,20, NLT
The LORD will fight for you while you keep silent.
Exodus 14:14 (NASB)
(I've been joking that the last 4 words have made this my life verse, but in all seriousness it's really changed my life.)
"…in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, until these calamities have passed by. I will cry out to God Most High, TO GOD WHO PERFORMS ALL THINGS FOR ME"
Psalm 57:1-2 NKJV
I Peter 1:3
His divine power has granted to us all things pertaining to life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us to His own glory and excellence.
Romans 8:3
For God has done what the law weakened by the flesh could not do. By sending own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh.
(ESV)
Jeremiah 31:11
For the LORD has redeemed Jacob and ransomed him from the one stronger than he.
WOW!!! I am super encouraged, thank you for this wonderful sight this evening. I had to work this am, but am so refreshed by reading these!!!!
my 2 would be…
Ps. 31:23-24 NIV
Love the LORD, all His saints! The Lord preserves the faithful, but the proud he pays back in full. Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD.
and Micah 7:8 NIV (one of my SMT verses 🙂 )
Do not gloat over me my enemy. Though I have fallen I WILL rise! Though i sit in darkness the LORD WILL be my light!!!
"DON'T WAIVER IN RESOLVE. DON'T FEAR. DON'T HESITATE. DON'T PANIC. GOD, YOUR GOD, IS RIGHT THERE WITH YOU, FIGHTING WITH YOU AGAINST YOUR ENEMIES. FIGHTING TO WIN."
~Deuteronomy 20:4, The Message
Try this for the next few days. Every time you address God, only call him "O my Strength" – and do it out loud!
O my Strength, I watch for you; you, O God, are my fortress, my loving God.
Psalm 59:9
O my Strength, I sing praise to you; you, O God, are my fortress, my loving God.
Ps. 59:17
And one of my favourite verses-
This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says:
"In repentance and rest is your salvation,
in quietness and trust is your strength…”
Isaiah 30:15
Psalms 19:13-14 NIV
13 Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then will I be blameless, innocent of great transgression.
14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.
Ps 21:1 NIV
O LORD, the king rejoices in your strength. How great is his joy in the victories you give!
Neh 8:10 KJV
…for the joy of the LORD is your strength.
Psalm 27:5 & 6
For in the day of trouble He will keep me safe in his dwelling; He will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock.
Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at His tabernacle will I sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the LORD.
Zephaniah 3:17
The LORD your God is with you,
He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with his love, He will rejoice over you with singing."
I John 3:19 – 20
This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in His presence whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and He knows everything.
Isn't it obvious that God deliberately chose men and women that the culture overlooks and exploits and abuses, and uses these "nobodies" to expose the hollow pretension of the "somebodies"? That makes it quite clear that none of you can get by with blowing your own horn before God. Everything that we have: right thinking, right living, a clean slate and a fresh start comes from God by way of Jesus.
I Corinthians 1:27-30 the Message
(i am shouting!!! 🙂
1 Hear, O Israel. You are now about to cross the Jordan to go in and dispossess nations greater and stronger than you, with large cities that have walls up to the sky.
2 The people are strong and tall—Anakites! You know about them and have heard it said: "Who can stand up against the Anakites?"
3 But be assured today that the LORD your God is the one who goes across ahead of you like a devouring fire.
He will destroy them; he will subdue them before you.
And you will drive them out and annihilate them quickly, as the LORD has promised you.
Deut.9: 1-3 NIV
To Celeste and all newbies to the Bible
If you want to find something in the Bible like verses on strength, go to http://www.blueletterbible.org/
and then type in "strength."
All the verses with the word strength will come up.
One of my favourite verses on strength –
This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: "In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength…"
Isaiah 30:15
1 Chronicle 29:12
Both riches and honor come from You, and You reign over all. In Your hand is power and might; In Your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all.
Isaiah 43:10 (?)
"You are my witness," declares the Lord, "and my servant, whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me"
Beth used this verse in one of her books, It has sunc an impact on my soul and the story I have, I put it on my Blackberry to remind me that God has selected me.
A witness tells the truth – a servant is to be ready to serve no matter how small/large the task may seem. It is for my benifit, to remind me of who God is and has done for me and my family.
"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
2 Thessalonians 3:3 NASB
But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.
He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
Psalm 91:4
Oh Mama Beth you have no idea just how I needed this today.
II Peter 1:3-4 (ESV):
"His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us to His own glory and excellence, by which He has granted to us His precious and very great promises so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire."
Getting chills reading all of this. God is so good!!
"Blessed are those whose strength is in you,
who have set their hearts on pilgrimage.
As they pass through the Valley of Baca,
they make it a place of springs;
the autumn rains also cover it with pools.
They go from strength to strength,
till each appears before God in Zion.
Ps. 84:5-67 NIV
Getting chills reading all of this. God is so good!!
"Blessed are those whose strength is in you,
who have set their hearts on pilgrimage.
As they pass through the Valley of Baca,
they make it a place of springs;
the autumn rains also cover it with pools.
They go from strength to strength,
till each appears before God in Zion.
Ps. 84:5-67 NIV
You give me your shield of victory, and your right hand sustains me; you stoop down to make me great.
Psalm 18:35 NIV
Isaiah 64:4 NKJV
For since the beginning of the world men have not heard nor perceived by the ear, nor has the eye seen any God besides You, who acts for the one who waits for Him.
It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect.
Psalm 18:32 NIV
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 NIV
Psalm 60:12 New King James
Through our God we will do valiantly, For it is He who will tread down our adversaries.
Psalm 29:11 New Living Translation
The Lord gives his people strength.
The Lord blesses them with peace.
Thank you Beth, I so needed to do this tonight.
But he knows the way I take; when He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold. Job 23:10 NASB
Psalm 71:13-14 "Let those who are adversaries of my soul be ashamed and consumed; let them be covered with reproach and dishonor who seek to injure me. BUT AS FOR ME, I WILL HOPE CONTINUALLY AND WILL PRAISE YOU YET MORE AND MORE!"