Debbie Swindell

Are you tired of the junk in your mailbox? Could you use some encouragement for your days? Yeah, me too. Each post will hit your mailbox daily beginning on Monday (subscribers only). These studied biblical words and verses will encourage you as you begin each day next week.

In my January 12th blog post, I proposed, “Stillness is not thinking about nothing. Biblical meditation includes scripture. Would you consider sharing a verse or passage with me for meditation during my recovery?” Then, in my last post, I concluded, “I will soon share more of the scripture passages you graciously shared on Facebook and in the blog comments. I’m slowly studying them as mental clarity allows.”

I confess that my mental clarity hasn’t improved much but it seems better at particular times each day. Some of you have witnessed my urge to climb between the sheets (although I haven’t) or sit with my eyes closed (I have). Today, I started my day listening to an audiobook. Yeah, well, that didn’t last long.

The time when I can concentrate better all day long is just around the corner and I am leaning into my Lord and my resources (by way of the Holy Spirit) to provide what I need to share an encouraging perspective with you to begin each day. In this post, you will read the scripture passages you generously shared. They will follow one at a time in individual posts making their way to your mailbox. And sometimes you might get only the verse or passage itself.

In this post, you will read all of the scripture passages you generously shared. My friends are just the best encouragers! They rely on God and his Word. Check out the inspiration they’ve given me in my time of need.

• Weeping may endure for the night, but joy comes in the morning. – Ps 30:5
• Exodus 34:5-8: The Lord descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the Lord. The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.” And Moses quickly bowed his head toward the earth and worshiped
• Behold, I am doing a new thing; Now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43:19
• For God alone, Oh my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him. – Ps 62:5
• Ps 18:2-6 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. I called on the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and he saved me from my enemies. The ropes of death entangled me; floods of destruction swept over me. The grave wrapped its ropes around me; death laid a trap in my path. But in my distress I cried out to the Lord; yes, I prayed to my God for help. He heard me from his sanctuary; my cry to him reached his ears.
• The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace. – Num 6:24-26
• Being confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will be able to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus. – Phil 1:6
• I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I can do all things through him who gives me strength. Phil 4:11 & 13
• The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. Zeph 3:17
• Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” - Lam 3:22-24
• Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplecation with thanksgiving let your request be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is comendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. – Phil 4:4-9

It’s a beautiful full text for purpose of singing lament and praise, but when we expose further than personal use, in a broader text, it has been used as a congregation for public worship. From psalm 30:

Psalm 30:4–12 (ESV): 4 Sing praises to the Lord, O you his saints, and give thanks to his holy name. 5 For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning. 6 As for me, I said in my prosperity, “I shall never be moved.” 7 By your favor, O Lord, you made my mountain stand strong; you hid your face; I was dismayed. 8 To you, O Lord, I cry, and to the Lord I plead for mercy: 9 “What profit is there in my death, if I go down to the pit? Will the dust praise you? Will it tell of your faithfulness? 10 Hear, O Lord, and be merciful to me! O Lord, be my helper!” 11 You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, 2 that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever!

This commentary is from the ESV Expository commentary – “The function of this psalm as an individual thanksgiving is to provide a vehicle for the worshiping congregation to join each member in giving thanks to God for answered prayers, especially when those prayers have been offered in desperate circumstances. As in the individual laments, here the highly personal is properly celebrated in public among the entire body; the community joins in with, and owns, the lament and the thanks.”

The particular psalm focuses its thanks on the ability to remain alive in order to continue as a member of the worshiping people. In singing this the members can realign their own priorities in order to affirm this more and more deeply for themselves.

Christian hope of eternal life has clarified the hints and foreshadowings of the OT; it has not rewritten it. Our life here is very short, but not for that reason irrelevant or unimportant. The apostle Paul could sum up his vision for a unified body of believing Jews and Gentiles as they worship together:

May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Rom. 15:5–6)

With the above verses, I promise to use commendable sources to expound upon their encouragement by way of God’s Holy Spirit. Let us consider this a form of worship. Such worship is what makes our lives worthwhile Monday through Friday! Let’s worship God each day in all we do. May the Lord Jesus Christ be honored and praised. Amen.