Learn how to preach to yourself

Why are you cast down, O my soul,
    and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
    my salvation and my God. Psalm 42:5-6 ESV

A lot of folks think that just going to church on Sundays is truly enough ‘spiritual food’ to get you through the week until the next Sunday. That definitely is not, we’re not designed that way. We are in a fight with an invisible realm, every second of every day, and we need help all throughout the week. I’m a big fan of committing verses to memory. This is not a dogmatic practice like you may have grown up with to just memorize Bible verses: this is a fight for your mind’s affections. We have to learn to preach to ourselves during the week when we are alone and weak. Here are some verses that I’ve had to cling to in times of desperation and that, ultimately, pointed me back to God and kept me on a straight path in times of trouble. This certainly is not an exhaustive list, memorize as much as your can! These have been life-saving for me, so I hope they can help you as well.

1. Learn the most important commandments:  “’Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?’ And he said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.’” Matthew 22:36-40 ESV
2. Learn that following God is worth more than the quick temptation pleasure at hand: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” Matthew 5:8 ESV
3. Learn that in these shaky times, God’s word is stable and is true: “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever (Isaiah 40:8 ESV).” Also: “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away (Matthew 24:35 ESV).”
4. Learn to rely on God’s grace for salvation, not our own merit: “When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, ‘Who then can be saved?’ But Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible (Matthew 19:25-26 ESV).” and also Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV: “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
5. Learn that God is completely in control over everything, even my death: “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows Matthew 10:29-31).”
6. Learn to be weak: “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Corinthians 12:9 ESV
7. Learn that God has already won the future: “…remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose…” Isaiah 46:9-10 ESV
8. Learn that when you mess up and look to God for forgiveness, there is mercy: “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. ‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘therefore I will hope in him.’” Lamentations 3:22-24 ESV
9. Learn that if God is Sovereign, then anything that occurs is ultimately for the good of those that love Him: “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28 ESV).”
10. Learn that all else will fail you, but God is meant to be all-satisfying: “Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever (Psalm 73:25-26).”

Conclusion

As I said, this is not an exhaustive list. But, this has been a list of verses that have helped me through some really tough and dark times. These are the times we typically are seeing during the week, in between the Sunday worship services. This is the battleground we’re in for the majority of the week. We have to engage in this warfare not with worldly self-help techniques but with a Sword that is a weapon made for this battle (Hebrews 4:12).

-Austin