What is a crisis? Usually, is an individualized situation or circumstance that is unexpected, undesired, and for which I are ungrateful. Often, it may be life- threatening, but it is always life-changing.
How can I, as a believer, think it through theologically? Of course, I must start with asking the question, "What Saith the Scripture?"
When afraid, God teaches me to trust in Him, in Psalm 56:3. When discouraged, he reminds me to have all my expectations from Him,min Psalm 62:5. When my heart is burdened, I read in 1 Peter 5:7 that I am to cast all my care on Him. When lonely, to remember He never leavs me or forsakes me, in Hebrews 13:5. If feeling unappreciated, God comforts me in Colossians 3:24 that I serve the Lord Christ and rewards come from Him.
To move from instability to stability in the midst of crisis, I use the following seven verses progressively to stabilize my thinking:
Jeremiah 29:11 helps me focus on the character and nature of my God.
"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end."
Romans 8:28-29 reminds me of His promise to me in everything.
"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren."
Psalm 18:30a assures me of the integrity of His ways.
"As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the Lord is tried:...
Psalm 62:5 causes me to refocus my perspective from a temporary one to an eternal one.
"My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him."
Psalm 37:3-7 give me steps to TRUST Him.
"Trust in the Lord....Delight thyself also in the Lord.....Commit thy way unto the Lord; .....
Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him:........"
2 Corinthians 10:5 brings my thoughts back into biblical focus.
"Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;..."
Psalm 119:133, on the basis of all the previous passages, help me to apply what I know.
"Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me."
In crisis, as in all other times of my life, every thought, action and word must be submitted to the scrutiny of the Scriptures.
(C) 2014 N.A.Collins. Excerpts from THEOLOGY 9-1-1
(C) 2012 N.A.Collins
Copy permission limited to one personal file copy.
How can I, as a believer, think it through theologically? Of course, I must start with asking the question, "What Saith the Scripture?"
When afraid, God teaches me to trust in Him, in Psalm 56:3. When discouraged, he reminds me to have all my expectations from Him,min Psalm 62:5. When my heart is burdened, I read in 1 Peter 5:7 that I am to cast all my care on Him. When lonely, to remember He never leavs me or forsakes me, in Hebrews 13:5. If feeling unappreciated, God comforts me in Colossians 3:24 that I serve the Lord Christ and rewards come from Him.
To move from instability to stability in the midst of crisis, I use the following seven verses progressively to stabilize my thinking:
Jeremiah 29:11 helps me focus on the character and nature of my God.
"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end."
Romans 8:28-29 reminds me of His promise to me in everything.
"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren."
Psalm 18:30a assures me of the integrity of His ways.
"As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the Lord is tried:...
Psalm 62:5 causes me to refocus my perspective from a temporary one to an eternal one.
"My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him."
Psalm 37:3-7 give me steps to TRUST Him.
"Trust in the Lord....Delight thyself also in the Lord.....Commit thy way unto the Lord; .....
Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him:........"
2 Corinthians 10:5 brings my thoughts back into biblical focus.
"Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;..."
Psalm 119:133, on the basis of all the previous passages, help me to apply what I know.
"Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me."
In crisis, as in all other times of my life, every thought, action and word must be submitted to the scrutiny of the Scriptures.
(C) 2014 N.A.Collins. Excerpts from THEOLOGY 9-1-1
(C) 2012 N.A.Collins
Copy permission limited to one personal file copy.
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