Dakota Beacon

            A time of lockdown offers plenty of time to read and ponder the age-old teachings of the Bible. Time spent reflecting on the wisdom in the Scripture is time well spent. The Old and New Testaments give rich insight into our lives, ourselves, and our circumstances.

            Consider a few topics providing an ample boost to the reader’s spirit. Different Bible versions offer various renderings. Those cited below include the King James Version (KJV), the New King James Version (NKJV), the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV), and the New American Standard Bible (NASB).

            The following are only a few of the many verses that could be cited on the selected topics

**ATTITUDE: Begin with attitude. It speaks volumes about our predisposition.

            “A glad heart makes a cheerful countenance, but by sorrow of heart the spirit is broken.” (Proverbs 15:13, NRSV)

            “A cheerful heart is a good medicine, but a downcast spirit dries up the bones.” (Proverbs 17:22, NRSV)

**HEALTH: Too often our own wisdom interferes with the wisdom of the Lord.

            “Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. It will be a healing for your flesh and a refreshment for your body.” (Proverbs 3:7-8, NRSV)

            “My child, be attentive to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them escape from your sight; keep them within your heart. For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh.” (Proverbs 4:20-22, NRSV)

            “Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up quickly; and your vindicator shall go before you, the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.” (Isaiah 58:8, NRSV)

**SICKNESS and SICKNESSES: Keep context in mind.

            “… He [Jesus] took our infirmities and bore our diseases.” (Matthew 8:17, NRSV)

            “When Jesus heard that He said, ‘This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.’” (John 11:4, NKJV)

**SEPARATED: We may be quarantined and separated from the outside world, but in a greater sense “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? ... For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor agels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:35 & 38-39, NKJV)

**ANXIETY AND WORRY: Here is some good advice. Jesus knows what He is talking about.

            “And which of you by being anxious can add a single cubit to his life’s span?” (Matthew 6:27, NASB)

            “But seek first His kingdom, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious for tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6:33-34, NASB)

            “And do not seek what you shall eat, and what you shall drink, and do not keep worrying. For all these things the nations of the world eagerly seek; but your Father knows that you need these things. But seek for His kingdom, and these things shall be added to you.” (Luke 12:29-31, NASB)

**COMFORT: Reflecting on these God-inspired words brings comfort to the soul.

            “Remember the word to Thy servant, in which Thou has made me hope. This is my comfort in my affliction, that Thy word has revived me.” (Psalm 119:49-50 NASB)

            “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.” (2Corinthians 1:2-3, KJV)

**HOPE

            “And now, Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in thee.” (Psalm 39:7, NASB)

            “For you, O Lord, are my hope, my trust, O Lord, from my youth.” (Psalm 71: 5, NRSV)

            “Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word.” (Psalm 119:114, KJV)

            “For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.” (Romans 8:24-25, NRSV)

            Take this period of sequestration and spend time in the Scripture. Like Job following his tribulation you will be able to say, “I have heard of Thee by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye seeth Thee.” (Job 42:5, KJV)

            May these verses lift your spirit and give balm for your soul during this time of shutdown.

Dennis M. Patrick can be contacted at (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).