HE RESTORES MY SOUL

As a part of our “Spiritual Conversations: Let’s Talk About…” I talked about Mental Health. Over the years we have tried to help remove the stigma sometimes associated with mental health illnesses. God even enabled us to put together a community wide Festival of Hope addressing Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders/Addictions.

Elijah is one of the greatest characters in the Old Testament. Even so, it did not keep him from experiencing despair, discouragement and depression. The Bible makes no attempt to hide Mental Health Illness of its heroes

Today, I wanted to put together a list of my favorite Bible verses about peace and calm. Here are 10 Bible verses that you can write down in the cover of your Bible so you can turn to them quickly and often. See if you agree about these verses: Philippians 4:6-7; 2 Timothy 1:7; Psalm 23; Matthew 11:28-30; 1 Peter 5:7; Isaiah 41:10; John 14:27; Psalm 46:1-3; & Deuteronomy 31:6. What verses would you add to these?

Read and meditate on these verses. Keep them in an easy to find place. Let them so bless you that you in turn will be able to use them to bless others.

In addition, here are two prayers that you might find helpful in your journey toward peace that passes all understanding. The first one is the Serenity Prayer:

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, And the wisdom to know the difference. Living one day at a time, enjoying one moment at a time, Accepting hardship as the pathway to peace. Taking, as Jesus did, this sinful world as it is, Not as I would have it.

The second one you are more familiar with, The Model Prayer also called The Lord’s Prayer:

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom, The power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

Allow me to speak this blessing over you and your loved ones: The LORD bless you and keep you; The LORD make His face to shine upon you; And be gracious to you; The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace. Deuteronomy 6:24-26

See you Sunday good Lord willing!

Pastor Tom