Step Two - Personalizing Scripture, by Paula Rose

Much has been written about affirmations. Yet seldom do we believers think about using Gods Word which we know in Isaiah 55:11 says “…so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” In other words, God has already given us what we need to silence the “Committee!” Gods Word will accomplish his purpose, and his purpose for your life is to be a believer whose life bears witness to a weary world that there is a living God.

Every step you have taken thus far, I took. So I will share with you that discovering the lies I thought were true about me was only half the battle. The second and most important part, the part that snatched victory out of satins’ grasp was finding the right scriptures. To do this I had to admit that I felt stupid, fat, ugly, and dumb. I prayed and hoped to find a verse or verses that would help me re-parent myself. Instead I found a verse that told me that just as I am, I am all he wanted and all he died for. My life verse is: 1 Corinthians 1:27: 29 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not —to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.

The moment I read this verse, I knew it was placed there just for me because, although it was nothing akin to what I thought I needed, I felt better. However, knowing that there is much more to reclaiming a broken heart, I spoke the words aloud five times X five for weeks. And though I’m loathed to admit it each time I did I challenged God to show me that what I believed and had laid claim to really was meant for me.

A few weeks later I was asked to disciple a new believer. Several had tried before me and failed for the woman always showed up drunk. After our first failed meeting, I set down guidelines. When the second meeting was not better than he first, I asked that we find a chemical dependency unit in a local hospital that I would take this new believer to if she showed up drunk again. The third meeting ended when I took her to the hospital for inpatient care.

The next morning I was startled to pick up an early call and discover that the doctor heading that area of the hospital needed to see me. Long story shortened, what begin as a request that I sit in on her case management teams in-service, and all that happened during this women’s stay including group Bible studies, lead the doctor to invite me to join his medical team.

Sadly aware that I could not function as I had if I were on staff, I turned down the job, but offered to come whenever they called. As he waved goodbye to me I realized that God had confirmed that my life verse really was meant for me for I had seen…God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not —to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.