No. 1074 - MY FAVORITE SCRIPTURE VERSES!

No. 1074

Jim Davidson -- NEWSPAPER COLUMN

MY FAVORITE SCRIPTURE VERSES!

If you have ever experienced a traumatic life-changing experience, you will be able to relate to what I want to share with you. If you have not, I just say Praise the Lord because there is always a chance that someday you will. My purpose here, as always, is to help you in the event you do.
Soon after beginning a 5-minute daily radio program back in 1984, during a marathon recording session I felt a strange sensation and realized that my voice was gone. After seeing a doctor, I learned that I had developed a rare condition called Spasmodic Dysphonia. This is a condition where the vocal chords lock up when pressure to speak is exerted, and you cannot talk above a whisper.
As someone who earned his living speaking and recording this radio program, I knew I was out of business in terms of continuing to earn a living this way. I was devastated. It was here that I called on my faith and found my favorite verse of scripture, Romans 8:28, that says, “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.” In light of this I asked the question, “How can anything good come out of losing your voice and your income?”
Little did I know that right around the corner He had a man by the name of Dave McCree, a friend who was a professional broadcaster, show up and offer to narrate the radio shows that I had written. His voice was, and is, much better than mine and, as a result, we have run on more than 300 stations and have radio sponsors who have been paying us every month for more than 25 years. About a year later I had surgery where, using a good microphone, I could still speak, and I continued this part of my career until the present time.
It was soon after I lost my voice that I began to read the Bible all the way through once each year, and I have done that for 26 years. What a blessing this has been. In the process, I came to realize that God’s word is true, that I could trust Him with my life, and that I did not have to worry and fret any more. In the intervening years I have discovered a number of other verses that have made a wonderful difference for me. I would like to share three more of these and a little about each one in the hopes that they may have some real benefits for you.
Because I was a sinner and needed forgiveness, I discovered I John 1:9 -- “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us of all unrighteousness.” WOW – if you need forgiveness I invite you to take this verse to heart.
The next verse is Philippians 4:19 -- “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” What a great thought, to know that the God of the universe has promised to meet all of my needs just by trusting Him and putting Him first in my life.
And then Psalms 119:11 -- “Thy word have I hid in mine heart that I might not sin against thee.” While I did not realize it at the time, this was what I was doing all those years that I was reading the Bible, the word of God, all the way through – all 66 books.
The answers to all of life’s problems can be found here. When I have a problem, a need or even an opportunity, the Holy Spirit brings a verse or passage to my mind that sets my feet and my decisions on solid ground. My friend, whether you realize it or not, I have just shared some great thoughts with you that can make the difference and help you find the kind of real joy that no one can steal.
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