When I find myself in a period of anxiety, self-doubt, confusion or am in need of extra motivation to nurture myself and cherish the life I have, I’ve learned that the Bible is one of my greatest resources of strength. Sometimes physically opening a Bible and reading the first verse that my eyes land on is exactly what God wanted me to hear. Sometimes it’s whatever new wave of inspiration I feel after scrolling through verses on Pinterest that gives me the push or clarity I’ve been needing. Either way, I’ve come to realize that taking a deep dive into the Bible is a self-soothing technique I can always rely on to leave me refreshed.
While some verses require background knowledge or a bit more effort to fully grasp, there are a million that stand on their own and speak for themselves. Here are just a few of my favorite Bible verses that sound like pure poetry, milk and honey, ones that I constantly turn back to help me live my best life:
- Wisdom 7:24-30
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“For wisdom is more mobile than any motion; because of her pureness she pervades and penetrates all things. For she is a breath of the power of God, and a pure emanation of the glory of the Almighty; therefore nothing defiled gains entrance into her. For she is a reflection of eternal light, a spotless mirror of the working of God, and an image of his goodness. Though she is but one, she can do all things, and while remaining in herself, she renews all things; in every generation she passes into holy souls and makes them friends of God, and prophets; for God loves nothing so much as the man who lives with wisdom. For she is more beautiful than the sun, and excels every constellation of the stars. Compared with the light she is found to be superior, for it is succeeded by the night, but against wisdom evil does not prevail.”
- 2 Timothy 1:7
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“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”
- Philippians 4:8-9
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“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”
- Psalm 23:6
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“So why would I fear the future? Only goodness and tender love pursue me all the days of my life.”
- Isaiah 55:8-9
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“‘For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,’ says the Lord. ‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.’”
- Psalm 74:25-26
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“Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”
- Proverbs 31:26
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“She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.”
- 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
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“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
- Ecclesiastes 3:11
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“He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.”
- Romans 12:6:9
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“We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully. Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.”
- Romans 14:8 (Bonus!)
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“For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.”