In my shower I used to have a nice decal that my friend Janine made on her sticker-making machine that started a prayer for each time I took a shower or bath. I repainted this summer so it had to be removed to paint and so I was looking for something to replace it with, to encourage and refresh me. I ended up finding a "Keep Calm and Carry On" plaque at Ross which is a saying that is highly overused, but I love it anyways. It happened to be turquoise, so that helped as well (my favorite color).
I was trying to think what Bible verse would go with the saying, and these ones came to mind. They happen to be some of my favorite verses, and the hymn that goes with it is equally as beautiful. Here's the verses that the hymn is taken from.
I first heard this hymn at our church's Bible Study back in 2001. An older lady chose it out of our hymnal and I loved it although I had never heard it before. It was only a few days later that 9/11 happened, and President George W. Bush used the same verses when giving his first public address. These verses and the hymn have come to mind so many times over the years, always bringing comfort and peace.
Isaiah 41:10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
Isaiah 43:2When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
2 Corinthians 12: And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Hebrews 13:5Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
1
| How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord, Is laid for your faith in His excellent word! What more can He say than to you He hath said, To you who for refuge to Jesus have fled? |
2
| “Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed, For I am thy God, and will still give thee aid; I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand, Upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand.” |
3
| “When through the deep waters I call thee to go, The rivers of sorrow shall not overflow; For I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless, And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.” |
4
| “When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie, My grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply; The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design Thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.” |
5
| “E’en down to old age all My people shall prove My sovereign, eternal, unchangeable love; And then, when grey hairs shall their temples adorn, Like lambs they shall still in My bosom be borne.” |
6
| “The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose, I will not, I will not desert to his foes; That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake, I’ll never, no, never, no, never forsake!” |
Here's one of my favorite versions of the hymn on YouTube. Fernando Ortega has another good one.
