Welcome to September’s installment of Mel’s Favorite Things. ?
I’m dedicating the last email of each month to share some of my faves, from books to recipes to life hacks and beyond. Basically, if I love it (and think you might, too,) I’m gonna share it here.
This month’s topic is My Favorite ‘Life’ Scriptures.
These are verses from the Bible that are profoundly meaningful to me. While I have some verses that are my lifelong ‘go-to’s’, I also find passages that really speak to me in certain seasons. You can probably relate.
This list is a combination of both. Feel free to take any of these for yourself. I’ll share a quick ‘blurb’ about why I love them so much next to the verse.
Enjoy!
Six of My Favorite ‘Life’ Scriptures:
1. For your heart – “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” – Proverbs 4:23 (NIV)
I simply cannot escape the fact that if Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived (before Jesus showed up) prioritized stewarding his heart well, then it’s worth noting. He had vast wealth, power, and influence, yet with all his riches and responsibilities, he deemed his heart the most important of all. This verse constantly reminds me that my heart is vitally important to care for, no matter what. Start with the heart!
2. For your heart/inner life/prosperity/health! – “Beloved, I pray that in every way you may succeed and prosper and be in good health [physically], just as [I know] your soul prospers [spiritually].” – 3 John 2 (AMP)
For me, this verse links to the first one ?and tells me is that my inner world creates my outer world. Is my soul prospering? Then my life will prosper. The implication is also that if my soul is languishing, then my outer life will suffer. Moral of the story? Take care of your internal world!
3. On giving – “Let each one [give] as he has made up his own mind and purposed in his heart, not reluctantly or sorrowfully or under compulsion, for God loves (He takes pleasure in, prizes above other things, and is unwilling to abandon or to do without) a cheerful (joyous, “prompt to do it”) giver [whose heart is in his giving].” – 2 Corinthians 9:7 (AMPC)
I love this verse so so much! It’s freeing and again, brings us back to the heart. What’s the posture of my giving in this circumstance? Am I reluctant, sorrowful, feeling ‘forced’? Or am I excited, joyous, eager? Barring another clear directive from the Holy Spirit, this is my go-to scripture any time I’m faced with opportunities to give anything—financial, time, or other resources. If I can’t do it with true excitement and joy, then it’s a no go. (Check out my blog post on this exact verse.)
4. On navigating dreams – “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life.” – Proverbs 13:12 (NLT)
I’ve been camped out in this verse for almost three years now. After experiencing intense seasons of disappointment and delay and subsequent seasons of desires fulfilled, I’ve navigated both parts of this verse in very personal ways. I’ve known the pain of hope deferred, and I’ve tasted the fruit that’s been borne in my life when desires are fulfilled. It’s actually one of the main reasons I started these emails and my business in the first place—because I have a burning desire to help others cultivate their own ‘trees of life’ in the fulfillment of their heart’s desires!
5. On the importance of vision (esp prophetic) – “When there is no clear prophetic vision, people quickly wander astray. But when you follow the revelation of the Word, heaven’s bliss fills your soul.” – Proverbs 29:18 (TPT)
I think we’re all familiar with this verse in some form or another, the essence being this: Lack vision? Then you’ll lack focus, discipline, follow through, obedience, etc. I love how this version goes so far as to highlight the importance of prophetic vision, not just goal-oriented vision. I think both are applicable, but to me it’s a reminder of how we were designed to live prophetically.
6. Knowing Jesus – “[For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death, [in the hope] that if possible I may attain to the [spiritual and moral] resurrection [that lifts me] out from among the dead [even while in the body].” – Philippians 3:10-11 (AMPC)
During my 20’s, I had a period of several years where I mainly read the Amplified Version. I loved the way it fleshed out the verses so they were more relatable for me as the reader. It was during this season that I discovered this verse in Philippians and it’s stuck with me ever since. At the end of the day, through everything we do, it’s about knowing Jesus—face to face, intimately, personally—and being transformed into his likeness. Everything in heaven, earth, and under the earth—all of creation—exists through him. ❤️?
Now, I want to hear from you. What are your ‘life’ scriptures? Let me know. I love hearing your insights and revelation.
I’m cheering you on (and so is heaven!),
