Hello there!
Recently, I turned 30! Whoa! The days are truly long but the years are short indeed. I praise God for the gift of life. It’s been a very, very reflective time for me as I take a moment to reminisce on my twenties. At least the ones I can remember. I picked up journaling as a habit (well, not as consistent now), and journaling is a blessing in disguise. It’s a blessing because I can jog my memories with little notes I penned down from my teenage years to my twenties. Some were direct records of events or how I was feeling at the time, while some were in the form of writing a letter to God as I start with “Dear God…” and end by signing my name. Since BeDeborah is a medium of documenting my journey, (grad school and all), I am happy to share this here praying it blesses me all over again and it blesses someone out there….anyone!
Phew! My 20s were eventful, to say the least. I experienced different highs and lows, it was a daring journey for me. I took risks, fought hard, believed in myself, and also doubted, adventurous times and under-the-rock times, celebration and grief, it was everything I needed for growth. There were regrets, scars, and more importantly, lessons. The Lord truly blessed me, and I could not have done it without Him (It was dangerous for me not to). Note to you out there, please don’t live your life without God. It’s not too late to invite Him in, He loves to be a part of your life. The theme for this year is Thankful Thirty. See, there is a reason for that. I am looking forward to sharing a series from my twenties, trusting God with how He leads me to do that. The word of God is a light to shine on the darkest parts of my life. I must say that at different times, with these scriptures, I disobeyed some, accepted some, denied some, prayed some, I just couldn’t understand some, rejoiced in some, found solace in some, some were too bitter a pill to swallow because of self but by the mercies of God, His purpose prevailed and I give God the glory for that. Let’s start with twenty (technically, more) scriptures that anchored my twenties (still, they are).
5Trust in the Lord with all your heart
Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV).
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.
24 The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.
1 Thessalonians 5:24 (NIV).
8 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.
Philipians 4:8 (NIV).
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Galatians 2:22-23 (NIV).
14 The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”
Exodus 14:14 (NIV).
25The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him,
    to the one who seeks him;
26Â it is good to wait quietly
    for the salvation of the Lord.
27Â It is good for a man to bear the yoke
    while he is young.28 Let him sit alone in silence,
for the Lord has laid it on him.
29 Let him bury his face in the dust—
there may yet be hope.
30 Let him offer his cheek to one who would strike him,
and let him be filled with disgrace.31 For no one is cast off
Lamentations 3:25-33 (NIV).
by the Lord forever.
32 Though he brings grief, he will show compassion,
so great is his unfailing love.
33 For he does not willingly bring affliction
or grief to anyone
13 And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation[a] of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever.
Exodus 14:13
Wait for the Lord;
Psalms 27:14
be strong and take heart
and wait for the Lord.
30Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
Isaiah 40:31 (NIV).
And the young men shall utterly fall,
31 But those who wait on the Lord
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.
19 God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?
Numbers 23:19 (KJV).
13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
Phillipians 4:13
13 If I speak in the tongues[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing.
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.
1 Corinthians 13:1-8 (NIV).
6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.
1 Timothy 6:6
Then the Lord replied:
“Write down the revelation
Habakkuk 2:2-3 (NIV).
and make it plain on tablets
so that a herald[b] may run with it.
3 For the revelation awaits an appointed time;
it speaks of the end
and will not prove false.
Though it linger, wait for it;
it[c] will certainly come
and will not delay.
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[a] have been called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28 (NIV).
There is a time for everything,
Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NIV).
and a season for every activity under the heavens:
27 I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him. 28 So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord.” And he worshiped the Lord there.
1 Samuel 1:27-28 (NIV).
54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
1 Corinthians 15:54-58 (NIV).
Why, my soul, are you downcast?
Psalm 42:11 (NIV).
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God.
103 Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
Psalms 103:1-2 (NIV).
I’ll stop here today. Lets prayerfully consider these words and meditate on them. Feel free to share your lessons from your twenties, we are learning. Follow me on this journey, Deborah Army! God has something great to do in and through us! https://www.bedeborah.com/
Special note: Would you give your life to Jesus Christ? He is the way, the truth and the life. If yes, please pray the prayers below:
Lord Jesus, thank you for your death and resurrection for the salvation of my soul. Please forgive all my sins. I choose you today to follow and to obey. May your love and the holy spirit lead and guide my purpose for your glory. Thank you, my Lord and savior. Amen!
Grace and blessings,
Olushola .
