Wednesday, July 14, 2010

TOPIC 4 TODAY: GRIEF or LOSS

*sorry, this is late but I just got internet service back again, and slowly catching up but needed to share on a topic for me for this week again (it's easier that way)...

GRIEF or LOSS
Need for Comfort
(of course, from the one & only
Holy Comforter)


Now the point of (formerly)(TUESDAY'S) TOPIC 4 Today is to change any of these verses or combination into a PRAYER for yourself or someone else.
(No names are necessary).

The first week the topic was STRESS, ANXIETY, WORRY that we laid down, in exchange for HIS PEACE & TRUST in HIM (it was a S.W.A.P.)
If you'd like to pray about any of those, you can GO THERE.
Then last time, the topic was ANGER. So you can go HERE for that one... both of these posts give oodles of great scriptures that we need to turn into PRAYER. That's the intent of this BLOG: to PRAY!!! Lift our hearts in one accord to the Throne of God!

Each week, we hope to share different topics & verses to turn into prayers...
we would like you to SWAP "whatever it is " for what God desires to change or replace that "whatever" with HIS "BEST EVER".

Maybe you don't need to pray about the topic but if the spirit impresses upon you, perhaps you will lead by leaving a prayer for someone else who may be struggling in that area. You can always be anonymous. God knows and HE is the only One who truly matters.

Here are verses from God's Word (the Bible) to help with comfort for grief, loss & sadness (I don't know how sites can copyright the sharing of Bible verses to help others, but they do, so though these may duplicate what some have shared, I did my own list, not copied)(geez, this is like school):

Of course there are many Psalms but the best is all of PSALM 23, particularly verse 4. Others include: Psalm 73:26; Psalm 9:9 or 18:2; Psalm 119:50

Here are more given by Encouraging Bible Verses (which has many other great categories as well to encourage you)
I feel why duplicate their great work!


Psalm 27:4-5; Psalm 30:5; Psalm 34:18; Psalm 37:39; Psalm 46:1-2;
Psalm 48:14; Psalm 55:22; Psalm 71:20-21; Psalm 138:7

Since Isaiah is one of my favorite books, I also have the following verses from there (as the above lists them also and other good ones):


New International Version (©1984)
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.




And most certainly the Bible verse I chose for my regular blog; Isaiah 61 (particularly verses 2 & 3)
...to comfort all who mourn,

and provide for those who grieve in Zion—

to bestow on them a crown of beauty

instead of ashes,

the oil of gladness

instead of mourning,

and a garment of praise

instead of a spirit of despair....


Then from the New Testament:

Revelation 21:4

He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18


Brothers (and sisters) we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. 14We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18Therefore encourage each other with these words.


2 Corinthians 1:3-4


Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.


1 Peter 5:6-7


"Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.7Cast all your anxiety on Him because HE cares for you."


And of course, the important two from Matthew...


Matthew 11:28 and the one of the be-attitudes Matthew 5:4 (respectively):


"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."


"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted."


Jesus knows OUR LOSS, as with his friend Lazarus, as Mary & Martha also knew and then Jesus' own mother, Mary, who knew this pain, this grief, this unbearable sorrow...


If you need more verses for COMFORT in GRIEF or LOSS or SADNESS, please visit the site above ENCOURAGING BIBLE VERSES or maybe FOCUS ON THE FAMILY COUNSELING can guide you or point you in the right direction or for an article, you can try (because I did not have much success in getting it) 15 Comforting Bible Verses for Grief by Josh Wiley (but it sounds great)


BUT THE IMPORTANT THING IS TO CHANGE THIS WORD INTO YOUR PRAYER or A PRAYER FOR ANOTHER YOU MAY KNOW DEALING WITH A LOSS or better said, not able to cope & deal with the grief and the loss of a loved one...


I know, I've been there before and I'm still dealing with a recent loss (on my blog) of a very special friend from the end of last year, that is why these verses are so clear today... I needed them. I needed to identify with how his mother must feel today... as Mary with Jesus... on the day that she gave birth to her son. I needed to have words to encourage her in her pain today... and mine.


So let's not give the enemy an edge to defeat us any longer, WE ARE victorious through Jesus Christ and He wants to give us (S.W.A.P) His peace, His Comfort, His Hope for all eternity by living life to the fullest in honor of those we love!!!


"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us." Romans 8:18


NOW LET US PRAY for ONE ANOTHER


Please refrain from comments but use this for PRAYERS or changing a scripture for anyone that may need your prayers, because sometimes the words just don't come to us when our hearts are heavy and we need someone else. ***

[That's the role of the Holy Spirit, living inside each one of us, who knows Jesus as Our Lord & Savior (if you don't yet or perhaps have wandered away or closed that door in anger at God, it's TIME to come back and PRAY once more to receive Him... click HERE and allow them to walk you through this and lead you in this PRAYER)]


***Actually, that's why Jesus sent His Holy Spirit to remain with us...so call on the Holy Spirit to fill you and speak for you... if you need prayer, you are more than welcome to leave your prayer request (if you can, it's preferred as a prayer also).


Added note: grief or sense of loss is for more than just the loss of a loved one as in death, passing from this life into a better life with God eternally. We can pray together about any of these losses or griefs. I'm sorry if I was leaning towards only one... we all need prayer as we grieve any loss.



Some helpful sites on GRIEF:


Recover from Grief


Helpguide.org


Cancersurvivors.org


Open to Hope


Surviving Suicide


and of course, there are many books on the topic of GRIEF like Coping with Grief but we highly recommend God's WORD!!!

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

O Lord... Help me to be a vessel that You pour through to comfort others who mourn. May I come with uplifting words for their heavy hearts, bestow a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and leave them with a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. When I am weak, I know that You are ever so strong! Send Your Holy Comforter to each who are grieving today, whatever their loss! Wipe away every tear from their eyes.
Uphold us, dear Lord with Your righteous right hand and wrap Your loving arms around us as You keep us from all harm & evil in Jesus Name!

We give You all our thanks, honor, praise and all the glory forever & ever...

Holy Spirit come and speak Your Comfort into each hurt and pain and loss...breath upon us, fill us once again...

sailorcross said...

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?" John 11:25-26

We are confident, yes, well pleased to be absent from the body and to be present before the Lord. 2 Corinthians 5:8


Almighty God,

I come before you today in behalf of my friend, Peggy. I know how she is suffering from the loss of her friend. More importantly, You know how she is suffering and feeling the pain of this loss.

I ask You today to touch her in a special way--a way so that she will feel Your embrace strongly holding her. Yes, we grieve for a time--a time of loss, pain, sorrow, and sometimes even anger.

Thank You for Your Word where there are so many comforts to help us through this grieving process.

After our time of suffering our loss, help us to focus our eyes on Jesus--the resurrection and the life--and allow us the peace in our hearts and minds that we are confident--not just confident, but pleased to be absent from the this earth and before Your throne.

I come today to offer these words which are Your Word to Peggy and all who have suffered loss in their lives. May they rest in the hope and confidence of You. May the Holy Spirit fill their hearts with Your presence and the burden of grief be lifted from them.

I, myself, Lord, am suffering--not from a loss through death at this time. My loss is the loss of family that is still here on this earth. I pray for them and ask that You bring them to You so that they may see Your hope and joy and love for them. Only then will the sorrow and depression that is crushing them be relieved. I pray, that if it is Your Will, that my family be restored to me.

If this is not Your Will for my life, please help to accept this. I have many that You have chosen for me--my spiritual family--well loved by me and by You.

I am just asking that my biological family become part of my spiritual family.

Hold Peggy closely today and gather each tear she cries. These tears are cleansing tears, Lord. Gather them and hold them closely to You as Peggy goes through her own grieving process with her eyes fully focused on the redemption and grace offered through Your Son, our most precious Jesus.

Amen

Denise said...

Dear heavenly Father, I come to You this morning on behalf of my sister Peggy. Please pull her close, and wrap Your loving arms of comfort tightly around her. I know she is missing her dear friend, and her heart is lonely, and hurting as the memories come flooding back to her. Replace her hurts, with joyful memories. Let her know, that one day very soon, they will be reunited, and will dance all over heaven together. Replace her tears, with smiles of joy Father. I ask these things in Your precious name. Amen.

Denise said...

Dear heavenly Father, I am lifting Wanda up to You this morning.She is hurting so very much over the loss of her precious son. I know You totally understand her pain Father, as You lost Your beloved Son. Please reach out to her Father, as only You can. Touch her life, let her know that life is worth living. Comfort her in Your gentle, compassionate way. Heal her hurts, help her deal with the intense sadness and deep grief. Thank You Father. Amen

Anonymous said...

AMEN!!! AMEN!! AMEN!

Send Your Holy Comforter to Wanda and also Beth in their very different losses yet ones that grieve us deeply!

Heavenly Father,

Bring restoration, hope, salvation, peace, COMFORT and HEALING in Jesus' Name!

Your gentle, compassionate arms wrap lovingly around each of my sisters that have prayed above and also for those being lifted up to YOU! Thank You for that love and the hope of resurrection and life eternally. We command every spirit of despair and heartache to leave as we walk slowly through the steps of grief and victory into Your light instead of darkness! You have made us more than conquerors! You have won the victory over death!

Come to Wanda, Beth, Denise, Peggy and any anonymous prayers or unspoken ones, to all who may be weary and burdened that You may give us REST! Rest & comfort in Your loving arms! Bless us with Your Comfort and aMazing Grace in a very real way. Remove sorrow and replace our heaviness with a spirit
of PRAISE and GLADNESS! Release Your JOY & HOPE in Jesus' Name!

We love You! We thank You! We praise You! We glorify Your Name!
Thank You for wiping away every tear! Strengthen us with Your Love!

It's Time to Pray


TheDanielPrayer_Meme_5

PRAYER for Our Nation

This was shared in an email from the Presidential Prayer Team:

Declaration of Independence Signer

Samuel Chase
George Washington (1732-1799), 1st President of the United States

"Almighty God: We make our earnest prayer that Thou wilt keep the United States in Thy Holy protection; and Thou wilt incline the hearts of the Citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to Government; and to entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another and for their fellow Citizens of the United States at large, and particularly for their brethren who have served in the Field. And finally that Thou wilt most graciously be pleased to dispose us all to do justice, to love mercy, and to demean ourselves with that Charity, humility, and pacific temper of mind which were the Characteristics of the Divine Author of our blessed Religion, and without a humble imitation of whose example in these things we can never hope to be a happy nation. Grant our supplication we beseech Thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen." --

This prayer of George Washington appears in St. Paul's Chapel in New York City.

To read MORE go here with Presidential Prayer Team