12 verses for 2021

I started writing a blog post the other day that quickly devolved into a list of everything that went wrong in 2020—not even counting the pandemic! Let’s just say I shelved that blog (you’re welcome). 

Instead, I want to focus on our amazing God: His promises, His faithfulness, His comfort, His presence in those of us who believe on Him. 

So here, in no particular order, are 12 Scriptures for 2021. As a preface to these, let’s consider the charge of Philippians 4:8: “Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

The Amplified translation says “fix your minds” on these things. The Tree of Life translation says “dwell” on these things.  The Word of God is true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous, and praiseworthy—so let’s fix our minds on the Word. 

Isaiah 26:3: You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. 

In a world of unrest, God offers the promise of peace. Accessing this peace is simple—keep our minds on Him. Simple doesn’t mean easy, though. The word “stayed” means propped, or leaning on something, or resting on it and being supported by it.  The next time you feel anxious, ask yourself, “Is my mind resting in Christ?” How do we keep our minds resting in Christ? Through the Word. Whenever I feel anxious, it’s always because I’m elevating something else above the truth of God’s Word. Always.

Matthew 11:28-29: Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

This verse is familiar, but focus with me for a minute on the portion that’s often less-discussed: “learn of Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart.” Only once in the Gospels does Jesus directly describe His heart—and He does so as “gentle and lowly.” This alone is worth a year of meditation! For an excellent look at the heart of Christ, I highly recommend Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers by Dane Ortlund.  

2 Peter 1:3a: … His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness…

I’ve been studying and learning a lot this year about the fact that God has already given us everything we need for life and godliness.  For those of us who have believed in and confessed Christ, we are not seeking to “get” anything from God. He has already given us all things in Christ. Everything we need has been accomplished through Christ’s death and resurrection—our forgiveness, deliverance, healing, provision, etc.  What we need is not for God to “do” any of these things. What we (including me) need is a fuller revelation of the power that’s already in us through Christ, which leads into the next verse….

Romans 8:11: But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. 

I’m going to comment on this one only to say think about it…the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead lives in us. The same. 

Matthew 6:33: But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

The word “first” here means first in time, place, order, or importance. Do we seek God sometimes? When we have problems? When we ‘have time’? Or do we seek Him first, in every regard?

Roman 8:2: For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.

The context here is that the law of sin and death is referring to the Old Testament law—the law given to Moses. We need to realize this law is actually not a law of life but a law of sin and death. Now, am I saying the 10 Commandments are sinful. Of course not. But the Law was given to show men their sin (Galatians 3:19). Galatians 3:13 says Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, becoming a curse for us. We are no longer under the condemnation of the law (Romans 8:1). We are free in Christ. 

Psalm 29: The voice of the Lord….  

This whole chapter is just amazing. I encourage you to click the link and read through it. We could spend months reflecting on how the voice of God literally shakes the wilderness and causes the deer to give birth. So much to unpack here. 

Proverbs 14:7: Go from the presence of a foolish and self-confident man, for you will not find knowledge on his lips.

Where are we seeking counsel? From the news? Social media? Friends who aren’t following God? Psalm 14:1a says, “The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God.’” Regardless of how much worldly knowledge someone has, if they deny God, they are foolish. We will not find wisdom in them. This relates to the next verse….

Proverbs 3:5-6: Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

This year, the part of this verse that’s stuck out at me is “lean not on your own understanding.” We can say, “Oh, yes, I trust God.” But then we still rely on our own understanding (which means our own knowledge, skills, or insight).  Of course, God will give us wisdom if we ask it of Him in faith (James 1:5). But absent the wisdom of God, our understanding will lead us astray…don’t lean on it. 

2 Corinthians 1:18-20:  But as God is faithful, our word to you was not Yes and No. For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us—by me, Silvanus, and Timothy—was not Yes and No, but in Him was Yes. For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us. 

The idea here is that God is not double-minded. His word is unchanging. His character is unchanging. 

Romans 3:4a: …let God be true, but every man a liar.

This has to be one of my favorite verses. If someone says something contrary to God’s Word—it doesn’t matter who says it or how many people say it. Even if the whole world says it, if it’s contrary to God’s Word, it’s a lie. It’s that simple. 

John 7:37-39a: On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive;

Jesus not only promised to quench our thirst, but He also promised that for those of us who believe on Him, he would give us his very Spirit (see Romans 8:11 above), and out of this Spirit in us would flow rivers (not droplets) of living water.

If we have believed on Christ and confessed Him, we no longer have to ask God to quench our thirst—we need to acknowledge the good things already in us in Christ (Philemon 1:6). Specifically, we need to acknowledge the Holy Spirit living within us. Out of this Spirit inside of us will flow rivers of living water that will not only quench our thirst but allow us to bless others and point them to Christ.

Happy New Year!