General Yi

Add to the prayer request list the victims of the Oklahoma tornadoes, if you would, sir.

I think you’re a pretty cool guy. Eh posts DBZ reaction images and doesn’t afraid of anything.

Sounds good Mack. I hope all goes well and you get de-stressified.

I’ve been really worn out this past week, bro, and it’s not looking to slow down before I get out of here. I can’t really bring myself to conjure up an extremely insightful commentary on this verse this week, but suffice to say it’s very much applicable to my current state of affairs.

I find myself forced into reliance on God’s peace and strength, which is a good thing. I remember one instance where I staved off a near anxiety attack by reflecting on the opening to the book of John. Prayer is stagnant still, but certainly not any worse. I’d ask that you pray for me as I continue this internship and for my parents as they travel.

Alright Caro, I’ll do just that.

Also, don’t feel discouraged if you struggle with this, or any sort of biblical teaching. These things wouldn’t be worth the effort if they were easy to do. That’s why it’s so much more satisfactory to yourself, God, and your brothers and sisters in Christ when you do accomplish any and every task God deemed for you to complete to the best of your ability.

This is one of my life verses to live by since I suffer from anxiety. I read this all the time and I’m just at peace, if only just for the time being. I wish that I could be able to apply it to everything without fail every time, but unfortunately I struggle with that.

My sister has recovered from her surgery well already. She luckily had stitches (which I did not have the luxury of), so she’s healed up twice as fast as I did, if not more. My mother’s surgery is this week, so please keep her in your prayers still. :)

All of you make valid points, and I thank you for sharing them as well as your prayer requests.

As for the verse, I feel that it really speaks for us to just leave everything up to God. All sorts of stress or any sort of financial or personal issue God has completely covered, and we never have to ever worry about these things overcoming us because of that. When you really think about the gravity of that meaning, it really shows the depth of His love for us. The fact alone that God never gives us more than we can handle is an extreme stress reliever, and I make a point to thank God for helping me through my everyday challenges and struggles because of that.

I’ll go ahead and make a prayer request for me and my friend (since I tend to forget to ask about requests). We both have separate job interviews this week for pretty nice positions. She really wants her position, so I’d ask that you’d pray for her to get it. As for me, I would love the job. It would offer a lot more than a paycheck for me. I’d get to be closer to friends/make new friends, I might be able to get some loan forgiveness, and I’d be close to my family still without being too close. But I’ll only ask that you pray for God’s Will to be done in regards to the interview. Many thanks, General.

As for the verses, I think it’s appropriate to prayer requests. If there’s something that’s out of your control, then present it to God through Jesus Christ. Do your best to let go of that worry. If you believe God is who He says He is and that He will do what He has said, then you’ll find peace even with that uncertain situation looming.

It’s why I usually pray for God’s Will to be done when it comes to my own wishes. I’m a flawed human being with my own vices (some of which I’m not even aware of.) So I tend to pray for wisdom to know when my own sin and flesh is getting in the way of wanting to do what God wants or with doing my part to execute His Will. I think that comes with setting your desires aside as being secondary to God’s. You may be worried about being unemployed right now, but maybe God has something else for you. We can’t ever see that future with our own eyes, but we have to believe that there is something better to come when things aren’t so happening right now.

In hindsight, I don’t know if I could have gotten a job even just a month ago. I still had some concerning effects from an illness, and there were days and nights when I may not have been able to go to work or do well at work anyway. I’m still not at 100%, but I’m better than where I was when I first started looking for work. Maybe it was God’s Will for me to not get those jobs because of that healing that was still occurring.

Mr. Scratch always says what I’m thinking before me and better said.
I’m looking into some internships over the summer and I’m pretty nervous about it, so a prayer for that would actually be really appreciated.

Well… We’ve been on this topic already, I think, there’s no need to fear, for God is with us. That the best weapon to overcome fear, is faith, which is your true strength.
In fact, such traits are one of the reasons why Tirion Fordring is one on my favourite characters in Warcraft’s Lore. Especially that Holy Light is pretty much an in-game version of Christianity.



Well, still, The Great Nothin’ happens in my life… No specific requests, really…

as for this Verse. i really don’t know about this, i’m sorry, money issues are looming over me and will probably still be for a few weeks. and i can’t really think straight. so i apologize for this.

as for prayer requests. i would say pray for my grandma as she is ill but is still fighting, she has gotten better, but it won’t last sad to say.

Do not let things that are troubling you bug you, because God watches over us and sees to those problems. Do not let the worries get the best you.

I’d like to make a prayer request for all the students, who have exams coming up, so that the stress would not trouble their hearts..

There goes Verbose again, saying what I meant to say much more clearly and eloquently.

And through personal experience i’ve found that the strongest friendships exist if both friends are dedicated to living their lives for God. I have a best friend who lives his life for Christ as best he can, just as I do, and we both keep each other accountable for both the good and bad things that come and go in our lives. I couldn’t be more grateful for anyone else on this Earth than my best friend, and that’s why our friendship is so strong and Christ-centered. Having some sort of accountability partner or group can really work wonders. Example A: this Bible Study.

No problem Caro.
As for your point Verbose, I never really thought of it like that, but it is an excellent point. I think the metaphor of iron and friendship is that it takes the same material to strengthen both. A good friend is backed up by an equally good friend. If one isn’t as willing as the other, then the bond suffers as a result, which is why it is “iron sharpens iron”, not “iron sharpens mithril” or “copper sharpens iron”.

Also, thanks for putting up my prayer requests. <3

I agree with what Verbose said. Iron sharpens iron … so you shouldn’t concern yourself with less than iron, or people of substance that will bring you down. I think that’s a very important part of this verse. Yes, it’s good to grow with one another as individuals, but I believe it means more about shaping ourselves together as brothers and sisters in Christ and not with just any person in general. Sort of like what we’re doing here with this weekly get-together/study. :)

Ah, I’m late to respond here.

Although I do love Proverbs and Psalms, and I’m trying to simply accept all of the Bible as being truly and divinely inspired, I find that this one scripture isn’t entirely accurate.

That is to say that not all people are “iron.” A person can “dull” another person just as easily as they can “sharpen” them. However, I do know that another person can guide and encourage a person too. It simply depends on the people involved.

So even though that stipulation isn’t implied in the verse, I think that is important to keep in mind. Yes, please depend on those who can encourage you, and be willing to accept encouragement. But also be wary of just any person who offers help. Not everyone has your best interests in mind (or know what your best interests are.)

Much like all of Proverbs. the wisdom in this doesn’t apply only to a Christian’s life. This is good common sense.

I read out of an NIV, and usually the verse I post is from the same version.
As for the verse itself, I appreciate how it encourages just how important friendship really is. The bond between two people who do nothing but lift each other up in Christ’s name is so strong that no human or hellish power can overcome it, God sees personally to that.

Now then, iron sharpening iron. A good proverb. I think it stands to reason that the understanding of this verse is pretty straightforward, but we have to keep in mind the players here: the two depicted in this proverb are peers. Wisdom builds wisdom when tested by the wise. In other words, we build each other up, but we have to do so with the right information. Paul wrote that we should not be captivated by the vain philosophies of the world, and that we should put on the mind of Christ. So a sharpened iron sword to be struck on rock is bound to dull, to carry the metaphor. See what I mean? Further, we can take strength from each other, and two learning about Christ together are more potent than one.

On another note, I found an interesting footnote in the Geneva Bible commentary, which supposes a different, but valid, idea about the proverb: “Proverbs 27:17 One hasty man provoketh another to anger.”

Nice choice of gif. What version of the Bible do you use when picking the week’s verse, if you don’t mind me asking?

To answer your personal questions before discussing the verse, I have had some success in my prayer life, but it still needs a lot more consistency. Being on my own in a new city has, in some ways, forced me to focus on God more for guidance, and to lean on Him for strength. However, though I’m not just tossing off my prayers as fast as possible over food or whenever, I’m still not consistently and intentionally setting aside time to pray every day. I’ve also been asking more of my friends to pray for and with me, and I think that the results of this increased prayer are evident. Not only am I receiving answer to prayer, but I am becoming more aware of God’s presence at all times, even if just a little.

As for my brother, his finals were hit and miss. one he got a B on, and got a B in the class, but his grade was so secure the final only affected 4 points on his total average (don’t ask me how). On another one he failed, but I think he passed the class. I don’t think he had any others.

The DC trip is ongoing, and will be for the next several weeks. I found a good church to attend today, so thank God for that.

People influence each other, strengthen one other. They can help you grow as a person.

No requests at hand.

It’s just like in your well thought-out gif. People strengthen others. And there are something we could never, or should never, do alone.