Familiar Phrases

Deuteronomy 8:4 “Your clothes did not wear out and your feet did not swell during these forty years”
Clothes of “compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience” Colossians 3:12and “feet that are fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace” Ephesians 6:15. I know that Deuteronomy 8 refers directly to the clothes and shoes worn in exile but I am confident that the Breath of God can blow fresh on the pages of Ephesians. Consider what it would mean for clothes worn exhibiting qualities of ‘compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience’ to not wear out during forty years in the desert. Or for ‘feet fitted with readiness’ from the ‘gospel of peace’ to not swell. To think back of the Israelites' time of exile and to then relate that with my own experiences in times of an emotional desert. My Lord is able, and is willing, to sustain qualities of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience even when He is the one who is leading me into the desert! He is able to keep my anxious feet fitted with His peace. The God of Israel showed His faithfulness to His people as reassurance to me. What a blessing! I’m thankful for ‘feet that don’t swell’ and ‘clothes that don’t wear out’ Especially when those feet and clothes parallel to internal qualities.

Psalm 91:4 “His faithfulness will be your shield”
Ephesians 5:16 “take up the shield of faith”


“because God” Hebrews 13:5 “Has said never will I leave you never will I forsake you”

“because, God” 1Peter 5:5 “opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble”

“but as for me” Psalm 71:14 “I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more”

“but as for me” ​​Joshua 24:15 “and my household we will serve the Lord.”

“but as for me” ​​Psalm 73:28 “it is good for me to be near my God, I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge, I will tell of all Your deeds”

Colossians 2:23 “Such regulations have the appearance of wisdom.. but lack any value”

Isaiah 47:10 “your wisdom and knowledge mislead you”


"confident of this" Psalm 27:13 "I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living."

"confident of this" Philippians 1:6 "that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."

"for this reason" Genesis 2:24 "a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh."

"for this reason" Ephesians 3:14 "I kneel before the Father."


Within the story of Jonah; "the Lord provided". In Jonah's rebellion (1:17) "the Lord provided a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the fish for three days and three nights." Again the phrase "God provided" is repeated in 4:6 as a vine that "grew up over Jonah to give shade for his head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was very happy about the vine."


Indeed the Word of God is very near- not too difficult or beyond reach. It is in in your mouth and in your heart that you may obey it! (Deuteronomy 30:11 and 14). Amen!


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