Quotes, Wise Words, Scriptures and Prayers

Graduation season is upon us.  Colleges and universities held their commencements the past few weekends and high school graduations are just days away.  Along with the congratulatory words, additional gifts of love, time and value are often given.  Gifts that have the potential to bless, offer encouragement, and challenge as new chapters begin. 

Mrs. Blackmon, my Homeroom teacher my senior year in high school, gave each of the students in her homeroom class a card that had two quotes printed on it.  Apparently they made quite an impression on a soon to be college freshman, about to take a big step and major in Education, because I remember them to this day.

            “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” – Laozi

            “Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day; show him how to

catch fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.” – Maimonides

Whether written, read, or spoken, words can be treasured gifts.  I look forward to reading and hearing the quotes and words of wisdom from speeches that are given at commencement ceremonies.  It’s the speaker’s chance to impart knowledge, give a challenge, and encourage the graduates.  Words of wisdom are also shared by family, teachers, and friends.  One of the many words of wisdom my dad shared as I was preparing to go to college was, “You need to spend your first semester getting your study habits established and schedule in line so you can enjoy the other 3 ½ years.  Otherwise you will spend the next 3 1/2 years making up for it.”  Whether it pertains to college, work, a project, or life, it’s worth doing your best from the beginning.

The Bible is full of scriptures that offer love, instruction, encouragement, and accountability for our graduates and to each of us as well.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart
    and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
    and he will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 3:5-6

Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.

I Timothy 4: 12

 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.

2 Timothy 2:15

 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

I Corinthians 10:31

Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.  Do everything in love.

I Corinthians 16:13, 14

I thank my God every time I remember you.  In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Philippians 1:3-6

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.

Philippians 1:9-11

Another important gift we can give our students is the offering of prayers on their behalf.  Sunday morning as Duane Brooks, our pastor, was praying words of blessing over our graduates, he concluded the prayer with, “Lord, we pray You would make much of their (the graduates’) lives, but even more that their lives would make much of You.”  What a wonderful petition for all of us to pray and apply as we each take the next steps on our life journey.

Since life continues to be an education, we are all in the process of learning and graduating from one level to another.  What we do with that knowledge and those experiences have the potential to make a difference in our lives and the world around us.

And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:19