” The eternal God is your refuge,and underneath are the everlasting arms.
He will drive out your enemies before you,
saying, ‘Destroy them!’” Deuteronomy 33:27

        Prior to a 7-hour surgery (10 years ago), I had mentally prepared myself by visualizing, by memorizing a Christian Rock song I liked very much and could sing “in my head,” and held on to the above-mentioned verse in Deuteronomy.  (Surgery was a success and all is well.)

        I’m not certain if you can flip through the Bible and pick out a verse to apply to yourself or if you need the historical background, who wrote it and why, what it meant as conveyed by the author at the time, B-U-T, I frequently thumb through the Bible and voila, there is a verse that speaks to me.  That’s what happened with the verse above. It became part of my visualization. When I found myself restless pre-surgery, with the what-ifs, I would see myself crawling up into God’s massive arms and nestle in for the needed comfort I sought.  At this point I would begin singing (in my head) the Peace Be Still song from the Christian Rock group, Rush of Fools.  Before I knew it, I was calm and/or asleep.

        Fast forward to surgery and I was in pre-op with multiple other patients. I had been given a stuffed bear named JOY that if squeezed I could hear the pre-recorded voices of my son and his family wishing me well. Part of the prep was medical but 90% was mental.  I already saw myself, not on a gurney, but rather resting comfortably in the everlasting arms of my God who loved me unconditionally.  As I was wheeled forward, I never felt those wheels, or the bumpy transition into the operating room.  I became drowsier, yet I knew, that I knew, I was HIS. (I found out from an OR nurse, my surgeon quieted the operating room and prayed over me before beginning the operation.)

        God’s Word was given to us to read, ponder, believe, embrace and yes, I think even “thumb through” for His peace and blessing in your life.

Jill