Tag: Verse

Revive Me–A Year of Growing Stronger in the Lord, Week Three

Choose Your Verse of the Year

Sometimes companies and bloggers spend time thinking of what will be their “word of the year”–a word they will focus on each day of the new year.  It could be a word that describes a goal they’re trying to reach or an area in which they’d like to improve.  Some bloggers have come up with words like “flexible,” “inspire,” or “freedom.”  I think this is a great idea, and I think it’d be even better to come up with a verse of the year.  Instead of coming up with a word, what could be more motivating than utilizing the Word?

“You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”

(2 Tim. 3:14-17)

Spend some time thinking about your own personal verse of the year.  Here are some questions to consider as you contemplate which verse would be best for you:

• Is there an area in which you continue to struggle (like complaining or purity)?
• Is there a spiritual goal you’re trying to reach (like deeper Bible study or praying 30 minutes a day)?
• Is there a verse that especially touches you?
• Is there a command you find difficult to obey (like evangelism or loving your enemy)?
• Is there a person in the Bible whom you’d like to emulate (like Abraham, Hannah, or Joseph)?
• Is there a character trait you need to refine (like patience or honesty)?

If you know what you’d like to focus on but are having a hard time coming up with just the right verse, let me know and maybe we can come up with something together (or ask someone who knows you well).  After you decide which Scripture will be your personal verse of the year, look for ways to make it easier to remember.

Suggestions for this week:

1.  Pray the verse.  Go to God about your desires about the verse you’ll be focusing on this year.
2. Share the challenge.  Ask your spouse or a dear friend to do this with you.  You can encourage each other, remind each other, and check up on each other.
3. Create a wordle (word cloud) out of your verse and hang it in a prominent place.  You can generate one here.
4. Memorize your verse.  Say it several times a day and look for ways to slip it into your conversations.
5. Study your verse.  Break it down word by word.  Write down as many observations about it as you can.

Pray it.  Memorize it.  Live it.