Many years ago while grieving my failed business, I cried out to God, pouring over the pages in my bible in the middle of the night, looking for answers. My heart ached. I had never before experienced failure in my life.
God spoke to me at 4 a.m. and told me to read, Jeremiah 29:11. I rifled as fast as I could through my Bible until I came upon this passage: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
In the midst of my affliction, God heard my cries and answered me just as plain as day. Although it was a dark time I now know that God had something greater planned for my life than my own limited perceptions.
I have carried this verse in my heart and mind since that night and understand that God had given me this verse for my life.
Since that time, I have had many additional dark moments in my life and in ministry. Choosing to serve God is not always easy. We learn through our mistakes and through pain, but if we look closely, God is always on the other side of our pain, holding out His hand.
Oh, how I have clung to the words of Jeremiah 29:11….silently weeping alone in my office at the church while I was being persecuted as a female pastor, the sleepless nights when our daughter was doing missionary work in Tuva (on the border of Mongolia) and we had no communication with her, in times of turmoil with self-employment, in times of sickness with friends and loved ones, in times of loss, and in times of hope.
This little verse brings me great strength.
Do you have a life verse?
It can be a bible passage that speaks to you, a poem, a prayer, a quote, something that someone spoke to you, something you read, or something God spoke to you in a time of need.
Choose one. Use it. Go back to it. Make it yours.
Make it something that speaks to your heart, your mind, your soul.
Write it.
Pray about it.
Live it.
Another example of a life verse is our daughter, Ashley’s: The Beatitudes
Matthew 5:3-10
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Ashley has made the Beatitudes a part of her daily living and tries to live her life in a way that honors this passage. I was actually lucky enough at Christmas to find her a leather bracelet with this entire passage inscribed! How rare is that!
By: Mary, Hope Filled Living
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When I first was growing in the Lord i was so surprised that he wanted to listen to my pain and love me through it. The verse I always go back to is… Trust in the Lord O people, pour out your hearts before Him, God is a refuge for us. Psalm 62:8
Donna,
What a great verse. It’s a beautiful moment when we come to the realization that God loves us so much that he wants to take all our pain and be our refuge. Thank you for reading and commenting on my post!
Blessings,
Mary
I have contemplated this in the past, and even thought of a few verses that I felt to connect with, but nothing yet seems to have stuck enough for me to call it a life-verse…still looking, waiting, praying for that ‘right’ one for me.
Thankyou for this lovely post – you have encouraged me to keep praying into it. And welcome!!!
Wow! I think this was “just” for me today….Okay I am sure for a few others too 😉 but wow how it speaks to me in the NOW of my life!
Thank you…and I am looking forward to checking out your blog and gleaning more from you!
“choosing to serve God is not always easy”–there is such grace in speaking this truth. It isn’t, and yet our choice for Him gives room for His Spirit to move in us. Our willingness is a miracle.
“Lord make me willing” has become one of my newest prayers. And He always shows the purpose in even my inability to surrender my will for His.
Rich blessings in your encouragement of others, Mary. You’re living beautiful worship out loud!
After God called our son to those streets of gold some fourteen years ago going threw his things he had hand written on a index card. Psa 27:14 Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD. This became my life verse today the index card still sits as it has for all these years in my kitchen window greeting me at the start of each day a message hand written by my baby from the heart of my Kingdom Redeemer. Thank you LOrd praise adn magnify your name who heal all our infirmities!
My verse is Isaiah 40:11, “He will feed His flock likeca shepherd; He will gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and gently lead those who are with young.” He gave me this verse not long before my second pregnancy, and shortly afterwards I miscarried. I clung to this verse through that grief, through the following pregnancies and still cling to it as I journey through motherhood. It has been such a comfort to me.
Thank you for sharing your heart today!
After God called our son to those streets of gold some fourteen years ago going threw his things he had hand written on a index card. Psa 27:14 Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD. This became my life verse today the index card still sits as it has for all these years in my kitchen window greeting me at the start of each day a message hand written by my baby from the heart of my Kingdom Redeemer. Thank you Lord praise and magnify your name who heal all our infirmities!
My life verse(s) have been James 1:2-10. Many struggles, things I didn’t know how I’d make it through, but these verses have always kept me grounded in His love. Knowing that the things He’s brought into my life were for my good & His glory. 🙂
Growing up, I had John 3:17~”For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.”
Now, I have Galatians 1:10~”For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God ? Or am I striving to please men ? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.”
After almost dying in 2008, God sent me on a journey of forgiveness and restoration. Isaiah 58 has become my life chapter and my life has not been the same since.
My life verse is Hab 3:19 (AMP) “The Lord is my Strength, my personal bravery, and my invincible army; He makes my feet like hinds’ feet and will make me to walk [not to stand still in terror, but to walk] and make [spiritual] progress upon my high places [of trouble, suffering or responsibility]!
“He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Jesus Christ.” Phil. 1:6 NIV
This became my verse the beginning of this year after a year of healing and change. He’s not finished with me yet and won’t be anytime soon! But I’m allowing the wounds to heal, the baggage to drop, and I am opening my life to him completely.
Jeremiah 29:11 is also my life verse. More so a few years ago as changes started occuring. This was spoken at my baptism June 9, 2009 also because only He knows the plans he has for me!
I had to memorize over 100 verses while I was in high school before traveling with a singing/ministering group. I found Proverbs 3:5-6 and it became “my” verse. I love it!
Trust in the LORD with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6 (NAS)
II Timothy 1:7 For God didn’t give us the spirit of timidity, but the spirit of power, of love, and of self control.
Paul is speaking of how he saw God’s love in the family earlier and that we need to not be afraid to keep it going for generations.
This is my fear. That one of my children or my children’s children will walk away from their faith because of this world around us.
Yes, there are verses that become the foundation of our lives. I have three; the first the Lord gave me 43 years ago when I was 19 and very sick, the doctors gave me a week to live.
Psalms 91:14-16 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation. ( I always change the pronoun to she).
During that sickness when I began to get weary: Hebrews 10:35-36 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
Then about 13 years during a very grievous trial of faith:
Malachi 3:6 For I am the LORD, I change not;
It is encouraging to think back on the times when the the Lord spoke peace to my soul in the midst of uncertainty and just as encouraging to realize God and His are just the same today,
Romans 8:28(NASB) “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose”
My mom was diagnosed with terminal cancer my senior year in high school and died 2 months after I graduated, 11 days before my 18th birthday. It was a very dark time for my family and one of the most difficult seasons of life I have ever had to go to. That is when this verse first impacted me. God took this time in my life and grew me into a stronger dependence on Him. Since then, He has proved this verse to be true time and time again. So at 42 I would say this is my life’s verse.
Great post. Life verses are powerful and I know have anchored my life when storms hit.
My verse is: Hebrews 12:2: Let us fix our eyes on Jesus.
This verse never fails me.
I do have a life verse – in fact, it’s the same as yours! It’s featured prominently in the header of my blog, on the end of all my emails, etc. I keep it right in front of me to remind me that everything that’s happened since my accident is part of God’s will, and He knows what He has in mind for me.
I can do everything through Him who gives me strength. Phil. 4:13
That is the one that is always in my mind.
DV-NMV
What a lovely and encouraging post! Thank you for sharing your and your daughter’s life verses. I also enjoyed reading through every one else’s stories and life verses.
A few years ago when I was doing Beth Moore’s “Breaking Free” study, my eyes were opened to Isaiah 61. The whole chapter has become very important and special to me, but especially verses 1-7 as i’ve struggled with growing up in a broken home with divorced parents, issues with abandonment, feeling unloved and unwanted, feeling betrayed and let down by those I love most and thought I could count on, feeling angry and resentful towards my parents’ selfish decisions over the past 13 years and all the emotional turmoil they’ve dragged me through.
I was about 19 when I discovered this chapter (or when God brought it to me to give me hope and comfort) and since then it’s been my life verse. Things started to change in my life, in my heart and in my relationship with God then. Now, i’m experiencing verses 4-7 as i’ve gotten married and inherited a wonderful new family along with my husband. God has truly helped me rebuild the ancient ruins and places long devastated. He has blessed me with a double portion for my former trouble. He continues to bind up my broken heart, heal my heart wounds, and free me from the captivity of anger, resentment and unforgiveness.
I continue to turn to these verses whenever my relationship with my mom or dad causes me pain and frustration. It’s a beautiful and true description of how God fills in the gaps where people fail us, how he comforts and heals us, how he is a Father to the fatherless, how he replaces our sorrow with joy and crying with praises, how the Good News of our salvation changes our lives and gives us hope in the midst of a fallen world.
I do! As a kid growing up, it was Romans 8:28. It kind of highlighted my hopeful, optimism for life if I only followed God. As an adult, my verse has changed. It’s now Proverbs 16:9 “In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines His steps.” It reminds me of who is in charge and keeps me trusting when I wonder if I’m on the right path.
Zephaniah 3:17 ~ For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.
God gave this verse to my husband and I 13 years ago when we lost our first child, Jordan Taylor, to miscarriage. This verse has been a constant in our lives popping up in unexpected ways and places just when we needed to be reminded of it. It brings tears to my eyes now just remembering…
This was a beautiful and most inspiring post … I had not consider a Life Verse … but will certainly be opening my heart and mind in my readings to one that embraces me… xo HHL
Mine is in Ben Sira 15
14 It was he who created humankind in the beginning, and he left them in the power of their own free choice. 15 If you choose, you can keep the commandments, and to act faithfully is a matter of your own choice. 16 He has placed before you fire and water; stretch out your hand for whichever you choose. 17 Before each person are life and death, and whichever one chooses will be given.
Psalm 46:10 “Be still and know that I am God.”
that was the scripture that came as i was swearing at God into the night sky for allowing my dad to suffer as he was dying from cancer. i was ready to give up on God. i just couldn’t see how He would let a man like my dad go through what he was going through. and in the middle of my tirade, God spoke this verse to that still small voice in my soul. and it gave me peace. instantly. because it reminded me that God had not forsaken my dad. He had not forgotten him. and even though i wanted to turn away from Him, His verse reminded that He had not forgotten me.
I want to thank everyone for your sweet and encouraging comments on my post! I have enjoyed reading about each of your life verses and have been encouraged and touched by your stories. Thank you so much for sharing! It’s amazing how my spirit is constantly renewed and refreshed by my friends in the blogging world. Typically I post a handful of new posts each Monday morning. I hope you will stop by my blog at hopefilledlivingmagazine.com, as I will be doing a post on Monday about my experience as a guest here at (In)Courage.
Hugs,
Mary
My life verse is Jeremiah 29:11.
Some life sayings from Lysa Terkeurst’s “Being More Than A Good Bible Study Girl”: “You are Handpicked by God”; “I’m not equipped to handle what they have both good and bad” & her paraphrase of Matthew 11:28-30
“Jesus is saying He has equipped each of us with well-fitted assignments in life.
I cling to these daily as I struggle with issues at work, home, or wherever!
One of my favorites is 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
4) Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5) It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6) Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7) It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perserveres.
What our world needs now is lots of Love.
Mine is 2 Corinthians 4:7 – “But we have these treasures in jars of clay to show that this all surpassing power is from God and not from us.” This became my life verse in the spring of 1999 when I did an intense semester abroad in the jungles of Indonesia and was stretched in every way imaginable. It was like a boot camp in and of itself that prepared me for four great (and challenging years) of youth ministry, one year in the inner city on internship, and now five years (so far) as a mom and pastor’s wife. My heart is constantly humbed as I am reminded over and over and over and over that is not what I do for God, but it’s what God does through me (and my family).
Today: Galatians 1:10~”For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God ? Or am I striving to please men ? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.” probably for obvious reasons…I’m a people-pleaser
For the last several years: John 15:9 “Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you (Beverly); abide in My love.”
My life verse for this season of my life. Joshua 1:9 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
When I was confirmed in my church, we were told to have a life verse to read to the congregation. I had no idea what my life verse should be and I prayed and prayed about it. I went to the meeting of new members right before church filled with dread because I didn’t have a verse and then as I walked into the room, I knew which verse held a promise that went all the way down to my heart and I knew which verse was the one that I recited and would recite whenever I needed God’s comfort and needed to seek His purpose in my life.
“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
– Psalm 23:6
And in recent years, this one also has added to it:
“He has told you, O man, what is good;
and what does the LORD require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God?”
– Micah 6:8
Years ago, I became so ill that I had to leave my job in another state and move back home. It was a difficult time for me, and I was in such despair. I remember sitting with my Bible and ‘happening’ upon Psalms 71: 20-21, I felt as if God were whispering to me personally.
20 You have allowed me to suffer much hardship,
but you will restore me to life again
and lift me up from the depths of the earth.
21 You will restore me to even greater honor
and comfort me once again.
I would say at that ttime, I completely adopted this as my life verse.
my life verse is your life verse 🙂
[…] my reminder. Though there are other verses I’ve committed to memory – this one is my life verse. It resonates so deeply within me, and it transforms me again and again as it warms me from […]
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