Time to Pick a New Verse

It was just a few weeks ago when Elaine sent an email with the subject line, “For 2013 - A Challenge…” She was inviting women to join her in memorizing scripture throughout the year. As I read through the details my heart grew more and more excited. This challenge, lived out all year in community with other women, was exactly what I needed. Without hesitation I replied to Elaine and wrote, “I’m in!” 

Like many times in my life after I make a commitment a bit of fear and doubt begins to creep in. Can I really do this? Can I finish in December with 24 new verses hidden in my heart? The excitement and energy that initially drew me to commit, slowly drifts away without notice. My busy calendar and meeting the needs of my husband and three young boys seem to take over, and I allow a personal commitment to fade away. 

BUT this year I don’t want that to happen. With THIS challenge I want it to be different. THIS is my prayer.

As I prayed, I began to recall scripture I had memorized as a brand, new Christian in college. My junior and senior years of college were spent attending gatherings with The Navigators, a Christian ministry on college campuses. I joined a women’s bible study, and I was discipled by Linda, who was on staff with the Navigators.  Linda was the person who taught me how to share my faith, and part of that meant memorizing scripture. The first verse I ever memorized was Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” From that point on memorizing scripture was a part of my weekly discipline…well, it was until…I graduated, started working full-time, got engaged, planned a wedding, had baby #1, and so it went. It was harder and harder to continue the discipline of hiding God’s word in my heart.

So back to my prayer…as I recalled the scriptures I had memorized in college, I remembered a small, leather case I had kept the verses in. Linda had given me the case with blank cards inside. She explained that each verse I memorized I could write on a card to help me remember them. Now where was that case today? I ran upstairs and looked in my desk drawer. Sure enough there it was in the way back of the drawer. I pulled the verses out of the case, and then the Lord and I had a moment. Memories. Emotions. Tears. These verses had carried me through some dark valleys. Yet, here I was today healed, forgiven, beautifully and wonderfully made by a loving Father. 

There were blank cards still inside the case. What a gift from heaven above. I have been writing my 2013 verses on the cards, and I’m adding them to the stack just like I had done before. Here is the new verse I wrote for today:

My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” 

Colossians 2: 2-4 (NIV)

I am truly thankful to be hiding God’s word in my heart with all of you. Sometimes I make it my quiet time to sit and read your comments. It renews my mind and gives me a fresh perspective. Living out this challenge in community with all of you helps me remind myself, “Yes, I can finish this challenge! Fear and doubt step aside. My friends and I are walking through this amazing experience together.”

Please share the verse you are currently memorizing. Click on the word 'comment' just below the dotted line, and enter your comment in the white box (you may have to scroll through other comments to find the box.) If you have any questions on how to leave a comment, click on the Blog Q&A post from January. You can find that post in the right margin. It will give you detailed information on leaving a comment.