LIFE VERSE – A GUIDING LIGHT FOR EVERY SEASON
Have you ever found yourself in a difficult situation and wished you had something to hold onto? Something to give you a bit of strength and guidance? That’s where a life verse comes in. It is more than just a Bible verse you like or find inspiring. It’s a passage of Scripture that speaks directly to your heart and becomes a lasting part of your journey and intimate relationship with God. One that you reflect on and turn to repeatedly.
For me, my life verse has been a constant source of motivation and encouragement. It’s a passage that I discovered more than 30 years ago, and it has been part of my life’s purpose ever since. Whenever I find myself in a difficult situation, I turn to this verse as a reminder of what I’ve committed to the Lord and how He can work out all things for my good.
The process of finding a life verse is different for everyone but can make all the difference in how you view your goals, your work, and your family life. In this post, we’ll explore why having a life verse is beneficial and how you can discover the perfect one for you.
My Life Verse
Life has been full of many wonderful experiences and some difficult ones too, but one of the most important things I’ve carried with me is the life verse God pointed me to decades ago. It was a passage that caused me to stop and say, “This is how I want to live my life.”
Now, just so you know, my life verse didn’t come quickly. It probably took me two years or more to find. I didn’t search for it for hours on end, but I was mindful of it every time I opened my Bible. Eventually, I found the passage that described how I wanted to live my life. It’s found in Psalm 112:1-9.
Praise the Lord!
How joyful are those who fear the Lord
and delight in obeying his commands.
2 Their children will be successful everywhere;
an entire generation of godly people will be blessed.
3 They themselves will be wealthy,
and their good deeds will last forever.
4 Light shines in the darkness for the godly.
They are generous, compassionate, and righteous.
5 Good comes to those who lend money generously
and conduct their business fairly.
6 Such people will not be overcome by evil.
Those who are righteous will be long remembered.
7 They do not fear bad news;
they confidently trust the Lord to care for them.
8 They are confident and fearless
and can face their foes triumphantly.
9 They share freely and give generously to those in need.
Their good deeds will be remembered forever.
They will have influence and honor.
When I chose these verses, I remember clearly praying, “God, I would love for this to direct my life. This is what I would love for my life to be.” The remarkable thing is, I could tell you story after story of how my personal experiences have applied to each of these lines.
For example, in verse seven it says, “They do not fear bad news; they confidently trust in the Lord to care for them,” I was able to cling to this truth in the face of my cancer diagnosis. The scripture then goes on to say, “They are confident and fearless and can face their foes triumphantly.” It was a powerful reminder to keep moving in a healthy direction and trust God with the outcome.
When you find your life verse, you’ll be amazed at how applicable it is to your goals, situations and experiences; and how God uses it to shape your perspective. It’s something you’ll be able to hold onto during trials and be thankful for in times of blessing. It’s been very rewarding to look back at my life and see how much the words of these verses are true for me.
A Life Verse for your Children
Many Christian parents decide to dedicate their children to the Lord, either privately or at a church dedication service.
Dedications are different from baptisms. In many churches today, parents can choose to have their child baptized as an infant. A dedication ceremony on the other hand is parents, going before their community, committing to raise their child in a Christian home and nurture their faith, as the child is still too young to make this choice themselves.
Baptism therefore would happen later in life, and is a personal decision made after accepting Christ. It’s a public declaration of faith, symbolizing the washing away of past sins and a commitment to a new life in Christ. Going under the water and rising again represents being forgiven, renewed, and fully dedicated to walking with God.
I highly recommend doing a dedication for your child and choosing a special life verse for them. The idea of reducing to writing a blessing for your child, selecting an accompanying verse and dedicating them to the Lord is something I encourage parents to do. Kathy and I did this and found it to be a very powerful experience for us as. The life verses we chose for our children were not only blessings over their lives, but they were also inspirations for their future. As they got older, we shared with each of them the story of their dedication which they found to be meaningful.
Now, this isn’t to say we expected them to only use the life verses we chose for them. We always encouraged each of our children to read their Bibles and hear from God personally. It’s always been our hope that He would direct them according to His specific purpose for their lives.
Ultimately, I can’t recommend enough the importance of choosing a life verse. Don’t rush the process but be intentional about seeking the exact passage God has in mind for you. It could be a single verse, or multiple verses. Let God lead you. You’ll be amazed at how they guide and direct you in the best of ways and remind you of God’s faithful provision through every season.
ACTION STEP:
Remain expectant. Each time you read your Bible, go with an open heart and be prepared to receive the life verse/verses that God gives you.
Do you have an experience related to what you have read? Please share it with us in the comments section and help others learn too.
