Tuesday’s Tips: Theme Verse for 2012
Welcome to Tuesday’s Tips, a weekly IDEA SWAP for moms. I hope that when you drop by The Overflow on Tuesdays, you’ll find a gold-mine of encouragement and creative ideas excavated straight from the sticky trenches of parenthood.
Of course a SWAP wouldn’t be a true exchange without many voices. So, please consider chiming in the discussion and sharing your own great ideas. If you’ve discovered a tried and true trip that has made motherhood a little easier, a little more exciting, or a bit more meaningful, please let me know. Just leave a comment after this post or send me an email (rbruxvoort@iowatelecom.net) so I can share your idea in the next swap! I’d love to feature you on an upcoming Tuesday. Let the digging begin!
A Theme Verse for the New Year
When I was in seventh-grade, a wise youth leader challenged me to choose a “theme verse” for the new year. For a girl of many words who loved the WORD, this idea was a hit! Ever since that challenge was issued in 1986, I’ve continued to seek a scripture to guide my new year. Each year, since I was thirteen, I’ve filed my verse-of-the-year in this little gray box, and that simple box contains a priceless record of God’s whispers to my soul over time.
Perhaps this year you’re up to the challenge, too! How about taking some time to ask the Lord for a theme verse for 2012? There’s no right or wrong way to do it, but here’s how I usually choose my new year’s verse..
1. Pray about it: I simply start asking God what specific Word He would like to use to shape my year. Then as I spend time reading the scriptures, I just pay close attention to any verses that jump out at me. I write them down and continue praying over my selection until one feels like it “fits” me for the year.
2. Personalize it: I consider the challenges I’m currently facing or the needs I have and I seek out verses that speak into my situation. I often use Bible Gateway to search out verses on a certain topic. For instance, this year, I feel challenged to live deliberately in “the now.” So, I’ve gone to Bible Gateway and used the “key word search” function with words like present, this moment, today, and now.
3. Listen. I’ve found over the years that when God has a word for me, He repeats it in many ways. Sometimes I’ll read it first in the Bible, then hear it out of the mouth of a friend, or in a Christian song, or from the voice of my pastor. God doesn’t just say something once and turn His back on you if you don’t hear Him the first time. He’ll keep speaking the same thing in countless ways until you “get it.” This woman with dull ears is grateful for His persistence.
4. Record and memorize. Once you’ve chosen a verse, write it down- perhaps in many places. I have my theme verse jotted in journals, in the front of my Bible, and on note cards posted around my house. Make it your January priority to memorize your verse. As you do, claim God’s promise in Isaiah 55:11–
“my word that goes out from my mouth…will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”
“my word that goes out from my mouth…will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”
OoPs! I messed all up on that comment…but I think it is still readable? 🙂
ARE YOU SERIOUS?? This is amazing! What a special treasure that teacher gave you..but only because you kept it up! Your amazing! I want thifor my kids…I want this for me!
Great Tuesday Tip!!!