Approaching October. In a year that beats all. And it occurs to me. I can’t remember this year’s verse.
Typically, I ask the Lord if there’s a verse to focus on throughout the year.
And I write the chosen verse out. Meditate on it. Consider applications along the way. Note similar themes in daily Bible readings that year.
Today, I’m searching. It’s September. And no 2020 verse is written on my spiral-bound notecards. What?
Pray
Traveling back through journals to January, I find the question. In a prayer jotted down January 12th.
“Father, open my eyes to Your Word. Give me ears attuned to Your Spirit. Teach me Your ways and help me obey. Also, is there a verse for 2020?”
Also. By the way. Just checking.
Watch for it
The funny thing is. I pray the question. And forget to notice the answer.
What was it we learned in Experiencing God? Ask God and watch for what happens next.
That particular day, the reading is Genesis 12. About Abram. Detailing God’s call and blessing on his life.
Write it down
In the journal I’ve noted two specific verses.
First, after the Lord appeared and spoke a promise to him. “So he built an altar there to the Lord who had appeared to him” (Genesis 12:7).
Then, as he seeks the Lord in the next place of his journey. “He built an altar to the Lord there, and he called on the name of the Lord” (Genesis 12:8).
I’m sensing a theme here.
Maybe neither of these sounded like “verse for the year” material at the time. But today. In retrospect. Yes.
Meditate on it
Abraham walked an altared path. To a land he did not know.
Seeking the Lord, he set up places of worship and prayer at each location he pitched his tent.
He revisits some of those altars in the following chapters. And continues learning to respond to God in obedience and faith.
Apply God’s Word
This has been quite a year. 2020. Walking in a place we do not know. Navigating unfamiliar settings.
We do well to take time for simple altars.
Seeking the Lord. Calling on His name.
Remembering spiritual markers along the way that chart our history with Him. Rejoicing in the work He has done.
Asking for eyes to see the way forward.
Abide through His Word
Abiding in Christ through prayer and the Word helps us continue. On this journey of worship and remembrance. Teaches us surrender. Again and again.
To walk by faith. Sure of what we hope for. Certain of what we do not see.
Practicing deeper dependence on the One who calls us.
You’re helping me learn this, 2020.
“By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed and set out for a place that he was going to receive as an inheritance. He went out,
even though he did not know where he was going.”
Hebrews 11:8
What about you
Did you choose a “verse for the year”? Is there a Scripture passage that helps you walk by faith in 2020? Have you made a list of spiritual markers in order to remember and rejoice?
Related posts
Pray continually – Step by step – Makeshift altar – Tents and altars – Strong roots and movable tents – Stability – True sanctuary – Surrender and worship – Wells along the way – Follow Me – Unexpected altar –
4 replies on “Verse for the year”
Thanks for this reminder. I used to always have a verse of the year but got out of practice the last few years. Phil 3:12-14 is always a good verse to be reminded of. I tend to get bogged down in all I didn’t do or could have done better. But this reminds me to start today and go forward to the goal for which He has called me.
Amen. A good reminder in this day and age. We PRESS ON. Thank you for sharing, sis!
“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
Deuteronomy 31:8 NIV
This verse was a memory verse for our church recently and it came to my attention because I desperately needed to hear these words – so I took a scrap of paper and a brightly colored marker and wrote it out – it’s now on my refrigerator door as a daily reminder that wherever I go, God is already there!
I love that your church is memorizing Scripture together. And YES to refrigerator door reminders of His truth day by day! Thanks for sharing, friend.