Verse for the Year
This is the time of year everyone is gearing up for a Bible plan to read through the whole thing in a year (or at least to Leviticus). Resolutions are calling for another chance in the New Year. Last year didn’t work out, but it was an odd numbered year. Besides, this is a leap year, sure to be successful.
Tanya gave me an idea that may be more meaningful for me in the long run, so I wanted to share it. Instead of “making it through” all the verses, I plan to focus on one verse. This is an idea that is apparently becoming popular – to choose one verse to memorize and keep central throughout the year. It’s less of a struggle to complete, and potentially more fulfilling if done through daily prayer and listening to God.
My verse for the last year was Rom 8:28, no doubt, without me planning for it to be. I don’t know what I might choose for this year, yet, or if I’ll just actively look for a verse that applies this year as well as Rom 8:28 did last year. I’m thinking about it though, because that verse meant a lot to me in many things that happened over the year. I’d like to see what other verse I can add to that toolbox of support and understanding for this year.
This idea is great, too, if that whole life-verse idea seems overwhelming right now. Try one on for a year…maybe change it once a month…see if it fits. Don’t get it tattooed until the verse makes it through at least sixty consecutive days, though – you’ll thank me later.
If anyone has done this before I’d love to hear the verse you chose and how it affected you. If you decide to start this year, what verse do you plan to commit to?
What about having a book of the Bible for a year? That would work better for me than one verse. More meaty, and more context.
I have a “life verse” tab in one of my Bibles, somewhere in Ephesians. The only reason I thought of having one is because the tab existed! It’s really more of a life paragraph or two…and clearly hasn’t affected my life much, since I don’t rememver quite where it is…In other words I don’t think a “life verse” works for me.
A book is a lot more to take on, but a year spent focused on understanding and remembering it could lead to a real understanding and memorization of it. It could certainly give a much more solid foundation of Biblical knowledge to rely on, for sure. It’s a good idea, and one I had also not considered. Thanks
I will sometimes have a verse of the week, though..not that I try to do that – it just happens. A verse pops out at me and I write it in my planner and focus on it.
That sounds good, too. Like a middle-ground between verse and book for a year – a focus on scripture, but one that’s not forced to fit a scheduled agenda and quantity.