Sunday, February 7, 2016

My "Life Verse" Changes




Most Christians have a verse that they claim is their “life verse.” It’s one that stands for something personal to them, or the outlook they want to have in their life.

I, too, have claimed a “life verse.” Except, as the years have gone by, I have found that my verse has changed. With each season of my life, I have gone through different things – had different outlooks – and changed, as well as grown emotionally.

So, I have claimed different verses that resonated more deeply with me at each one of these seasons/phases of my life.

So, far, I am on verse #3.  Each verse is still very much a part of me. I still look at each verse as an extension of who I am, and what I want to be about. It’s just that the verse I may have at that moment in time, is one that seems to soak into my skin and into my heart just a little bit more, because of what I may be going through and feeling in life.

When I was a little girl, my life verse was Romans 8:28.

“All things work together for good, to those who love God, and to those who have been called according to His purpose.”

I had such an optimistic and positive outlook on life. I believed God could change ANYONE if you believed hard enough. I just knew that everything would be all right, because I loved God.

I still know that things will be ok, because God has them all in His hands. However, growing up, and living life have shown me that not everyone changes. Not everything turns out as it should. But somehow, I have to trust God in those moments anyways.

When I became a young woman, I changed my verse to Proverbs 16:9.  I believe I first read it when my sister sent it to me, as I had moved from Oregon to Nevada.

“In his (or her) heart, a man plans His course, but the Lord determines His steps.”

I still very much love this verse.  It resonated with me, because so many times, I would have an agenda, a dream, a path I wanted to go on in life…. But God had other things in mind. It was something a young girl who was growing into a woman was discovering. That life doesn’t always turn out like you want it to.

I’ve been searching for a new verse for a couple years now. I’m feeling like I’m in a different and a very much thankful spot in my life. I am so aware how faithful God has been to me in my life. And I feel so humbled and indebted to Him.

I stumbled across this verse recently, and fell in love with it. I have claimed it to be my “this season” verse.


Psalm 139:5

“You surround me on all sides and hold your protecting hand over me.”

I can’t tell you how much the Lord has protected me over the years. It doesn’t mean that I haven’t had challenges, hardships, or scary times. I have. But ultimately, God has walked through those with me and He has always taken care of me. He has protected me, loved me, and blessed me. He has been so faithful.

And I’m so aware of His presence and love in my life.


Do you have a life verse? If not, I’d encourage you to claim one. It’s amazing how a verse can give your life extra focus or direction. It can reassure you as you go through tumultuous moments, and it can shower your heart with love, wisdom, or guidance.


If you do have one, leave me a note in the comments. I’d love to hear what your verse is and why you chose it.  And for each one of us, may we always hear God speak clearly and personally to us through His precious Word.

8 comments:

Unknown said...
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Unknown said...

Dionna, like yourself, Romans 8:28 has been my life verse, And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (NIV). Over they years I and added to that at first it was just verses 29-30, For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. (NIV)

Then a few years ago I have added a few more to that, verses 30-35, What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? (NIV)

So as to finish the thought, of that section of Romans 8. Yes I do have other verses that mean special things to me from special times in my life, like our marriage, the birth of our four children, I picked out special verses for each one and have continued that as we have been blessed with our ten grandchildren... so far!

I guess that I keep going to Romans 8:28 because it was the verse given to me when I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior and through many different and sometimes difficult it has carried me though a lot and always brought me out more in love for what Jesus has done for me!

Thank you Dionna for the thought provoking post!

Blessings,

Bob

Anonymous said...

Philippians 1:6 has been my verse since the 1980's. I have been a believer since 1970 & God is still working on this *pot of clay*. At ag 68, l can say l still find great comfort in this word. God has blessed me with extremely good health for which l am grateful. He has give me strength to face other struggles He has allowed in my lie, marriage of 52 years, 2 sons, beautiful daughters by love, 6 grandsons, etc. & challenges within these relationships still remind me HE'S STILL WORKING ON ME to conform me to the image of my Savior Jesus Christ..thank you for your blog.

Anonymous said...

Lie is life ... Ag is age...sorry for not catching the misspell words

Dionna said...

Wow, Bob! Do you know all those verses by heart? Thanks so much for sharing all of that! I do think once we "claim" a verse, even if another one becomes more relevant at a certain time, we never quite lose the attachment to the previous verse! Romans 8:28 is a good verse to always cling to. :)

Dionna said...

Ann - I looked up your verse. Yes, that is a wonderful one, and so reassuring and loving! I think we are ALL still works in progress! :) By the way - congrats on 52 years of marriage. That is FANTASTIC!

Unknown said...

Yes Dionna, I originally learned it in the KJV back in the fifties, and than the NAS in the sixties and then while in seminary I learned it in Greek and then in the NIV!

Dionna said...

Wow. Well, I must say, Bob, that that is impressive.