Do you have a life verse from the Bible? Is there some certain scripture that God has used in a life changing way for you?

These thoughts have been in my head recently because, while we were in Israel, we had the chance to have jewlery made for us with a verse written in Hebrew. Several of us were considering our life verse, and working to find ways to fit portions of the verse onto a ring or bracelet.

I spied a ring I wanted to buy and had difficulty deciding which verse to use. As it happens, I have several life verses. I dont think I realized it perfectly until yesterday, but for each stage of my life, there have been a couple of verses that really stand out, having guided me through the Lord’s process of sanctification.

My life verses are broken up by era:

Childhood:

Psalm 71:5-8, 17

5 O Lord, you alone are my hope.
I’ve trusted you, O Lord, from childhood.
6 Yes, you have been with me from birth;
from my mother’s womb you have cared for me.
No wonder I am always praising you!

7 My life is an example to many,
because you have been my strength and protection.
8 That is why I can never stop praising you;
I declare your glory all day long.

17 O God, you have taught me from my earliest childhood,
and I constantly tell others about the wonderful things you

God rescued me from what could’ve been a very terrible childhood. My parents divorced when I was very young, and I never met my dad. While the absence of a true, flesh and blood father in my life has caused bitter roots of strife in my life, the reality is that my flesh and blood father was a reckless abuser who hurt  children. I discovered this Psalm in 2003, and found great encouragement therein, as David proclaimed that the Lord was with him from childhood, the Heavenly Father’s protection around him since the womb. Not only did God rescue me from a dangerous situation with my flesh and blood father, he adopted me as His own from birth and spoke to me through my Christian mother and grandparents who taught me about God’s love for me through Jesus Christ. My heavenly Father also gave me several other earthly fathers, an amazing grandfather, step-father, and two uncles who were not an actual flesh and blood fathers, but loved me like a daughter. God was at work redeeming me since the womb.

Teenage Years:

This is difficult, as there are two verses really, but the main ones are Matthew 5:14-16:

14“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

These are the verses that God continues to call to my mind on this trip. He preached these words first on the Mt. of Beattitudes, where I had the chance to visit a few days ago. I met the Lord there, and he reminded me of this calling. I had not forgotten, but I had lost sight of the light within me and my call to be “salty.”

The other teenage year verses were shared between my and my best friend April Grant Spain: Jeremiah 29:11:

11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

God brought April into my life at a critical time, and He used our friendship to mold me into the woman I am today. Her parents also loved me like one of their many kids, and allowed me to basically live at their house during an extremely difficult time in my life, the loss of my first true love. April and I clung to this verse and encouraged eachother throughout the tumultuous teen years. I am happy to report we both made it out safe, and happily married to amazing Christian men and April has been blessed with three beautiful children of her own:)

College Years: Isaiah 26:8

8 Yes, LORD, walking in the way of your laws, ^(truth)
we wait for you;
your name and renown
are the desire of our hearts. (souls)

In 1998, I traveled to Austin Texas with a group from my college, Union University, to the Passion conference. This series of conferences radically impacted my walk with the Lord and continues to today. It was this year that I was first introduced to Louie Giglio, John Piper, and Beth Moore, spiritual giants in my life who I may never know personally, but whose teaching opened my eyes to an entirely new concept of God’s fame and His passion for his glory among the nations. It is here that my call to mission was birthed. After Passion 98, Passion 99 and One Day in 2000 (in Memphis!) the Lord called me to be “Salt and Light” in a political environment, in our nation’s capitol. He opened a door for me to work for my home state U.S. Senator on Capitol Hill, and after a commissioning from my pastor, I moved to D.C. only knowing a few people and trusting the Lord would use me for His Glory to be salt and light in the political world.

Adult years: Ephesians 3:20-21

20Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

This verse is all about where God has taken me. From a child unknowingly in danger, through crazy teenage and college years, to the capitol of the free world and beyond, the Lord has never ceased to blow my mind and supersede my wildest dreams. Trusting the Lord with my life has made all the difference, in my sense of self, who I am, who God created me to be and for what purposed he created me to accomplish, from leading me to my amazing husband, my wonderful church, missions all over the world, and even being where I am today, saying goodbye to the Galilee. God IS ABLE to do EXCEEDINGLY MORE than we could ever ask or imagine according to His power at work within us. His power is in me because of Jesus Christ. Only by Jesus and the power of his Holy Spirit am I able to testify to the greatness, goodness and glory of God. To Him be the power, and the glory, in the church, in Jerusalem, in Washington, D.C., and in my life.

Amen.