With so many good verses in the Bible, it can be hard to pick an overall favorite. But when we do, we tend to adopt certain ones as our life verse(s). They become the ones we live by and strive to follow. They encourage growth in our walk with God.
My fiancé asked me a while ago who I hope to become as a Christian woman. What are my spiritual goals for not just this year and the next, but my life? In my explanation, I had to reference a passage from Romans that resonated with me months ago. It’s more of a life passage than a life verse, but I adopted it all the same.
“Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.
“Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all” (Romans 12:9-17, ESV).
For me, this passage is a perfect description of Christian life. It does more than give broad ideas that sound great but offer no place to start. I love this passage because it narrows life down to specifics and offers practical ways to grow as a believer. I can work on integrating these ideals into my life point by point.
Sometimes some of the points are more relevant than others, but all are important at all times. Sometimes I’m better at living out some of the points, such as rejoicing in hope, and other times I really need the reminder to set me straight.
Have you chosen a life verse or passage? If you haven’t, I strongly suggest you do. I come back to mine often. I even started memorizing it so I can recall parts of it when I don’t have a Bible available but need a reminder.
When picking a verse, it’s a good idea to think about whom you want to become and the areas where God has gifted you. Take a look at your spiritual gifts, and find some verses that encourage those. They will serve as good reminders to walk in those gifts when life gets hard.
Your life verse should not only encourage you when times get tough, but also spur you toward growth when your faith is thriving. More likely than not, it will be a verse that stands out to you and frequently draws your attention to its message.
If you have a life verse picked out already, share it with us in the comments.
