Spotlight Verse

In two days we will close the book on 2013 and open a new book for 2014.  I don’t know about you but I am ready to close the 2013 book.  It was hard on many levels, personally and for my family.  As I pray and look forward to 2014, I am eager to see the hand of God and what HE is going to work out in me.  We are always on a journey.  Never complete until the day we meet Jesus.  That excites me!!  God is not a god of complacency; please don’t become complacent in your walk with Him.  He desires to see you growing, changing, and bearing fruit.  How do you continue to hunger for the things of God?  You get into His word, reading it, pondering it, asking questions, and seeing how you can apply it to your life.  Grow, change, and bear fruit sweet friends.  Be different in the circles you are with so others see the difference and want what you have.

A few years ago I came across an idea.  I can’t recall where I heard it or read it, but this idea has made a huge impact on my walk.  From mid December to about January tenth, I pray for God to bring a specific Scripture verse to me.  I pray for a verse that I can “claim” for the year.  One that I can recall, cling to, memorize, ponder, and pray.  One that will change me, grow me.   I have done this for four years and God has brought the exact Scripture verse I needed for that year; it’s so cool.  Recently I read a blog post of another gal that does this and she called it a Spotlight Verse.  I love it! If you think about a spotlight, it shines light into a dark area.  So a spotlight verse shines light into a particular area of my life that God wants to grow or change.  Here is her definition that I am going to copy, “a spotLight verse is God calling attention to, with His Light, an area of my life that needs strengthening and sharpening.”

Last year my “spotlight verse” was Joshua 1:9 . “Have I not commanded you, be strong and courageous, do not be terrified, do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Man was it ever spot-on for my year.  I needed to be strong and not get discouraged with all that life tossed at me in 2013 and I needed to know that God was with me, always.  Over and over God has brought the right Scripture to me.  The verse comes up in sermons, blogs I read, things friends and family say to me in a round about way.  When the one is chosen, I write it down in my Bible and I print it out and put it at my computer where I can see it often.  I can’t tell you how much fun this has been.  Now,  you may be asking how do I pray for one verse because isn’t all of God’s Word for me?  Yes it is, and here is how I go about searching for my spotlight verse.  I ask.  I ask Christ to show me and help me to evaluate where I need to grow and change.  Is there something in me that I want more or less of?  Do I have a certain feeling I want to work through with God in the coming year like fear, temptation, loneliness, addictions?  Is there a fruit of the Spirit I want to grow… peace, patience, love, kindness?  I truly believe when we come before God with an open heart, asking Him to change us, grow us, and reveal things to us so we can be shinning lights for Christ, HE is faithful and will provide.  He honors a humble heart.I encourage you to pray for a spotlight verse for 2014.  Be listening, looking, and seeking!  God is faithful; he will provide!