Yesterday, I encouraged you to pray God’s Word for your kids. One way our family takes that to another level is by choosing a life verse for our kids.
Simply put, a life verse is a passage of Scripture that we feel like uniquely describes each individual child. Once we’ve chosen a life verse for our kids, we pray that verse over and over as a way to mark their lives with God’s Truth.
I have two sons, three-year-old Elisha (we call him Eli) and eleven-month-old Noble. I haven’t chosen Noble’s life verse yet, because he is too young for me to recognize how God has uniquely gifted him and how I specifically need to pray (beyond “Lord, please make him sleep!”). But I have been praying Eli’s life verse since before he was even born.
Yesterday, I shared with you that Eli was healed from a bladder blockage while still in my womb. It is our strong desire that the story of his healing would be a testimony that brings many people to Jesus. So we have chosen 1 Samuel 12:24 as his life verse, “Only fear the LORD and serve him faithfully with all your heart. For consider what great things he has done for you.”
We pray this verse for Eli. We pray this verse with Eli. We’ve painted this verse on the wall in Eli’s room. When he starts reading, this will be a passage I will have him practice reading often. When he is able to memorize Scripture, this verse will be where we start.
What’s the point of putting so much emphasis on a single verse? I’m glad you asked. Here are the reasons why I choose life verses for each child:
1. It gives me a specific way to pray for my children.
2. It helps them learn that the Bible’s promises are meant for them personally.
3. It helps cast a vision for who they will be and how they will serve God in the future.
Are you struggling to know how to pray for your kids? Let me encourage you to find a specific life verse for each one. Ask God to direct you to passages that will help you see His hand in each individual child. If your kids are older, they might have some great ideas for passages they’d like to have as their life verse. Then simply use that verse as an opportunity to teach about God’s Truth every chance you get.
There’s nothing magic about this. Life verses don’t become a chant or a motto. They are simply a way to apply the language of God’s Word to the lives of your children.
Do you or your children have a life verse? Leave me a comment and tell me about it.
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on Friday, February 18, 2011 at 7:30 am
on Friday, February 18, 2011 at 9:38 am
Renee, I'm going to post here today's entry from the book, "Amazing Grace—366 Inspiring Hymn Stories for Daily Devotions". It speaks of a hymn based on the very verses you mentioned. I have a (soon-to-be) 26-year old son also, and your testimony was a blessing to me. Thank you for sharing, and may you be blessed by the following devotional:
"February 18
HE LIFTED ME
Words and Music by Charles H. Gabriel, 1856–1932
He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. (Psalm 40:2, 3)
O the love that sought me! O the blood that bought me!
O the grace that brought me to the fold!
Wondrous grace that brought me to the fold!
—W. Spencer Walton
Occasionally it is good for each of us as Christians to reflect seriously on a question such as this: “Where would I be today if God had not transformed my life, established my ways, and given me a life of joy and praise?” With all of the allurements of sin so rampant in today’s society, we must readily confess that except for the love and grace of God, we too could find ourselves with broken and shameful lives. But we have been accepted into the beloved and made children of the heavenly kingdom. Through the redemptive work of Christ, we have been given a new and higher “plane” on which to live. With the author and composer Charles Gabriel we can only exclaim, “O praise His name, He lifted me!” Such divine love on our behalf calls forth a response of thankful gratitude and a sincere desire to see other needy individuals share this redemptive experience.
Charles H. Gabriel was one of the best known and most prolific gospel songwriters of the late 19th and early 20th century eras. His fame as a successful composer became widely known, especially with the use of his songs by Homer Rodeheaver in the large Billy Sunday evangelistic campaigns. “He Lifted Me” first appeared in the collection Revival Hymns, published in 1905.
In loving kindness Jesus came my soul in mercy to reclaim, and from the depths of sin and shame thru grace He lifted me.
He called me long before I heard, before my sinful heart was stirred, but when I took him at His word, forgiv’n He lifted me.
His brow was pierced with many a thorn; His hands by cruel nails were torn when from my guilt and grief, forlorn, in love He lifted me.
Now on a higher plain I dwell, and with my soul I know ’tis well; yet how or why, I cannot tell, He should have lifted me.
Chorus: From sinking sand He lifted me; with tender hand He lifted me; from shades of night to plains of light, O praise His name, He lifted me!
For Today: Psalm 40; Isaiah 61:10; Philippians 3:8; Revelation 1:5
Express gratitude and praise to God for His transforming power and love in your life. Determine to share your testimony with another. Use this musical testimony as a reminder—"
Osbeck, K. W. (1990). Amazing grace : 366 inspiring hymn stories for daily devotions. Includes indexes. (59). Grand Rapids, Mich.: Kregel Publications.
In His love,
on Friday, February 18, 2011 at 9:47 am
-Their heart's desire to be toward God
-The eyes of their hearts would be opened to the work of the Holy Spirit and God in their lives
-Their hearts to be satisfied with God and not what the world offers
-For God to be glorified in their lives
-Their hearts and thoughts to be pure
on Friday, February 18, 2011 at 10:01 am
12The [uncompromisingly] righteous shall flourish like the palm tree [be long-lived, stately, upright, useful, and fruitful]; they shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon [majestic, stable, durable, and incorruptible].
13Planted in the house of the Lord, they shall flourish in the courts of our God.
14[Growing in grace] they shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be full of sap [of spiritual vitality] and [rich in the] verdure [of trust, love, and contentment].
and was given to me when he was about 4 weeks old and we pray it for him everyday and it makes praying for him so easy and assured. Thanks for the blog as I didn't even know it was called 'life verse or any one else has that...Well, thank God for True woman.
Regards
on Friday, February 18, 2011 at 10:02 am
on Friday, February 18, 2011 at 12:56 pm
on Friday, February 18, 2011 at 4:51 pm
on Saturday, February 19, 2011 at 12:37 am
My life passage/verses that were spoken over me and has become my favorite is Ps. 37 "Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity....Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart."
That verse (4) summarizes my life for me so well.
I also have a 'life hymn' or rather a 'motherhood hymn' that came to me after my oldest was born...Be Thou My Vision...I knew I would not be enabled in my calling as a mother without my sight set on Him!
on Saturday, February 19, 2011 at 1:17 am
on Saturday, February 19, 2011 at 7:49 am
on Saturday, February 19, 2011 at 10:27 pm
on Saturday, February 19, 2011 at 11:36 pm
on Sunday, February 20, 2011 at 12:46 pm
Exodus 14:14, Psalm 34:19, Psalm 91, Psalm 4:8,Deut 7:6.
I will be praying for your dear child and I trust that God will work this out for the best according to Romans 8:28.
Regards
on Sunday, February 20, 2011 at 3:39 pm
on Monday, February 21, 2011 at 7:57 am
on Monday, February 21, 2011 at 10:39 am
We have:
Benjamin Riley- (Riley means "small stream") Jer. 17:7-8: "Blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”
Talia Ruth- (Ruth means "beautiful and compassionate") I Pet. 3:3-4: "Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight."
Leila Beth- (Beth means "promise of God") Lam. 3:22-26 "Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD."
We have picked each verse for the kids before they were born and it has been amazing to me how well they have come to fit!
on Friday, February 25, 2011 at 3:52 pm
on Friday, March 11, 2011 at 12:39 pm
Isaiah 43:1-3a
Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name; you are Mine!
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
And through the rivers, they will not overflow you.
When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched,Nor will the flame burn you.
For I am the LORD your God,
The Holy One of Israel, your Savior
on Monday, August 15, 2011 at 3:51 pm
on Monday, May 21, 2012 at 4:23 am
God bless you.
on Monday, May 21, 2012 at 10:11 pm