Your Special Bible Verse

​Challenge:

How do you find the Lord’s special verse just for you?

REALity:

It was a rare moment in the early days of my parenting journey when I was home alone.  If memory serves me correctly, my two older children were in mom’s morning out and my youngest child was with my mom.  It was a treasured time to rest and replenish.  I was sitting on the couch reading my Bible and spending time with the Lord.  For a long time, I had the idea of searching the Bible for my birthday verse. 

I now had the time to sit and search for the Lord’s special message to me by finding my birthday verse.  Since my birthday is May 24, I would search various books to look in the fifth chapter (May is the 5th month of the year) and 24th verse. 

The first searches were in the Old Testament but either the book didn’t have the right number combination, or the verse did not have an applicable meaning to me.  Finally, the search took me to the New Testament.  After several attempts of looking for verses, the Lord told me I had found my birthday verse – Ephesians 5:24. “Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.”  What???  Are you kidding me, Lord?  After all the anticipation and searching, this is the special verse for me? 

Evidently, the Lord was making a joke with me, but I was not amused.  This had to be a mistake.
I clearly communicated to the Lord that I already was a submissive wife and there had to be another birthday verse for me.  To prove this to the Lord, I called my husband (nickname Mr. Big Guns) to ask him.  I explained my search to him and told him which verse the Lord had said was my birthday verse – wives submit to your husbands.  I told Mr. Big Guns that the Lord’s verse for me had to be wrong because I was already a submissive wife. 

At this point, I had to pull the phone away from my ear because the laughter from Mr. Big Guns was so loud.  When he finally stopped laughing, he asked me if I was serious.  He continued to say that I was never submissive and continually argued with him when I didn’t agree with him.  Mr. Big Guns clearly thought the Lord was right on target with my special birthday verse.

Well so much for proving the Lord wrong.  Evidently, the Lord needed me to take my birthday verse to heart. 

Inspiration:

Many years have gone by since that special communication time with the Lord.  I’ve since come to treasure my birthday verse and try to remind myself regularly to be a submissive woman to my Savior and my husband.  Recently, I had the privilege of speaking at my kids’ school during the chapel session. 

I explained the concept of finding your birthday verse and had them divide into groups of two.  The younger students who couldn’t read yet were partnered with an older student.  I also asked the teachers to walk around and assist the students if they had questions.

The movement of the Holy Spirit was incredible during this chapel.  Even though the student pairings were random, the Lord knew who He wanted together.  Two girls who were partners shared the same birthday!  Really cool!  Then two teachers told me that their favorite verse that they have had all their life was their birthday verse and they never realized it.  Amazing!

Before that chapel, my prayer was for the kids to understand how special they are to Jesus and how He always has words for them!  He always has special words for you too!

The Word of Truth:

Does it feel that you just cannot seem to connect with Jesus?  Do you struggle with the mindset that you’re just not important to Jesus?  Do you think Jesus has more important things to deal with than your petty needs?  Do you feel your prayers are only met with silence? 

These are all lies, lies, and more lies from the enemy.  Satan will do anything and everything to destroy your relationship with Jesus. 
Take comfort, my friend.

Jesus tells us in John 10:10
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.
I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
This verse gives us one of the most important truths in the entire Bible.  Here is the truth for you to memorize and believe:
The enemy:  his mission is to steal, kill, and destroy you
The Lord:  His mission is to offer salvation so you may have life to the full
Jesus tells us in John 17:17
“Sanctify them by truth; your word is truth.”
Sanctifying means to be set apart for God and His holy purposes.  The truth is that you have been set apart for a special purpose.  God’s word will only speak truth to you. 

Don’t believe me?  Find your birthday verse and see what the Lord says to you.
“For you created my inmost being.  You knit me together in my mother’s womb.  I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful; I know that full well.” Psalm 139:13-14

Action Plan:

Pray to the Lord for Him to lead you to your birthday verse and be open to what His message is to you.  

Let the search begin! 

Examples:  If your birthday is December 15th, you would search different books in the Bible for a book that has a 12th chapter (since December is the 12th month) and 15th verse. 

If your birthday is June 27th, you would search for a book that has a 6th chapter and 27th verse. 

No matter what your birthday is, the Lord has a special message for you!!!Share your birthday verse with me.  I’d love to hear what your verse is and how the Lord spoke to you.