Articles
MY FAVORITE BIBLE VERSES
What is your favorite Bible verse, and why is it your favorite? Seems like an easy question
and answer, but you may find it more difficult as you begin to consider the possibilities. I know
the second part of the question is more difficult, because it takes us from a simple memorization
of words to a more complete understanding of the importance of those words.
For the next several weeks I will be sharing with you some of my favorite verses. But,
before I begin sharing, a simple assignment: List five of your favorite verses and beside each
verse explain the reason it is a favorite. Sounds simple enough. No, you won’t have to share
unless you want to. This is an assignment to be used as a personal challenge.
As I began to list my favorite Bible verses, several things occurred to me:
1) At first, I developed a quick case of “writer’s block.” All of those verses I thought I knew
were suddenly hard to recall.
2) When I finally began to remember verses, I found that one verse led to another and then to
another, and so on. It was encouraging to me to realize how many verses I really knew (by
memory). Perhaps spending more time in such an exercise would be good to remind each of
us how much of God’s Word we know. And perhaps, how little of His Word we know.
3) I began to realize that my “favorite” verses have changed over time. If I had done this
exercise during my teen years, my list of favorites would have been quite different (and
limited) from today. I’m not suggesting this is wrong. Actually, it should be a sign of
maturing in the knowledge of God’s Word. This is not to suggest early favorites have been
tossed aside. Like David would share in his psalms, I pray that God’s Word, from cover to
cover, becomes precious to us and is treasured in our hearts (Ps. 119:11).
4) Finally, as I began my list, I was really looking for about five or six verses, but my list
quickly expanded to twenty-six verses. I stopped there so I could write this article. My
favorite verses were found in both the Old and New Testaments.
So, are you up to the challenge? I hope you are! And don’t stop at just five or six. Keep a
list handy and continue to write down those verses that hold special meaning to you. Maybe
compare your list with others. This could also be a great family project, especially encouraging
your children to begin to make God’s Word special to them. ~P. Mowrer
“Your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You.”
