But whoever listens to Me will dwell safely, and will be secure, without fear of evil. Proverbs 1:33
At the beginning of 2022 I framed the above Scripture, placing it next to our bathroom mirror. Why place it there? Because I knew it would be a place where I would be regularly spending time for the normal routines of life, thus giving me lots of opportunities to talk with God about my chosen Bible verse – my chosen desire for the year – to listen to Him. Yes, so many of us, including me, ardently desire “to dwell safely and to be secure without fear of evil” just as Proverbs 1:33 says, especially with everything going on in this world. But, how can this promise be realized in our lives? It comes from listening to Him,
A powerful but simple way that you can listen to God, letting His Word deeply shape your heart and life for 2023 is by choosing:
- a “word” or “word phrase”
- a related bible verse
- a related song
and keeping it before your eyes, listening to it with your ears, declaring it and singing it with your mouth and letting it richly dwell within you. (See Proverbs 4:20-22 blog)
Seven years ago this simple idea that I just shared came to Ken and I. (I love how God initiates things like this.) Since then, before each new year begins we prayerfully consider what God would have us focus on. We ask Him what “word” or “word phrase” and related bible verse we should be paying special attention to in our lives for that year. Often the chosen word comes from a longing in our heart to know God in a new or deeper way, becoming all He has created us to be. Our chosen words or word phrases so far have been: thrive, joy, peace, choose, great expectations, abide in Christ, and listen to Me.
Here are some practical ways we have implemented this into our lives:
- Having a set time each week where we declare out-loud our chosen Bible verse and sing our chosen song together
- Using different Bible translations periodically to read, write, declare and pray our chosen Bible verse
- Being alert in our daily Bible study of what God is saying to us concerning our chosen word and sharing our insights with one another
- Adding our song for the year to our “Daily Songs Playlist” and listening or singing it along with our previous chosen songs from past years as we drive
- Posting our bible verse in a visible place in our home, reminding us to talk with God about it
If you are single, you could either do this for your own life or choose a friend to partner with you.
As you consider adopting this simple way of allowing God’s Word to shape your heart and life, listen to our chosen song from 2022.
Your Words by Third Day
Let me hear Your Words
Above all other voices
Above all the distractions in this world
For Your Words bring life
And Your voice speaks promises
Lord, Your love offers more
Than anything else in this world
Your Words give us life that’s never ending
Your Words bring us love that never fails
Everything else will fade away
But what will remain
Are Your Words
Let us speak Your Words
More than ours, more than ever
Let us share Your Love with all the world
The grass will wither and the flowers will fall
But the Word of our God will last forever
Yes!
Yes! My prayer for you for 2023 is that you would hear God’s Word above all other voices – above all the distractions of this world, allowing God’s Word to shape your heart and life!
Sue Burdullis
PS See Dee’s testimony by clicking here. I love how she took the simple idea suggested to her in the healing rooms concerning choosing a Bible verse for 2022 and ran with it, having her life powerfully impacted.
PSS If you decide to follow this simple idea, I would love to hear what you have chosen for your word as well as the related Bible verse and song. And, at the end of the year, send me your testimony of how God’s Word has transformed your own heart and life.