A Year's Journey of Verses.

One of this year's great adventures was participating in Beth Moore's "Siesta Scripture Memory Team." I noticed early on that as I selected my new verse every 15 days or so...the choice ended up corresponding so perfectly with what God was doing in my heart and life, even though I often had no idea what would transpire in that time frame. It was one of the most pivotal ways God spoke to me this year.

I strung all the verses together just to see what it looked like and found it read kind of like a conversation between God and me. So I restructured it a bit and thought I'd share it with you here. (Please note that the things I changed weren't intended to be changes to Scripture...just kind of a conversation based on Scripture. Disclaimer!)

My Sweet Girl...Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland. Demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of Me, and take captive every thought and make it obedient to Me.

Abba, I keep asking that the God of my Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give me the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that I may know You better. I am still confident of this: I will see Your goodness in the land of the living.

Bekah, wait for Me; be strong and take heart and wait for Me. As you know, I consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what I finally brought about. I am full of compassion and mercy. You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the I, the Lord Your God, gave you has failed. Every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that you may have life and have it to the full. Therefore I am now going to allure you; I will lead you into the desert and speak tenderly to you. There I will give you back your vineyards, and will make your Valley of Achor a door of hope. There you will sing as in the days of your youth, as in the day you came up out of Egypt. Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it." Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?

Abba, I believe You will fulfill Your purpose for me; Your love, O Lord, endures forever - do not abandon the works of your hands.

Bekah, you are a chosen girl, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a daughter belonging to Me, that you may declare My praises...I who called you out of darkness into My wonderful light.

Sweet Father, may your favor rest upon me; establish the work of my hands for me - yes, establish the work of my hands. O Lord, be gracious to me; I long for you. Be my strength every morning, my salvation in time of distress.

Baby Girl, My way is perfect; My Word is flawless. I am a shield for all who take refuge in Me. You, my girl, are the pot I was shaping from the clay, and you were marred in My hands, so I, the Potter formed you into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to Me. So then, you who suffer according to God's will should commit yourself to your faithful Creator and continue to do good. I will give you a heart to know Me, that I am the Lord. You will be my Daughter, and I will be your God, for you will return to me with all your heart. I will build you up again and you will be rebuilt. Again you will take up your tambourine and go out to dance with the joyful. I will fight for you; you need only to be still. I will meet all your needs according to My glorious riches in Christ Jesus. But you, dear Bekah, build yourself up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. And My glory will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

Oh God of hope, fill me with all joy and peace as I trust in You, so that I may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.