What’s Your Waking Verse?

For years, my mission statement has been, “Learning it. Living it. Sharing it.” Those words express how I aim to do life. They are the heartbeat behind the prayer journal I published last year and behind every blog I write.

Well, I learned something yesterday, I’ve lived it for just a few hours, but I believe it’s a powerful practice and I’m ready to share.

So, here we go….

Yesterday morning, I was challenged by a friend’s Facebook post to consider choosing what she called a “Waking Verse.” It’s a pretty simple idea.  Choose a verse from the Bible and train yourself to make that verse your waking thought.

I loved it!

I knew immediately the verse I would choose.  It’s one that causes my heart to rejoice and praise God in good times but one that gives me hope in the dark moments of life as well. It’s a verse that comforts me by reminding me that I am not in control but He is and His power is so much greater than I can imagine.

I chose Ephesians 3:20-21. 

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. 

I decided that if this were to be my Waking Verse, it would need to be the screensaver on my phone. Like most of us, my phone is also my alarm clock and it’s the first thing I see each morning when I wake up. I knew that clearing my home screen of everything except this verse was the surest way to make it my waking thought.

So, here’s how it went down this morning.  My alarm was set for 6:30am but, as is often the case, I woke up quite a bit earlier.  I grabbed my phone to check the time…

4:30am.  Ugh! 

Now, when this happens, my mind and heart start racing with thoughts of how much more rest I need, the upcoming demands of the day and every difficult situation currently faced by me or someone I love. Oftentimes, these thoughts keep me awake, while I toss and turn until I finally relent and just get up.

But today was different.As I grabbed my phone to check the time, I was reminded of my Waking Verse. I paused and read it. Yep, at 4:30am.

As the anxious thoughts crept in, I repeated the verse in my head.  I was reminded that He has the power over every situation that my loved ones and I face.  I was reminded that I am not in control but He is.  I remembered how many times in the past, He has already done more than I could ask or imagine.  And, I remembered how He does it all for His glory!

In other words, I gave every anxious thought back to Him.  I praised Him for His power over each one.

And, then, I fell into a deep and peaceful sleep until 6:30am.

So, I challenge you to choose your Waking Verse. Please let me know what you choose and how it changes your day.