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What 5 Scriptures Need To Be In Your Office To Build Yourself Up?

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If there’s one essential quality in successful ministry leaders, it’s a passion for God’s Word. You can keep your priorities, manage your time, and delegate all the right responsibilities but without a solid foundation everything can come tumbling down. At Jim Wideman’s Infuse 11 retreat, he asked the question, “What 5 Scriptures need to be in your office to build yourself up?” Here is a quick process for determining which passages you need to ask God to impress in your heart.

First, determine where you are currently. Are you struggling with a specific sin or temptation? Are you in a season where you need encouragement? Do you need to focus on one of God’s promises?

Next, decide where you want to be. Is there something holding you back from reaching your potential? Is there a promise found in God’s Word that can push you closer to the person God made you to be? Is there a fear holding you back that the Bible can speak into?

Research and listen to the Spirit. Jump over to Bible Gateway and type in a keyword or two to begin researching. Check out different translations and ask the Spirit to speak to your heart through His word. Remember that whatever you feed will grow.

Write down the 5 scriptures that need to be in your office post them visually. Place them somewhere that you will read them regularly and consider creating some digital graphics for your desktop or background.

For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. Hebrews 4:12

A Useful Scripture Memory Tool Endorsed By Me

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Do you wish you had the willpower to memorize Scripture? Do you find it challenging to commit your favorite passages to memory? If you’re like most people who believe in the Bible, you wish you knew more verses by heart but have not taken the time to study. I recently found a scripture memory tool that works for me; membands. 

Membands are silicone wristbands that help the wearer memorize a verse. Embossed on the outside of the bracelet are capital letters, the scripture reference, and the membands logo. For example, I am currently wearing a memband that says, “TIMCBSACDNBAODFTLYGIWYWYG.” Embossed on the inside of the bracelet the verse is written out, “This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

When I first put the bracelet on, it looks like a secret code, but after a few hours, there is a breakthrough where I can easily look at the letters and remember the verse. After a day or so of glancing at my wrist while holding a coffee, driving down the road, or going for a walk I am always surprised that the verse is committed to memory. Then as the week is over, I can delight in knowing a new verse and can give this bracelet to someone who needs to hear the verse.

Membands are one of the many tools out there to help you focus on God’s Word. Over the last month, this method has proven itself to work for me. The company has plans to launch a Smartphone App to track shared bands and they are even looking into a subscription plan. If you’re looking for an easy way to hide God’s word in your heart, check out membands. 

 

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7 Powerful Bible Verses That Will Challenge Every Student

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In a world where students lives are saturated with digital distractions and false messages, how do you speak truth that will impact their decisions and attitude? Here is a promise you need to remember: “The word of God is alive and active…It cuts deep enough to separate soul from spirit…It judges the thoughts and purposes of the heart.” If you want to challenge a student to shift from the cultural norm and develop their own personal authentic faith, I believe you need to begin speaking and challenging them with the very words of God.

Here are 7 powerful Bible verses that you can begin reading with your students. Challenge them to meditate on these words, asking God to speak to their hearts. Encourage students to commit these passages to memory and you yourself do the same.

Psalm 119:9-10
How can a young person keep their life pure? By living according to your word. I trust in you with all my heart. Don’t let me wander away from your commands.

Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Do not depend on your own understanding. In all your ways obey him. Then he will make your paths smooth and straight.

Matthew 22:37-39
Jesus replied, “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. Love him with all your mind.’ This is the first and most important commandment. And the second is like it. ‘Love your neighbor as you love yourself.’”

1 John 3:18
Dear children, don’t just talk about love. Put your love into action. Then it will truly be love.

Proverbs 13:20
Walk with wise people and become wise. A companion of foolish people suffers harm.

1 Timothy 4:12
Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young. Set an example for the believers in what you say and in how you live. Also set an example in how you love and in what you believe. Show the believers how to be pure.

Proverbs 15:1
A gentle answer turns anger away. But mean words stir up anger.