Samples | Take Time For God's Word

Take Time For God’s Word -- Beginning Today

What did you do last Wednesday? How about one month ago today? It just seems to blend together without clear, specific memories unless there was a trigger event that anchors that date in your memory-- a birthday, a trip, a bonus -- something that immediately comes to mind when that day or date is mentioned.

Take Time for God’s Word is a memorization process which becomes a habit to help you anchor and recall key Bible passages to remind you of God’s continuing presence in your life. The idea is simple: as you see or hear the time (like 3:16), try to recall and mentally recite a matching verse from Scripture. God’s word from the Bible will remind you of His love and may remind you to offer Him a word of thanks or a request for help.
Each of us has specific time dependent activities in our lives -- 6:10 am wake-up, 8:05 am bus or train, 9:15 am meeting, 12:05 lunch, etc. Or, we may just casually check the time to judge how our day is progressing. Begin today by using time (8:05, 10:10, 12:12) to remind you of a verse or Bible story that will give you new strength and joy to continue through the day. For example, 5:16 1st Thessalonians, “Rejoice Always” is a great reminder anytime.

To make it easy, the following list has three verses for each hour from books of the Bible with chapters 1-12. Many of the verses you already know but may not remember the book or chapter. By associating and linking time to the verse it becomes an automatic response. Maybe, as you are getting ready for lunch, you see it is 12:12 and you recall 12:12 Romans, “Be glad for all God is planning for you, be patient in trouble, and prayerful always.” (LB). You probably won’t remember a verse for every minute but try to build up a list of 3-4 verses that come to mind during each hour.

In order to make this a habit in your life, review your current actions when you check the time. Is it to rush here or there? Is it to worry about being late? Is it wishing that quitting time would get here sooner? Begin to replace these habits with the verses you’ve learned and you’ll soon see that God is with you every minute of every day. Just because we get busy and forget about God, He never, ever forgets about us. As we remember His word, He can “re-mind” us and change our thoughts. 5:17 2nd Cor. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, behold, the new has come.” (RSV)

Start Now...Now is the Time! Remember the number (3:16), the book (John), and the first 3-4 words, “For God so loved...”. With a little practice and daily repetition, the rest of the verse will flow into your mind. We are all living on God’s Time and He wants to remind you of His constant love and care as you begin today to Take Time for God’s Word. (Note: all are from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) unless indicated).

1:03	1 Corinthians	Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
1:17	Mark	And Jesus said to them, "Follow me and I will make you fish for people."
1:21	Philippians	For to me, living is Christ and dying is gain.

2:08	Ephesians	For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God--
2:14	Philippians	Do all things without murmuring and arguing,
2:20	Galatians	and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

3:16	John	For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.
3:20	Revelations	Listen! I am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to you and eat with you, and you with me.
3:23	Colossians	Whatever your task, put yourselves into it, as done for the Lord and not for your masters,

4:02	Colossians	Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving.
4:04	Philippians	Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.
4:13	Philippians	I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

5:07	2 Corinthians	for we walk by faith, not by sight.
5:11	1 Thessalonians	Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing.
5:16	1 Thessalonians	Rejoice always,

6:07	Ephesians	Render service with enthusiasm, as to the Lord and not to men and women,
6:10	Ephesians	Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power.
6:21	Matthew	For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

7:01	Matthew	Do not judge, so that you may not be judged.
7:07	Matthew	Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you.
7:24	Matthew	Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.

8:01	Romans	There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
8:09	Psalms	O LORD, our Sovereign, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
8:28	Romans	We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.

9:01	Psalm	I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.
9:08	2 Corinthians	And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work.
9:24	Luke	For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will save it.

10:07	Matthew	As you go, proclaim the good news, 'The kingdom of heaven has come near.'
10:13	Romans	For, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."
10:39	Matthew	Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.

11:03	Luke	Give us each day our daily bread.
11:24	Mark	So I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
11:28	Mat	Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.

12:09	Romans	Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good;
12:12	Romans	Be glad for all God is planning for you. Be patient in trouble and prayerful always. (LB)
12:21	Romans	Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Take these verses as a reminder throughout the day to Take Time for God’s Word. Within a few days these verses will become part of your daily thoughts. You will be amazed at how this heavenly view of daily tasks will change your perspective and how that new view on life will make a difference for you and for God. Enjoy your new habit. May it last a lifetime and more!

In the Download Links Section, there are further examples, printed reminders, and lessons from the Bible Study series to give you a better idea of the types of information and materials which you can find here. Feel free to use them and share them with others.