Eight Power Verses to Memorize This Year

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Many of us know what I often call the “coffee cup” Bible verses — those so popular you often see them on a T-shirt, coffee cup, or notecard. They’re popular for a reason, as they crystallize the important tenets of our faith and remind us of critical truths.

For example, few Christians are unfamiliar with John 3:16, which proclaims, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Another popular verse is Jeremiah 29:11, “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’”

Then there’s Philippians 4:13, “I can do all this through him who gives me strength,” and John 10:10, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

We know the Bible is the word of God, and all of it is useful (2 Timothy 3:16-17). But I have my own list of special Bible verses, passages of Scripture I cling to when I need to remember the most important elements of my own faith. When times are tough, these can be a rallying cry, cheering me on as I strive to push past difficulties or other obstacles to do God’s work.
 Here, I share a list of eight important Bible verses I think everyone should learn this year — and why.

1. A Verse of Rest

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30).

This verse is a comforting one. Jesus has been speaking to those who are concerned — is Jesus really the promised Messiah? How do we, as disciples, drive out spirits in Jesus’ name? Here, he’s offering us the peace he knows we so desperately need, the peace of resting fully and perfectly in the strong arms of our Creator. He’s telling us that when we choose the “Jesus way,” we will find that peace in the depths of our souls.

Many of us today are exhausted. Perhaps we’re so busy with the demands of life that we have little time to bask in what is important: the Lord and his work. Some of us are under spiritual attack, or we face a challenging physical, emotional, or mental burden.  

It’s so important to remember that we can find rest — true rest — only in Jesus. Everything else is a substitution or secondary.

2. A Verse of Love

“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me’” (Matthew 25:40).

It can sometimes be easy to love people we like, such as family members and friends, kind neighbors, or easygoing coworkers. But what about the harder-to-like people in our midst? The nasty clerk at the store, the road-raging driver behind us, the smelly guy on the street with a cardboard sign and a scowl? What about people who have committed atrocious crimes or said something rotten behind our back?

We know God wants us to love him first and, second, to love others as ourselves. But we don’t always know what that looks like, or why it’s so important to God. This Bible verse illuminates that “why.” It’s actually an act of love for Jesus.

This is a wonderful source of reassurance, because love can be a difficult word to grasp. Here, he’s telling us when we care for others, particularly “the least” — those who have little to nothing, who need food, water, clothing, or shelter, or those who are in prison — this is how we care for Jesus. This is what love looks like in real life.

We can find comfort in knowing that loving and showing appreciation for God finds its deepest expression in caring service.

3. A Verse on God’s Timeless Nature

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).

Today’s world can be, well, crazy. Values are often completely out of alignment with God’s ways and laws. Often, we seek personal happiness and pleasure above all else. Strip malls and fast-food restaurants surround us instead of timeless hills and valleys. Plastic pollutes our rivers and oceans. Everything seems like it’s on one speed: mega-fast.

This verse reminds us that we who follow Christ are children of the Lord. Our savior is God’s Son, Emmanuel — “God with us.” He is beyond time and space, beyond death and human control. And best of all, in a world of constant chaos, he never changes.

He’s the one thing upon which we can all count.

Everything else can fall away, crumbling to dust. But Christ is eternal.

4. A Verse on God’s Sovereignty

“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth” (Psalm 46:10).

This is another hugely reassuring verse. Here, God tells us we don’t have to do a single thing except be still and simply know we serve the Great I Am, master of all creation. Like the verse before this, God is timeless and unchanging. Indeed, he created time. He created you and me! He is the Great I Am, regardless of our own personal feelings and regardless of anything we might do, say, or think.

Indeed, this verse reminds us we don’t have to do anything beyond settling down into perfect, absolute stillness — God is who God is, and he is this way despite anything else.

What a comfort this truth is.

5. A Verse on God’s Glory and Purpose

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).

Most of us who have lived enough years on this earth can testify that bad things happen to good people. Indeed, Jesus told us we should expect hardship as his followers.

Yet we can trust that for those of us who love him, even our most difficult tragedies will be used by God for his good purpose. This applies even to situations that claim our own life. God will use it for good.

We might not experience or even witness for ourselves the good that will follow, but somewhere and somehow, we can trust that God’s good purpose is at work and will prevail.

6. A Verse on Our Ultimate Job

“We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us” (2 Corinthians 5:20).

Who do you represent? We might be such a huge fan of a certain sports team that we wear the jersey and adorn our vehicle in banners and colors, clearly informing the world about our allegiance. We buy season tickets to the games or gather neighbors every weekend to watch our team play.

Or maybe it’s something else — maybe we’re so committed to a political party, club, or corporation that its interests become merged with our own.

There’s nothing wrong with being a sports fan or a club member, and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with a little innocent fun.

But if we are Christians, let’s remember who we really represent: Jesus Christ. He comes before any sports team, political party, or club membership. And if we’re not living our lives in a way that points to him and leads others to him, we’re not doing our jobs right as his representatives.

This verse reminds us that the things of this world are temporary, and we need to keep our hearts and lives centered on what is really important: the Lord.

Indeed, we have a big job to do: represent Christ on earth. Jesus tells us we are to go and make disciples throughout the world (Matthew 28:19) and that others will know us by our love for one another (John 13:35). Here, Paul gives us a title for that job: ambassador. Representative. It’s a comfort to know what is expected of us.

7. A Verse on Advice

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Check any bookstore and you’ll find the self-help section chock full of advice. Indeed, there’s so much so-called wisdom out there in the world that it can be difficult to know which path to follow. Competing voices and guidance becomes confusing.

But when we are troubled or confused about what to do (or not do), we can take comfort in knowing there’s one voice that stands above the rest: the Lord’s.

God tells us specifically through this verse that we should lean on him, acknowledge him as our Lord, and have faith that he will handle the situation for his good purpose. We don’t have to figure things out on our own.

If we lean on God, God will lead the way.

8. A Verse on Protection

“Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes” (Ephesians 6:11).

Make no mistake: Spiritual warfare is very real. Despite what some will say, demons aren’t an old-fashioned way of describing mental illness or epilepsy. The devil and his minions truly are at work in the world, and they are our enemy. As 1 Peter 5:8 says, “Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” He’s real, and he’s scary.

But he’s also no match for the Lord, and we who belong to Jesus can take tremendous comfort in this. This verse lets us know that we don’t face the devil and his schemes on our own. God gives his children armor — the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shield of faith, and more — to help strengthen us and fight the evil one.

We have protection.

Wherever you find yourself right now, whether it’s a season of plenty or a season of despair, pray on these verses and know that you are never alone. God is with you every step of the way, and his holy word is there to help.

Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Tonktiti

Jessica Brodie is an award-winning Christian novelist, journalist, editor, blogger, and writing coach. She is also the editor of the South Carolina United Methodist Advocate, the oldest newspaper in Methodism. Her Christian contemporary novel, The Memory Garden, released this spring and has been in the top ten Christian women’s fiction and Christian contemporary books on Amazon; book two in the series releases this fall. Learn more about Jessica’s writing ministry and read her faith blog at https://jessicabrodie.com. She has a YouTube devotional, and you can also connect with her on Facebook, Instagram, and more. She’s also produced a free eBook, A God-Centered Life: 10 Faith-Based Practices When You’re Feeling Anxious, Grumpy, or Stressed.