In January, I look forward by looking back. This sharpens my vision on the big picture and clears my thinking about the things that are most important to me.
Dawson Trotman, founder of The Navigators, memorized 20 verses before he decided to follow Christ. He knew 10 on salvation and 10 on how Christians grow. With those in his mind, the Holy Spirit was able to use them in Dawson’s thoughts. One day while Daws was walking to work, the Spirit used John 5:24 to get his attention. He had memorized it in the King James Version.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
Daws prayed, “O God, whatever this means, I want to have it.”
The next verse he reviewed was John 1:12.
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.
Again, Daws prayed, “O God, whatever it means to receive Jesus, I want to do it right now.”
While I prefer to memorize in a more modern translation of the Bible, my heart resonates with the words of Daws. I want to set my heart and my thoughts on God’s Word this year. Whatever this means, I want more of God and His Words in my life.
Resource
This story of Dawson Trotman’s conversion comes from the biography Daws by Betty Skinner https://www.navpress.com/p/daws/9780891097969
