Influences

After I entered into a relationship with God, one of the first spiritual disciplines I started practicing was to memorize scripture. Looking back, I am now able to see how memorizing and meditating on scripture completely changed the foundation on which I built my life.

Below are the pieces of Scripture which have had the greatest impact and influence on my life. The decisions I make today continue to be grounded in the convictions I developed as I memorized and meditated on these verses.
You'll notice the verses come from multiple different translations. The reason for this is that God showed me at an early point that I shouldn't get so caught up in the translation I was using, but that it was more important I understand the meaning of the verse and let it guide my life.

It is my plan to blog on the various verses that have had the greatest impact on my life. If there is a hyperlink included with the verse, you can click on the link to see my thoughts on that specific verse.

Accomplishment

Effectiveness

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. (James 5:16 NIV)
We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly man who does his will. (John 9:31 NIV)

God's Grace

Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (Hebrews 4:16 NIV)
But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them–yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. (1 Corinthians 15:10 NIV)

Infinite Accomplishment

Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. (Ephesians 3:20 NLT)
Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know. (Jeremiah 33:3 NKJV)

Behavior

Be Intentional

So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified. (1 Corinthians 9:26-27 NLT)
Give your complete attention to these matters. Throw yourself into your tasks so that everyone will see your progress. (1 Timothy 4:15 NLT)

Kindness / Gentleness / Forgiveness

Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. (1 Peter 3:8-9 NIV)
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. (Ephesians 4:2 NIV)
Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. (Ephesians 4:31-32 NIV)
Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. (Colossians 3:12-13 NIV)

Parenting

Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it. (Proverbs 22:6 NIV)
Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. (Ephesians 6:4 NIV)

Patience / Waiting for God

Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD. (Psalm 27:14 NIV)
But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. (Isaiah 40:31 NIV)

Persistence / Don't Get Tired / Give Your All

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord. (1 Corinthians 15:58 NASB)
"Come to me, all of you who are tired and are carrying heavy loads. I will give you rest. Become my servants and learn from me. I am gentle and free of pride. You will find rest for your souls. Serving me is easy, and my load is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30 NIV)
He gives strength to those who are tired. He gives power to those who are weak. (Isaiah 40:29 NIV)
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. (Colossians 3:23-24 NIV)

Serve/Love Others

“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45 (NASB)
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another. (John 13:34-35 NASB)
Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth. (1 John 3:18 NASB)
Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. (Philippians 2:3-4 NASB)
And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:39-40 NIV)
Whoever wants to be first must take last place and be the servant of everyone. (Mark 9:35b NLT)
But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else. (Mark 10:43-44 NLT)

Speaking / Listening

The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. (Proverbs 18:21 NIV)
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. (Ephesians 4:29 NIV)
He who answers before listening, that is his folly and his shame. (Proverbs 18:13 NIV)
My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. (James 1:19 NIV)

Thought Life

The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace… (Romans 8:6 NIV)
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things. (Philippians 4:8 NIV)

Disciplines

Confess Sin

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9 NIV)
He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, But he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion. (Proverbs 28:13 NIV)

Count the Cost

But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ (Philippians 3:7-8 NIV)
Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me… (Matthew 10:37 NIV)

Fear the Lord

But be sure to fear the LORD and faithfully serve him. Think of all the wonderful things he has done for you. (1 Samuel 12:24 NLT)
Fear of the LORD is the foundation of true wisdom. All who obey his commandments will grow in wisdom. Praise him forever! (Psalms 111:10 NLT)

Fellowship

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another–and all the more as you see the Day
approaching. (Hebrews 10:24-25 NIV)

God's Word

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIV)
Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. (Joshua 1:8 NIV)
How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your word. Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You. (Psalm 119:9,11 NASB)
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12 NIV)
So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. (Isaiah 55:11 NIV)
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. I have taken an oath and confirmed it, that I will follow your righteous laws. (Psalm 119:105-106 NIV)

Love God

"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. (Matthew 22:36-38 NIV)

Make Disciples

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. (Matthew 28:19-20 NASB)

Maturity / Skill Development

Solid food is for those who are mature, who have trained themselves to recognize the difference between right and wrong and then do what is right. (Hebrews 5:14 NIV)
Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults. (1 Corinthians 14:20 NIV)

Memorize & Meditate on Scripture

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be shamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15 NIV)
The law of his God is in his heart; his feet do not slip. (Psalms 37:31)
These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. (Deuteronomy 6:6-7 NIV)
My son, keep my words and store up my commands within you. Keep my commands and you will live; guard my teachings as the apple of your eye. Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart. (Proverbs 7:1-3 NIV)
Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law, he meditates day and night. (Psalm 1:1-2 NIV)

Obedience / Discipline

Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him. (John 14:21 NIV)
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. (James 1:22 NIV)
No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. (Hebrews 12:11 NIV)
Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil. (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 NIV)

Prayer

If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. (John 15:7 NIV)
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7 NIV)
Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete. (John 16:24 NIV)
Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. (Romans 12:12 NIV)
Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV)
Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. (Luke 18:1 NLT)
Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. (Colossians 4:2 NLT)

Seeking after God

“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (Matthew 6:33 NASB)
And He was saying to them all, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. (Luke 9:23 NASB)
Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. (Psalms 37:4 NIV)
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. (Jeremiah 29:13 NIV)

Separate from the World

Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. (1 John 2:15-16 NASB)
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:2 NASB)

Faith

Faith & Good Works

Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith. (Galatians 6:9-10 NASB)
"Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 5:16 NASB)
Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. (James 2:21-22 NIV)
Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. (James 3:13 NIV)

Trusting God / Faith

The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, because he trusts in You (Isaiah 26:3 NASB)
And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6 NASB)
Yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform. (Romans 4:20-21 NASB)
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV)

Struggles in Life

God will Fight for You

The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still. (Exodus 14:14 NIV)
For the LORD your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory. (Deuteronomy 20:4 NIV)

Spiritual Warfare

Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. (Ephesians 6:11-12 NIV)
For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. (2 Corinthians 10:3-4 NIV)

Temptation

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. (1 Corinthians 10:13 NIV)
Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak. (Matthew 26:41 NIV)
For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted. (Hebrews 2:18 NASB)

Trials / Testing / Suffering / Weaknesses

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. (James 1:2-4 NIV)
That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:10 NIV)
Until the time came to fulfill his word, the LORD tested Joseph's character. (Psalm 105:19 NIV)
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. (Romans 8:26 NIV)
But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. (2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV)

The Big Picture

God's Plan / The Prize

In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps. (Proverbs 16:9 NIV)
Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:13-14 NIV)
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. (1 Corinthians 9:24 NIV)

Mind of God

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.“ (Isaiah 55:8-9 NIV)
Who has understood the mind of the LORD, or instructed him as his counselor? Whom did the LORD consult to enlighten him, and who taught him the right way? Who was it that taught him knowledge or showed him the path of understanding? (Isaiah 40:13-14 NIV)

The Future / Tomorrow

Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that.” (James 4:13-15 NIV)
Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth. (Proverbs 27:1 NIV)

Understand God's Plan

Carefully determine what pleases the Lord. (Ephesians 5:10 NLT)
Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. (Ephesians 5:17 NLT)

Understanding My Nature

The Heart

The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? (Jeremiah 17:9 NIV)
This is the evil in everything that happens under the sun: The same destiny overtakes all. The hearts of men, moreover, are full of evil and there is madness in their hearts while they live, and afterward they join the dead. (Ecclesiastes 9:3 NIV)

Our Desires

For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. (Philippians 2:13 NLT)
So we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of his call. May he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do. (2 Thessalonians 1:11 NLT)

Work & Money

Be Fair

There is joy for those who deal justly with others and always do what is right. (Psalms 106:3 NLT)
Good comes to those who lend money generously and conduct their business fairly. Such people will not be overcome by evil. Those who are righteous will be long remembered. (Psalms 112:5-6 NLT)

Be Faithful

Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. (Luke 16:10 NIV)
A faithful man will be richly blessed, but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished. (Proverbs 28:20 NIV)

Contentment

But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. (1 Timothy 6:6-8 NIV)
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can
man do to me?” (Hebrews 13:5-6 NIV)

Fear / Worry

For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, ͞Abba, Father. (Romans 8:15 NIV)
For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. (2 Timothy 1:7 NIV)
Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? (Matthew 6:25 NIV)
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6:34 NIV)

Giving / Generosity

Honor the Lord from your wealth and from the first of all your produce; So your barns will be filled with plenty and your vats will overflow with new wine. (Proverbs 3:9-10 NASB)
Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. (2 Corinthians 9:6-7 NASB)
Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way, they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. (1 Timothy 6:18-19 NIV)
Some give freely but get even richer. Others don't give what they should but get even poorer. (Proverbs 11:24 NIV)
Anyone who is kind to poor people lends to the Lord. God will reward him for what he has done. (Proverbs 19:17 NIV)

Honesty / Integrity

You shall not steal, nor deal falsely, nor lie to one another. (Leviticus 19:11 NASB)
In view of this, I also do my best to maintain always a blameless conscience both before God and before men. (Acts 24:16 NASB)

Money

But the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. (Mark 4:19 NIV)
The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender. (Proverbs 22:7 NIV)
Give portions to seven, yes to eight, for you do not know what disaster may come upon the land. (Ecclesiastes 11:2 NIV)

Work / Toil

Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun. (Ecclesiastes 2:11 NIV)
What does a man get for all the toil and anxious striving with which he labors under the sun? All his days his work is pain and grief; even at night his mind does not rest. This too is meaningless. (Ecclesiastes 2:22-23 NIV)