2025 is the Year of God’s Word at WJTL.
Psalm 23:1-3
The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.
It was Psalm 23 I chose to get baptized with. It brings me peace. It helps me sleep at night, and I love the imagery of Jesus being my Shepherd with me identifying as a sheep.
-Becky Duke from Lebanon
Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Bible to School is working with future generations, and it is wonderful to know God has it under control.
-Kori Pennypacker, CEO of Bible to School
John 4:4
Speaking of Jesus on his way from Judea to Galilee, “Now he had to go through Samaria.”
He went to meet that woman (at the well). That shows me how Jesus looks for us, and that means a lot to me.
-Joanna Jones from Savage, Maryland
Psalm 121
I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip—he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord watches over you—the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all harm—he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.
This whole chapter summarizes the way God watches over us always.
-Amy Newswanger from Lancaster
Romans 5:3 to 6
And not only that, but we also boast in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope. This hope will not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
This passage of Scripture has been close to my heart since age 15. Through trial and tribulation, I find myself rejoicing in my struggles-for when I endure, God is glorified. In His glory, I find the everlasting hope that comes with His love.
-Nicholas Gallagher from Millersville
Psalm 40:1-3
I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the LORD and put their trust in him.
This is so meaningful because God has lifted me out of so many miry pits in my life. And He put a new song in my mouth when He gave me a testimony a couple of years ago through a program called Re:generation. He changed me and gave me true joy for the first time in my life.
-Teresa Weaver from Elizabethtown
Psalm 46:10
Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.
This is my Life Verse because of what I have seen with Hope Inspire Love. Being still is about sinking in, sitting still and being with the Lord. With trafficked survivors, it’s about being present and not missing a moment; it’s about God and waiting for him. God speaks to us and through us when we just sit.
-Amy Thurston from Hope Inspire Love
Mark 12:30-31
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.
This reminds me that being a follower of Jesus can be boiled down to Loving God and Loving Others.
-Fred McNaughton from WJTL
1 Corinthians 15:58
Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
-Don Shenk from The Tide
Matthew 11:28
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
This invitation was meaningful to me at different points in my life, but not until I was 40 did it become my Life Verse. In March 2023, I was hospitalized and in a coma. That was a hard year for me as I lost my Nan Nan (a name for grandma) and my Mom within three months of each other. Both of them were Christian examples for me. Watching their hard journeys until the end of their lives on earth, I knew they found rest from their earthly struggles. I know that when I am struggling my soul can find rest in Jesus.
John 3:16
For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish, but have EVERLASTING LIFE!
This is the first verse I placed in my memory bank as a child. If I ever happen to wonder who loves me, I have the perfect answer. This answer is not only for me but for every person who believes in Him.
Nehemiah 8:10
The joy of the Lord is my strength.
This small phrase within a verse means a lot to me. The truth of it has made a difference in my life and God continues to highlight it with me in unique ways. This joy is beyond being happy or cheerful…..it comes from a deep trust in His goodness and love, which gives me hope regardless of my circumstance.
Psalm 71:18
Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, my God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your mighty acts to all who are to come.
At this stage of the game, I am reminded that I still have purpose to declare His power to the next generation. My graying head and increasingly frail body do not alter my purpose. Through everything, I continue to depend on Him!
Galatians 5:1
It is for freedom that Christ has set you free. Be therefore not entangled by a yoke of slavery.
I work at a faith-based recovery ministry. I love to see men and women experience the freedom that Christ has given them. To watch people actually live a resurrected lifestyle is priceless.
2 Timothy 2:13
If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot disown Himself.
Unlike me, God never changes. He is always who He says He is. He always does what He says He will do. He always IS.
Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
In the Fall of 1992 at Messiah College, in a class called Personal Finance, the professor shared this verse with our class. It was the best thing I learned from the class because I could not live my life fearing death. If I did, I would never really live….Our goal is not to simply stay alive; it is to live and love and give and serve – the way Jesus did those things. (Crucified with Christ).
Lamentations 3:21-23
Yet this I call to mind and therefore, I have hope. Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
My mother-in-law was diagnosed with leukemia in 2003. She died 11 weeks later. I asked God to give me some verses to hold onto, and this is where my Bible opened up. It encouraged me that I would not be consumed with grief and that God loved me and would be faithful every day. I’ve come back to these verses over and over through difficult times.
-Lynette Nisly from Lancaster
Psalm 37: 3-7
Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun. Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.
This passage was given by a mentoring couple to my husband and I when they were dating in college almost 40 years ago. We have seen it come true over and over again in their lives. The hardest part of the verses for me has always been the last one-Be still and wait patiently for Him to act.
-Linda Blocker from Harrisburg
Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
At a low time in my life, opening up the Bible this was the first verse that spoke to me and gave me hope for a better tomorrow. Trusting in God and not in myself and the world around me. It gave me peace.
-Sandra Albright from Mount Wolf
Isaiah 40:31
They who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
This has been my favorite verse since I was a teenager. As my older brother was going through the ups and downs of a terminal illness, my parents showed how to wait on the Lord. Their strength was renewed as they paid attention to the ways God answered their prayers.
When we were younger, my brother and I liked to sit in the woods and identify the birds we saw. I’ve always loved the majestic eagle, so the phrase, ‘they shall mount up on wings as eagles’ is special to me.
-Audrey Haller from Narvon
Psalm 46:10.
Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth.
I like the whole verse, but especially the power in the last part of the verse. God’s got this so just surrender to Him and watch Him work.
-Laura Smith from York
John 15:5
Jesus said, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
Without Jesus, we cannot live, be, or do anything.
-Joann Esch from Gap
Romans 8:31-32
What then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?
These verses bring tears because I do not deserve his grace, but God gave his only Son Jesus to die on the cross for my sins and offers me eternal life. I am so thankful for His Love and care for me!
-Daureen Heffner from Mohnton
Phillipians 4:19
And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.
God continues to provide me with what I need. He has never failed me in His promises.
-Holly Baim from Robesonia
Isaiah 35:10
And those the Lord has rescued will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.
I painted this verse in my kitchen on the wall above my sink. I go there when I feel depression starting… It speaks to my doubts with the message: God rescued me! I am going to enter Heaven with singing. He will give me a crown of Joy forever! Gladness and joy will overtake my sadness and depression. I will be free of sad, doubtful thoughts.
-Ilene Glatfelter of York
Matthew 5:16
Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
I taught in public high school for 20 years and developed close relationships with my students and colleagues. I could not openly share my faith so I trusted the Lord to let my light shine in ways that others could see something different in me. He answered that prayer in so many wonderful ways. I continue to let my light shine in the darkness so that I can point the way to Jesus.
-Shari Steager
Phillipians 4: 7 & 13
7) And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 13) I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
These verses have given me strength through the circumstances of my life. We must come back to the Vine to receive the filling up or recharging-to listen to our Helper, the ever-present Holy Spirit to continue to live more like Christ and actively share His love with the oppressed and proclaim freedom for the captives.
-Joy R. from Harrisburg
Mich 6:8
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
This verse has always gotten me back on the right path when I wanted to veer.
-Beth Bensing from Lebanon
1 Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to man. And 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 endure it.
As a recovering alcoholic, this verse has given me strength over the past 40 years to realize that God is there, and He is faithful to help us overcome any temptation that comes our way as long as we keep our eyes on Him.
-Ray Tryvonich
Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
I’ve always just loved Psalm 23. It makes me all warm inside when I need it, and even when I don’t.
-Deb Sklar from Lancaster
Proverbs 16:9
In their hearts, humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps.
This verse came into my life profoundly at the beginning of 2020. It has ever been more true of us making our plans, but knowing God ultimately determining our steps. Nothing could be more true than this past year when we were surprised by a fourth baby who arrived in January 2025.
-Ashley Ibrahim from Middletown
John 10:27-29
Jesus said, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.”
This statement is meaningful to me because Jesus reminds His followers that we are intricately tied to God. Nothing is going to snatch us from Him. He’s not going to leave us. Because of Him, we have eternal life, and that is going to be AWESOME!
-Mark Wakefield from Harrisburg
Psalm 23:4
Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and staff, they comfort me.
It’s reassuring me that I have nothing to fear because my ABBA in heaven is always with me no matter what I go through in life.
-Vivienne Kham from Austin, Minnesota
Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
This passage has been a great source of encouragement to me for years. It has directed me to think rightly, and to lean on Him who knows all; who is the source of everything; who knows the beginning from the end and can be fully trusted to lead me on the correct path.
-Joanne Huber from Lancaster
Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers and sisters, 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.
I like this verse because it reminds me how important our thoughts are. What we think about affects every part of our lives.
-Jenn Paules from WJTL
Romans 8:28-29
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. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
These verses remind me that God is still in control. He still sits on His throne, and He has selected the chosen for such a time as this. He encourages the saints for be the watchmen for things that are to come.
-David Ruiz from Landisville
Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
In a season of deep grief, I asked my friend a short, complex question that was impacting her even more than me. That question was “Why?”. My friend’s response is forever ingrained in my brain. I quoted these words of wisdom from Proverbs, encouraging Meredith to trust in the Lord with all her heart.
-Meredith Steidler from Lititz
Joshua 1:9.
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.
This verse has guided Jonathan for over 20 years, and it does not stop.
-Jonathan Lehman, director of Embark School of Prayer
John 15:13
Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
Jesus sacrificed his life for FRIENDS. He has set the bar high on how to treat others, and in doing so, has shown there is nothing He isn’t worthy of!
-Jenn Trusty from WJTL
Psalm 46:1
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
God has shown Himself faithful to me and our family without fail.
-Timothy Bonitz Sr. from New Freedom
Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
This is a clear explanation of what it means to be a Christian, a Christ follower.
-Jerry D. Hultstrand from Lancaster
Galatians 6:9
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
We all experience seasons in our lives that feel rainy when doubt and depression pours in. Or we feel dark and empty with confusion and hurt. Or we feel fruitless and wonder ‘does what I do for the Kingdom really matter?’ But God shows us that in His time, the harvest will come. This verse puts trusting God’s timing in perspective and reminds me to keep going in every season.
-Author Rachel D. Lyne from Elizabethtown
Psalm 23:1-4
The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
These verses are meaningful to me because they remind me that God is the good shepherd who does not lead his sheep astray.
-Anthony Woodard from Coatesville
Ephesians 2:10
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
God has looked ahead and knows my future. I will look above and know my God.
-John Manny from Jarrettsville
John 14:6
Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Jesus is the ONLY WAY to the Father. Only Jesus.
-William Daddario from Reading
Romans 8:28
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.
I’ve had quite a few bad moments in my life when I felt hopeless. This verse constantly reminds me that God loves me. He knows what’s happening and He cares about me. He will use the situation for good. He is trustworthy.
-Kelly Good from Ephrata
Philippians 4:6-7
Don’t worry about anything. Instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
I clung to these verses when I was going through breast cancer, remembering that I did not have to worry because God had me. I just needed to pray and thank Him for everything He did for me.
-Patty Snyder from Mount Joy
Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
My Dad shared these verses with me when I was in middle school. He wrote down these verses in each Bible he gave me. These were the words that my parents prayed over my regularly. They inspire me to remember that God IS trustworthy. I do not know the “big picture” of God’s plan. I acknowledge that I just need to trust and walk in the path that God has prepared for me.
-Rachel Edwards from Mechanicsburg
Psalm 37:4
Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
This is the first verse that I memorized as a brand new Christian 35 years ago. It has been a verse that has guided and helped me tremendously.
-Butch Marvin from Quarryville
Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers and sisters, 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.
This verse is special to me because it reminds me to focus on what is right, pure, and Christlike. It is easy to set our sights on the temporary pleasures and distractions of this world. However, when we commit to thinking healthy and positive thoughts, our entire mindset and approach changes. This allows us to live more peaceful, fulfilling and meaningful lives while cultivating respect for ourselves and others.
-Lauren Adams from Stevens
Jeremiah 29:11-13
The LORD declares, For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
I knew that Christ loved me and He would bring me out of my captivity. He would deliver me from my enemy and what held me captive. I was healed from a 27-year cocaine addiction. I have been free now for 13 years. Thank you, Jesus!
-Richard Kuhn Sr. from Elizabethtown
Deuteronomy 30:19
This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live.
Because we are faced everyday with choices, how we live should not be a game of choices. It’s a way taught to us by the words of God that speak to us when we read them.
-Charles Dauberman from Jersey Shore
Romans 4:21
Being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.
This verse is about the promise to Abraham that he would be the “father of many nations.” Yet, “he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead-since he was about 100 years old.” Rather than losing hope, Abraham’s faith was strengthened because he was fully persuaded that God would fulfill His promises. This is a special verse to me because I hope one day, people will say that about my life.
-John Riddell from Quarryville
Zephaniah 3:17
The Lord your God in your midst, The Mighty One will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.
This verse, for the better part, sums up the Gospel for me. It reminds me that my heavenly Father is always with me, even on the tough days when you start to doubt it. The Mighty One, through his son Jesus, saves anyone who will believe.
God sings over me! He sings to ME! It is fitting that we who sing praises to Him are first taught by Him how to sing!
-Jeanne Dickel
Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
God gave me these verses 30 years ago to be my Spiritual compass guiding me. Since then, that verse has guided in many choices over the years, regarding church attendance, places to live, and family issues. It has also been a source of hope in times of depression, sadness, anxiety and fear.
-Troy Whitman from Lebanon
John 10:10
Jesus said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
This verse is meaningful to me because I’ve had a lot of tragedy and adverse circumstances in my life. With eyes of faith, I can see that God has been with me through ALL of it. This verse helps me to see that God ONLY brings life and He can renew and restore what the enemy has stolen. Not only does He bring life; He brings ‘abundant’ life-more than we can think, ask, hope, or imagine. I believe the best song I have ever heard to express this thought is Margaret Becker’s song “Never For Nothing.”
-Karen Reese from Mountville
Romans 8:28
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.
This is one of several verses that helps me deal with the struggles that inevitably come in life, allowing me to view those struggles from a Godly perspective. He always comes through, even in the darkest moments.
-Lanny Millette from Leola
Isaiah 40:31
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.
This verse is meaningnful because of the strength that God gives us for what we go through in our lives.
-Ruth White from New Holland
Psalm 23:4
Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and staff, they comfort me.
It’s reassuring me that I have nothing to fear because my ABBA in heaven is always with me no matter what I go through in life.
-Vivienne Kham from Austin, Minnesota
Hebrews 13:5-6
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 mere mortals do to me?’
This has been my life verse since he was a young teenager. In this crazy world, it’s comforting to me to know that God is always with me and will not abandon me. Verse 6 reminds me that He is right there helping me each day, so I don’t need to be afraid of what man may try to do to me.
-Rick Fry from York
Esther 4:14
Mordecai delivered this message to his cousin Queen Esther as the Jews were facing threats of genocide.
For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?
It reminds me that even though I may not know why I’m here in this world, I can know that God has put me here for a special purpose.
-Angela Blocker from Harrisburg
Psalm 121:1-2
I lift up my eyes to the mountains-where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip—he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord watches over you—the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all harm—he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.
This Psalm reminds me that I need to keep my eyes on God. He is my Deliverer and strength. He is always there with me in every situation.
-Patricia Celsky from Harrisburg
Isaiah 43:1-3
This is what the LORD says-he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
These are several verses that God has used in a hard season of my life. At times it was the only thing that kept me afloat. These verses remind me that God has me and won’t let me go. I am so thankful for God’s Word, His incredible love, and being with me in all seasons of my life.
-Rhonda Reynard from Lititz
Philippians 4: 6, 7, & 13
6-7) Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, 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. 13) I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
This verse reminds me to put all my trust in God and he will take care of me and direct my paths as he is the all powerful God.
-Scott Boorse from West Chester
Exodus 23:20
See, I am sending an angel ahead of you to guard you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared.
This was the first verse that my husband and I learned together when they were dating. Marriage only lasted 24 years. Verse is eternal.
-Barbara Leaman from Lititz
Psalm 46:10
He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
This verse is meaningful because we will know when god is speaking to us.
-Jeff Windle from Quarryville
1 Corinthians 10:31
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
I had to stop eating junk food and be healthy.
-Augustus Greene from Thomson, Georgia