On my birthday a few years ago, I began a yearly tradition of buying a new notebook. This notebook was designated as my “Capturing God’s Word” notebook. I had decided I would open my notebook every time I sat down to read the Bible. I began a habit of writing down Scripture verses that would “stand out” to me as I read. Over time, this became one of my most treasured practices. As I copied Scripture, I would look them up in commentaries, or study key words and phrases in Bible dictionaries. The connections I made caused the Word of God to come alive and speak to me personally. I was learning to hear the voice of God through His Word.

One of the most significant insights that came from this practice was identifying objective truths about the character of God. In the most difficult seasons of my life, I learned how to overcome through holding fast to the truths I gleaned from my time capturing God’s Word. When my fears and doubts tried to tell me lies that were untrue about God, I could go back to what I had written in my notebook about what I knew to be true about God.

Psalm 34 became a powerful reminder of the goodness of God. The truths I learned gave me strength to overcome when thoughts of defeat came my way. Psalm 34 reminds me that God answers and delivers (v. 4). He removes my shame (v.5). When I cry out to Him, He hears and saves (v. 6). He sends His angel to encamp around me (v. 7). His eyes are towards me, and His ears are ever attentive to my cry (15). He draws near when I am brokenhearted, and He saves me when I am crushed in spirit (18). 

No matter what emotions the situations of our lives may evoke in a moment, the powerful reminder of who God is in how He acts and saves in Scripture is a constant reminder that He is the One who helps us overcome.