Every morning I wake up, brush my teeth, do my makeup, fix my hair and write letters on my hand. These letter aren’t just letters; together, they mean something. This simple and, to some, silly part of my morning routine is how I learn a scripture a day.

Let’s face it, we are busy individuals. Our mind races against the clock each day to accomplish all that has to be done, and if you work with kids, like I do, you know your thoughts are scattered -- from who fell off the swing to who ate Tim’s week old cookie he pulled out of his pocket. It’s truly hard to allow your thoughts to dwell on things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent or praiseworthy when you can’t even recall scripture to help back you up when the opposite of what was just listed creeps in the holes of your mind.

I remember when I was 12, my Wednesday night teacher said we would receive a big prize the next week if we could recite Psalms 23 completely. I studied that chapter like my entire life depended on it. I learned it, and can even say it now with ease. Why did that drive to study the word in-depth fade out? Sometimes, we think reading our Bible is enough, doing nightly devotions is all we need to hear and going to church on Sundays will surely promise security in our relationship with Christ. It’s like we shut our Bible at night and, in turn, we close off a word that's needed to be heard or remembered for later reference.

You see, all scripture was breathed out by God and is profitable for teaching, reproof, correction and training. Will just that surface level relationship allow you to speak authority over a dreadful situation, or quote God’s words or make your enemy run and flee? Most likely not. You see, David said: “I have hid thine word in my heart so that I might not sin against God.” I merely wish to do the same -- what comes out of your mouth usually is what fills your heart. I wish to do justly, love mercy, walk humbly amongst others and be a source of encouragement, joy and wisdom.

I can’t be the uplifter if I do not study the ways and words of the most high. For His thoughts are not ours thoughts and His ways are not our ways, they are far higher as the heavens are to the earth, and when we come to realization that His words are truly sweet like honey we wish our vocabulary to be filled with nothing less than words that are refreshing to the spirit. When we know God, truly know Him, we establish a level of authority over our enemy. We can speak peace over our past, plead protection for our present and hope for our future in correspondence with His word.

Becoming more knowledgeable on what He has said will also allow the realization of how truly great He is. We see Him work daily in our own lives and in our own situations, but when we see what He did in someone else that was deemed impossible, we are infatuated with His goodness. We also develop more conviction the more we know, and when we abide with Him and His words whatever is asked shall be given.

I always see “famous” scriptures being used, and never the ones that are just as important, but fall through the cracks. I chose to learn that which I do not already know from being raised in church. Every time I glance down to recite the scripture in my head, I am allowing the seed that was planted at such a young age in church to grow and develop into, not merely just letters and words, but a lifestyle -- a lifelong journey of commitment to learn His ways, words and works. Once this learning method is put into action you will notice your conversations will become likeminded with Christ, and it will become easier to refer to scripture just as I have this entire article.