I recall a lesson God taught me when someone made some cutting remarks to me. Struggling to have a right response, I sent an SOS to God, “Please, give me a verse!”

Years ago, a five-year-old boy heard a missionary speak about all the people in the world who didn’t have God’s Word. He decided he wanted to pray for one of these language communities, so he began praying each Sunday afternoon for God to send missionaries to the Rapa Nui people on Easter Island. His mom and dad would smile each time they heard his fervent prayer.

“I don’t think there’s ever been an article that I’ve written that has been more than 95 percent for the Lord. There’s always some bit of self in it,” a Christian writer confessed.

“Recently I was quite anxious about a particular, painful circumstance in my life,” wrote Cynthia Heald in her book Becoming a Woman of Freedom. She said she prayed as she had never prayed before but remained anxious and unable to experience the peace of God.

Phillip Henry had a great idea for daily meditation. Two hundred years ago, he advised his children to take a verse of Psalm 119 every morning to meditate on, and so go over the Psalm twice in the year. “That will bring you to be in love with all the rest of the Scriptures,” Mr. Henry promised.

Phoebe Palmer in The Promise of the Father wrote of receiving an impression to speak a word for the Lord. She hesitated and decided to pray about it first.

I’ve discovered a phrase from the psalmist that has repeatedly been a resting place for my spirit: “All things serve you” (Psalm 119:91).

“His sermon was a masterpiece.” “What skillful delivery from a teenager.” John’s sermon had been impressive. We admired this young man of our congregation who was showing such promise.