I’m Kayla. I write reviews for things I’ve tried, but this time my “thing” wasn’t a gadget. It was a small stack of Bible verses and a simple plan. I used them every day for six weeks to shape my choices, my work, and my mood. Some days felt holy. Some felt flat. Both count.
Along the way, I found encouragement in an earlier story from Barnabas—I Tried Living With Purpose Using Bible Verses. Here’s What Actually Helped—which felt like a pep talk whenever my sticky notes lost their spark.
My Tiny Setup (nothing fancy, promise)
- I used the YouVersion app and a paper Bible with lots of coffee stains.
(Reading about someone who literally lived with the NKJV for half a year—here’s what happened—reminded me that simple can still be strong.) - Each morning, I picked one verse about purpose.
- I wrote it on a sticky note.
- I asked, “What’s one thing I can do with this today?”
- I checked in at night. No shame if I missed. Just a note.
You know what? The sticky notes helped more than the app. Seeing the words on my fridge beat another push alert.
Proverbs 16:3 — I Needed a Work Reset
“Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.”
Monday, 8:12 a.m. Slack pings. A client wants “just one more change.” Scope creep, that old friend. I took 60 seconds, said a short prayer, and wrote one line: “Today’s goal: ship draft, not perfect.” I told the client what I could and could not do by 5. We hit send at 4:56. Not fancy. But I felt steady.
That craving for a reboot echoed the wisdom in this honest take on Bible verses about new beginnings, reminding me that fresh starts often begin with a single boundary.
Small note: I treated that verse like a tiny KPI. One goal, clear win.
Micah 6:8 — Purpose That Looks Like Groceries
“Do justice, love mercy, walk humbly with your God.”
I kept saying I’d help more. Then I’d scroll. That Thursday, I read this verse, grabbed my keys, and showed up at the food pantry down the street. I loaded rice and canned beans into bags. A mom thanked me in Spanish. I’m rusty, but I tried. We laughed over my bad accent. I drove home with tired legs and a light heart. Purpose can look like shelf-stable milk and a creaky cart.
Ephesians 2:10 — My Craft Table Isn’t Random
“We are his workmanship… created for good works.”
I run a tiny craft shop on the side. Some weeks I chase trends and feel lost. This verse sat by my sewing machine. So I made three pieces I care about instead of ten that I don’t. Sales were lower. Peace was higher. Odd trade. Worth it.
Matthew 6:33 — First Things First (even before coffee)
“Seek first the kingdom of God…”
I used to start my day with email. Heart rate: high. So I tried a five-minute pause. One psalm. One prayer. Then coffee and the chaos. My Sunday night worry dropped a notch. Not gone—just softer, like the TV volume turned down.
Colossians 3:23 — The Hard Email Test
“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord…”
A coworker sent a sharp email. You know the kind. I wanted to clap back. Instead, I waited 20 minutes, re-read this verse, and wrote with respect. Clear. Firm. No sting. My boss later said, “Thanks for the tone.” I rolled my eyes at myself but smiled too.
Psalm 90:12 — Number Your Days, Not Your DMs
“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”
I made a simple time block. Two hours deep work. Thirty minutes admin. Phone stays in the drawer. That day, I said no to a random meeting and yes to a walk with my kid after school. We saw a red maple leaf shaped like a tiny hand. Fall in the Midwest hits like that—quiet and bright.
Proverbs 19:21 — Plans, Meet Reality
“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but the Lord’s purpose prevails.”
My launch got delayed. Vendor issue. Old me would spiral. I wrote this verse on a blue sticky note and stuck it to my laptop. I still pushed the fixes, but I let go of the panic. I slept that night. That felt new.
Romans 12:2 — Brain Ruts Are Real
“Be transformed by the renewing of your mind…”
I kept looping on a fear: “You’re behind.” So I swapped that thought when it showed up. Out loud, like a weirdo in my car: “Nope. I’m learning.” After two weeks, the loop ran less. Not magic. More like new grooves on an old road.
Philippians 2:13 — Not Just Willpower
“It is God who works in you to will and to act…”
This helped when my morning run went cold. I asked God for the want-to, not just the get-it-done. The next day didn’t feel easy. But I tied my shoes. Small wins stack.
The Honest Parts I Didn’t Love
- Some days the verse felt far. Like radio static.
- I got stuck cherry-picking. A line here, a line there. On weekends, I read the whole chapter to get the full picture. That helped.
- I tried to turn it into a streak. That felt fake. I dropped the streak mindset and kept the habit.
Real Life Moments That Shaped Me
- I cried in the car after a tough call. I whispered Psalm 23 like a child. It steadied my breath.
- A neighbor needed help with her flat tire. Micah 6:8 pushed me off the couch. We both smelled like rubber and rain. We laughed anyway.
- I taught my kid Colossians 3:23 while we cleaned Lego bricks. We worked “with all our heart.” We also ate cookies. Balance.
Who This Helped Most (from what I saw)
- Students who feel pulled in five directions.
- Parents with noisy homes and tired bones.
- Freelancers with weird hours.
- Anyone stuck between “busy” and “why.”
If You Want to Try It, Here’s a Simple Start
If you’d like more practical guides and devotional ideas to keep you going, visit Barnabas.net for a well of simple, Scripture-rooted resources.
- Pick one verse per week. Keep it short.
- Write it where you’ll see it: fridge, lock screen, steering wheel (not kidding).
- Ask one question: “What’s one move I can make today with this verse?”
- Tell a friend. Text them your move. Ask theirs.
On the flip side, life with purpose doesn’t have to feel monastic 24/7. I noticed that carving out a quick, playful break for real-time conversation restored my energy for study—if you ever need that kind of instant human connection, you can drop into a live cam space where friendly faces are available around the clock to brighten your mood before you dive back into the day.
By the way, if you’re in or around the Blue Ridge and want a snapshot of what’s unfolding offline—yard-sales, odd jobs, even last-minute volunteer calls—you can skim the local listings on Bedpage Roanoke for a quick, consolidated look at opportunities without bouncing between a dozen different community boards.
Starter verses I used:
- Proverbs 16:3
- Micah 6:8
- Matthew 6:33
- Ephesians 2:10
- Colossians 3:23
- Psalm 90:12
- Proverbs 19:21
- Romans 12:2
- Philippians 2:13
My Takeaway, Plain and Simple
These verses didn’t make my life neat. They made it honest. They gave me small rails to run on, one day at a time. Work felt cleaner. Service felt closer. Worry felt smaller. Not gone—just smaller.
Would I keep going? Yes. But slower. One verse a week. One action a day. And a lot of sticky notes.
If you try this, I hope your purpose looks like joy with good shoes on—ready to move, even on muddy days.