Out of 100 people surveyed, what is the top answer to this question, “What is your favorite Refrigerator Verse?” And the survey says:

No. 5 – Philippians 4:6 Don’t worry about anything. Pray about everything.

No. 4 – Joshua 24:15 As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

No. 3 – Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.

No. 2 – Romans 8:28 All things work together for good to them that love God, and are the called according to His purpose.

Drum roll, please…

No. 1 – Jeremiah 29:11 – For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

The survey respondents included mothers, dads, grandparents, teenagers, teachers, professors, retail workers, office workers, construction workers, business owners, health care providers, the sick, the healthy, the hurting – people from many ‘walks of life’ who can find peace through God’s Word in the midst of what may often be difficult circumstances in their lives. But… all shared a ‘hunger’ for the Word of God.

Some other top choices that would be great Refrigerator Verses include: • 1 Peter 5:7 • Matthew 7:7 • Psalm 46:10 • Colossians 4:2 • John 3:16 • 1 Corinthians 13:13 • James 4:7-8 • 2 Corinthians 5:7 • Matthew 6:33   • Isaiah 40:31 • Philippians 4:13 • Ephesians 2:8

Yes, there is homework to do – looking these verses up! However, it will score a 100 percent blessing.

Deuteronomy 6:6-9 says that God’s Word should be in our hearts. We should teach them to our children, we should talk of them when we are sitting at home, when we walk by the way, when we lie down, and when we get up. We should write them on the posts of our house.

Having a Refrigerator Verse in our homes is an effective and wonderful way to hide God’s Word in our hearts. Just like we have to open up our refrigerator in order to get to the food, we need to open up God’s Word in order to get spiritual nourishment, because Jesus is the bread of life (John 6:35) and the hungry soul will be filled with what is good. (Psalm 107:9)

Join me in this challenge: Write down a verse each week and post it on your refrigerator – or anywhere in your home. Talk about the verse – while sitting, walking, lying down, and getting up. Encourage each other to memorize the verse. By the end of a year, your family will have memorized 52 verses. This time of focusing on Bible verses as a family will provide easy education, encouraging encounters, excellent examples, and everlasting effects. It can be a life changer.

A few years ago, I recommended Friend no. 1 to clean Friend no. 2’s house once a week. Friend no. 1 began telling me what a great inspiration Friend no. 2 was to her. I became curious, thinking that my Friend no. 2 had never met my Friend no. 1, but always just left the key for her to get inside to clean her house. When I asked Friend no. 1, she said, “Oh, no, I haven’t met her, but I read the Bible verses, prayer list, and encouraging words on her refrigerator every week! She is such a blessing to me!”

So, who benefits from the Refrigerator Verse? Us? Our children? Visitors to our home? The answer is YES.

Ready? Set? Go… Let me know how your ‘Refrigerator Verse’ challenge goes…

Ann Farabee, writer, teacher, and speaker, has taught in Kannapolis City Schools and Mooresville Schools. Contact her at annfarabee@gmail.com or visit  annfarabee.com