Thirty years ago on this day, my day began as every other. We were in the final stages of building our first house, planning to move in just before Thanksgiving. I was pregnant and due November 25. Yes — we were supposed to move on my due date. Then everything changed.

About 6:30 p.m., as my little family finished dinner and I prepared to do dishes, my water broke. The overwhelming realization that the baby growing inside me was going to make an entrance washed over me. It is like being tied to a railroad track and the faint, shrill sound of the train whistle sounds in the distance. Terrifying. And yet something rose up within me and I knew I could meet this challenge.

At the hospital, it was obvious we weren’t the only ones having a baby that day. In the room next to us was a woman who was having a rough time. I finally asked the nurse about it and she quickly informed me it was a teenage girl having her first baby. My mind and heart calmed and I began reciting Psalm 34. It goes like this:

¹I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. ²My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. ³O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together. ⁴I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. ⁵They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed. ⁶This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. ⁷The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them. ⁸O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

Psalm 34:1-8 KJV

I walked around our tiny room, saying these words of faith and trust over and over again. My heart calmed, my mind stilled and the Lord strengthened me for the hours ahead. Our second child and first son was born in the early morning hours of November 11, 1990. It is God’s word that brought me through those long hours of waiting.

Today, I was challenged to do the same with scripture. Monday was a tough day for me. But I forgot to use scripture recitation to calm my mind and heart. Until someone reminded me that it might help reset my thinking and restore peace of mind.

Here’s the challenge: Stop five times a day for one week and recite or read Psalm 23.

It’s not hard. But I think it will make a difference. I would love for you to join me in this short personal challenge to change our thinking, reset our minds and restore peace.