Hey, my wonderful Word-memorizing Siestas! I am so excited about your response to our celebration event next January! We got some great enthusiasm back from you. I’m looking as forward to it as anything on my entire year’s calendar. (If you aren’t up to speed on it, see the March 15th post.) Amanda and I met up the other day to leave one of our cars in a parking lot and ride together to evening church. Since Annabeth is too young to be exposed to that many people and hadn’t yet had her first round of shots, I’ve been hanging out with her and Amanda on Sunday mornings while the boys go to church, then she and I have been going to the 6:30 PM service. When I jumped in the car with her, she said, “Have you been waiting on me long?” “Nope,” I said, “And anyway, it gave me a chance to work on my Scriptures. I want to qualify for the celebration event!” She laughed and said, “I do, too! And I need to get with it!” She’s got a pretty good excuse for being a tad behind on her memory work.
Don’t think for a second I’m not working hard on these Scriptures, too, Young Ladies. What we’re doing together is not easy for any of us. Memorizing this much and this often takes a tremendous effort. It also takes discipline and, to be lovingly frank, self-discipline is not highly valued in our Western world. It’s part of what can make our popular breed of Christianity so sloppy and, at times, so void of power. I’m not being cynical. There are fabulous things happening in the Body of Christ today. I just want to encourage you that this is one of those things. Stick with it! We’d be hard pressed to overemphasize the importance of Scripture memory.
Whew! I have chosen a HARD one this time! It came up in my Scripture reading one morning last week and I fell in love with it. I think it will bless so many of you to read it even if you don’t choose to memorize it. Here goes:
God’s love is meteoric, His loyalty astronomic, His purpose titanic, His verdicts oceanic. Yet in His largeness nothing gets lost; Not a man, not a mouse, slips through the cracks. How exquisite Your love, O God! Psalm 36:5-7a, The Message
Here’s this week’s tip: When I have a really challenging verse to memorize like this one, I read it over and over (please revisit our RENEW acrostic video-lesson from January if it’s been a while) then, if it invites various images, I sit back and visualize it. I deliberately begin associating pictures with various words and phrases. This is what I did, for instance, years ago when I memorized Psalm 1. It opens with “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.” I pictured a man walking, standing, and sitting in that order over and over and, to this day, I can say it from memory based on those visuals.
On this selection, Psalm 36:5-7a, I can picture a huge meteor for God’s love and the starry hosts for His infinite loyalty, an unsinkable Titanic for His purpose, and an ocean with a consistent tide for His verdicts. All of those things speak to me about His largeness so that part of the text comes next naturally. The words “man” and “mouse” begin with the same letters so that helps me remember them. The conclusion is joyously appropriate: “How exquisite Your love, O God!” That’s why I had to tag on the first half of verse 7. I wanted to respond with the psalmist to those enormous attributes of my God.
Somebody may be thinking, “Good grief! I didn’t want to have to think about it that much!” But, you see, that’s the BEAUTY of it! We could be thinking how ticked we are at somebody. We could be thinking how tempted we are toward somebody. We could be thinking how dissatisfied we are with something. We could be thinking AGAIN about what so-and-so had the gall to say to us. I am never more prone to mental defeat than when I just allow my mind to wander anywhere and to anything. I’m by no means suggesting that we never allow our minds to rest. Of course we do. I’m saying that when, in that state of rest and idleness, our thoughts begin to go left toward something destructive, we need a pretty fail-safe way to switch gears. I know no better way than to immediately start letting some verses scroll through my head. That’s what it means to take thoughts captive to the knowledge of Christ and that’s how we tear down everything that exalts itself against Him.
I’m also prone to mental defeat when the enemy has pitched me a great opportunity to obsess about something or to give way to fear and stress. Each of these represents perfect moments to turn to my Scripture memory. There are tons of things we COULD think about today but we have the power in Jesus’ Name to choose the things that edify our spirits and renew our minds. Remember, every defeat and every victory takes place on the battlefield of the mind before it erupts in the exterior life. Listen, Darling Things, we don’t have to let every mental struggle turn into a stronghold. We can successfully cut things off at the pass. And this is one huge way we do it.
OK, Sisters! Let’s hear your selections! Remember to list your name (first is fine), your city, and your verse and translation. I cannot adequately express how thankful I am to serve you. You are a very important part of my ministry life and I think about you every day.
To God’s great glory!
I love you,
Beth
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Romans 12:2 NIV
Tanya
Cambridge, MN
Be strong and courageous; don’t be terrified or afraid of them. For it is the LORD your God who goes with you; He will not leave you or forsake you.
Deuteronomy 31:6 HCSB
Christy from Chandler, AZ
Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
Lamentations 3:22-23 NIV
bd from Apple Valley MN
Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
1 Corinthians 15:58b (NIV)
Psalm 36:5-7a (King James Version)
5Thy mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds.
6Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep: O LORD, thou preservest man and beast.
7How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God!
Gail
Ellensburg, WA
Anyone who believes in Christ is a new creation. The old is gone! The new has come!
2nd Corinthians 5:17
Kelly
Lexington, KY
“He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection.”
-Psalm 91:4 (NLT)
Abby
Littleton, CO
“The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
because the LORD has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners.”
-Isaiah 61:1
-Lauren
New York, NY
Psalm 141:3 “Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips.”
Lois
Dayton, Ohio
Be joyful always.
I Thessalonians 5:16 NIV
Nancy B.
Hope, AR
Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens. Our God is a God who saves; from the Sovereign Lord comes escape from death!
Psalm 68:19-20, NIV
Cresanna
Johnson City, NY
This verse has special meaning to me this week, since I live 3 miles from the American Civic Association. It is probably little known in the news that at least 2 of the teachers are believers (including the one out on the day of the shooting), as well as several of the volunteers who I know personally. Our God is a God who saves!
Gosh, I kept forgetting to post my verse. I know we’re one day from starting another one, but I wanted to get my first of the month verse down.
Ps. 77: 13, 14 (NIV)
Your ways, O God, are holy.
What god is so great as our God?
You are the God who performs miracles.
You display your power among the peoples.
Terri
Marion, IN
A little late but still here-
Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation.
Psalm 68:19
Shelle Illinois
I can’t remember if I ever posted this time around! I know I thought about needing to do it, but I don’t know if I ever did! I think I’m losing my mind! 😉
Anyway…
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Eph 2:10 KJV
Proverbs 3:3-6 (NIV)
Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.
Doris – YT
May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine upon us, that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations.
Psalm 67:1-2 (NIV)
Cynthia – Virginia 🙂
Search me O God and know my heart and test me and know my anxious thoughts See if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the way everylasting.
Psalm 139:23-24
Crissy
Nashville TN
Psalm 90:16-17 (NLT)
Let us, your servants, see you work again; let our children see your glory.And may the Lord our God show us his approval and make our efforts successful, yes make our efforts successful.
Stephanie Arnett
Deer Park, TX
I can’t remember whether I posted this verse or not. I think that I didn’t so I am doing it again just in case!
Kelli – Texas
“Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!”
Psalm 27:14
Philippians 4:8 (NIV)
8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Kathy S.
Cheyenne, WY
“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
2 Corinthians 4:17-18 (NIV)
Mary S.
Westfield, NJ
God’s love is meteoric, His loyalty astronomic, His purpose titanic, His verdicts oceanic. Yet in His largeness nothing gets lost; Not a man, not a mouse, slips through the cracks. How exquisite Your love, O God! Psalm 36:5-7a, The Message
Whom have I in heaven but you?
And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Psalm 73:25-26 NIV
Martha James
Wyoming/ Tenn.
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled.
Matt. 5:6
KJV
Teresa
Springfield,MO
Come to me all who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for you soul. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.
Matthew 11:28-30
Rachel
Longview, TX
He saved them from the hand of the foe; from the hand of the enemy he redeemed them.
Psalm 106:10 (NIV)
Georgia :o)
Murfreesboro, Tn
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
–John 15:5
Crista
Forest, VA
(Sorry I’m so late!)
“Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.”
Psalm 90:14 (NIV)
Melissa
Asheville, NC
Working on the same one again . . .
Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.”
Exodus 14:13-14 NIV
Wait on the Lord and keep his ways. He will exalt you to inherit the land. You will watch as the wicked are destroyed.
Psalm 37:34
NIV
Julie
Arkansas
Jackie L
Jacksboro, TX
Psalm 19:14 NIV
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
Luke 22:19-20, NKJV
And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.†Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.
Romans 8:28 (NIV)
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Doris
Truro, NS Canada
Sorry to be so late!!
“When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul.”
Psalm 94:19 NIV
Sue Speir
Lawrenceville, GA
Psalm 63: 8-9 (NIV)
My soul clings to you;
your right hand upholds me.
They who seek my life will be destroyed;
they will go down to the depths of the earth.
Carol
Truro, NS, Canada
Be Joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:16 18
Sharon McLaughlin
Panama City Beach, Florida
Psalm 138:8 NASB
The LORD will accomplish what concerns me; Your lovingkindness O LORD, is everlasting; Do not forsake the works of your hands.
Erin
Midland, TX
Psalm 121:5-8
5 The LORD watches over you—
the LORD is your shade at your right hand;
6 the sun will not harm you by day,nor the moon by night.
7 The LORD will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life;
8 the LORD will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.
Teresa Raymond in Las Cruces, NM
Psalm 32:8–I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
Proverbs 31:30 NIV
Pat
Crawfordsville, IN
Sorry I’m so very late, but my mother-in-law passed away, my father-in law fell and broke his hip in the nursing home, and then there was spring break, and taxes!
Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides You, who acts on behalf of those who wait on Him.
Isaiah 64:4 NIV
Sarah
Waxahachie, TX
Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful
Colossians 3:2, 4:2
Marie
Old Hickory, TN
“My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.”
John 10: 27-28
(oops! forgot my name, etc.) 🙂
“My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.”
John 10:27-28
Adrienne Maples
Senoia, GA
But our citizenship is heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.
Philippians 3:20,21
Mikelan
OP, KS
The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature.
Luke 8:14 NIV
Jennifer J
Huntsville, TX
Katie Taylor
Russellville, AL
2 Cor. 1:9,10 NIV
“Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us.”
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
Ephesians 4:29 (NIV)
Amber
Houston, TX
Cookie Cawthon from Florence, SC
Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain. Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word.
Psalm 119:36-37 (NIV)
(NIV) Isaiah 26:3
You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.
Anita
Austin, TX