We’re off and running, Sweet Things! And 11,000 strong!!! Oh, how I pray that God will grant us the divine favor and indwelling power to keep it up month after month and finish 2013 in the multiple thousands. What joy He and we would have! For now, we take it step by step, one verse at a time. Don’t get caught up wondering how in the world you’re going to memorize 24 verses when you’re having a hard time memorizing the first one. That will sink your Scripture memory boat for sure.
I make you this promise based on my experience and the experience of many others: the more you memorize, the more you’ll get the hang of it. I was going to say that the more you memorize, the easier it gets but it’s not easy and that’s part of what makes it such a victory to celebrate with Jesus. I do believe I can tell you with confidence, however, that your tenth verse will very likely be easier to memorize than your first one. By that time, you’ve quit letting your nay-whining old nature tell you that you can’t do it and you shouldn’t have even tried. A big part of the battle in the first month is simply telling that self-destructive echo in our heads to shut its mouth. It’s replacing “I knew I couldn’t do it” with “Oh, yes I can. I can do all things through Christ.”
Persevere! Let’s not be quitters! God would rather us make it to the end of the year still stumbling over some words than throwing our hands up and quitting at the first imperfect recitation. Even if we don’t get our verses down perfectly, the pursuit itself is the very art of meditation. Nothing about it is a waste of time. Just think of how it helps to break the mental loop of rehearsed offenses. We’re going to be fixated on something. That’s how our minds often work. But we get to choose what.
So, right now say verse 1 out loud the very best you can.
Tremendous job. Now, let’s add our second one to it.
I totally love my verse this time around! It came up in my Scripture reading during my quiet time early Sunday morning. Here it goes:
Beth, Houston. All your children shall be taught by the LORD, and great shall be the peace of your children.” Isaiah 54:13 ESV
Isn’t that fabulous? I’m choosing this verse specifically so that I can turn it into intercessory prayer. Mind you, I’m not “claiming” it like I’d be apt to do with a promise more clearly obvious under the New Covenant. I’m reluctant to claim the fulfillment of a promise made straight to Israel for myself or people in my world unless I know that we have a coinciding New Covenant promise. I’d have to see consistency to pray it as one fervently counting on it. Isaiah 54:13 carries obvious elements that are very consistent with the promises of Christ to us. He promised that the Holy Spirit will teach us all things and He blatantly gave us His peace but where I’m asking God to do an Isaiah 54:13 work in my family is the emphasis on ALL my children. I want every single one of them to be students of Christ Jesus, to love His Word and His ways with a passion beyond the natural realm, and for His peace to be great upon them and contagious. If you’ll look in the Scripture’s context in Isaiah 54, especially in verses 11-17, you’ll see that V.13 is within the promises God made specifically to Israel and scheduled for fulfillment in a time yet to come. So, no, I’m not claiming it, so to speak, BUT, I am indeed asking for it. That’s fair game.
God is not obligated to say yes to promises like those in Isaiah 54 this side of His Kingdom’s full revelation but, as I persevere in prayer and faith, He will indeed hear me and I believe be pleased that I had the boldness to pray it. He is not blessed by our small, vision-bare petitions anyway. I’ve thought for a long time that God would rather hear His children voice outrageously large prayers of faith even if He has to say no on occasion than hear our pale, timid, tepid requests for things He’s already given us anyway. For instance, if we belong to Him in Christ, He is indeed going to “bless us” and “keep us.” So, I’m adding Isaiah 54:13 to my spiral and planning to reword it often into a request. I’m going to take the risk that He may indeed perform generational miracles with a family tree sprouted from the soil of disease and brokenness. Make us oaks of righteousness, Lord, for the display of Your splendor. (Isaiah 61:3)
This I know for sure: we often have not because we ask not. (James 4:2)
I love something else about Isaiah 54:13. I love that the word translated peace in English is the word “shalom” in Hebrew. The Hebrew word blows the doors off of our usual concept of peace. When I ask God for great peace to be upon my children, I have no interest in a trance-like state of passionless nirvana. I want God’s brand of peace: lively, vivacious. Here’s what the Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament has to say about it:
“The general meaning behind the root š-l-m is of completion and fulfillment—of entering into a state of wholeness and unity, a restored relationship.”
It means to be intact, healthy, sound. It means wellness of soul. It conveys the idea of God prospering His child. He describes His peace like a river: moving and running. His peace is no pond. I read the verse first out of The NET Bible that sits open on my desk at home. Isaiah 54:13 is worded this way on its pages: “All your children will be followers of the LORD, and your children will enjoy great prosperity.” Right that moment I jotted the verse down in my journal and, under it, asked the Lord (with enough zeal to imprint it on the next page) to prosper my children and their children and their children and their children in the way that really matters: grant them lives that bear much fruit – I said MUCH FRUIT –Â for THIS is to our Father’s great glory. May they blatantly show themselves to be Christ’s disciples. (That’s John 15:8 and, if you haven’t memorized it yet, it is a must! Prioritize it early on in your year if God causes it to leap off the page with you.)Â With all my heart, I want God to use this lineage He is redeeming to prosper His Kingdom.
So I am really fired up about my verse for our next two weeks and hope to still be saying it and praying it for the next generations of this family line when I’m about to see Jesus. If you don’t already have a verse selected, you are welcome to share it and make it your own with Jesus. Choose any verse that He’s using to speak to you right now. Remember, that’s what will make it stick to your ribs. It needs to mean something to you!
Hit it, Girls! Remember! Only your names, cities, verses, references, and translations! You are stellar, Sisters. I love you so much.
Edited to add: Information on how to download your Android or iPhone application!
I know many of you have been asking if we are going to have an app this year for your smart phones, and we have both good news and bad news. The good news is YES, we ARE! We have created an app for both Android and iPhones. The bad news is, the Android app is ready for you, but if you would be so patient with us, we’ll have the iPhone app ready for you in about five or six days. Does that sound good?
So, excuse me while I get technical for just a minute!
For those of you that still have the old application on your phone (and this goes for both Android and iPhone users), you would most likely have received a notification about the availability of this new one, but if not, and you are currently using an android, simply click here to download the app. (This link is for Android users only.) Android users, if you’re having issues with this link (and it’s currently working fine on this end), you can search “Living Proof Ministries – Scripture Memory Team – 2013” in your phone under applications. (I have very little knowledge about Android phones, so forgive me if my wording is wrong.)
When the iPhone app is ready, I’ll update this post for those of you who would like to download it with all the instructions you’ll need. However, I do know upfront you’ll be able to find the app in the iTunes store via your phone or computer.
Once you have the application, it is very user friendly. You’ll be notified the 1st and 15th of every month with the new blog post that will land in your application (you will only be notified if you have turned on notifications for this specific app), you can share the post, and then you can also store your memory work in there. It will also act like your spiral. You may want to use both your spiral and the app to have on hand in case you lose one or the other!
I hope that helps! Doesn’t this make it so much more fun?
Tags: Scripture Memory 2013
Christy Segars, Monroe, GA
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13 NIV
anna cordes, kansas city
You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.
Isaiah 26:3 NIV
Jenny~Adairsville, GA
Because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high Luke 1:78 ESV
Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.
Psalm 46:10 NASB
Shelley, DFW,TX
“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom?”
Isaiah 40:28, NIV
Heather from Nashville: 2 Corinthians 12:9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Verse 2, 2 Corthians 10:5 NASB “We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of GOd, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.”
So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.
-Galatians 6:9 (NLT)
Tracy L. Richlands, NC
This is also our family verse for 2013. My 7 year old son follows it by “Now let’s go kick some butt!” (Whatever works to get the Word in his heart!)
Emma from Olathe, KS
Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means.
-2 Corinthians 8:11 NIV
Christina, Hazelwood, “It is He who reveals the profound and hidden things; He who knows what is in the darkness; And the light dwells with him.” Dan. 2:22 NAS
And all the children shall be taught of the Lord, and great shall be the peace of the children.
Isaiah 54:13
Fay, Ozark, MO
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV84
Be joyful always; pray continually; Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Heather in Mt. Pleasant
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. Galatians 5:16 ESV
Jillian in Boerne, TX
He will not let your foot slip –
He who watches over you will not slumber;
indeed, He who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
Psalm 121:3-4 NIV
Holly from Alpharetta, GA
“And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”
Phil 4:8
Erin in Alabaster, AL
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroy and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Matthew 6:19-21 ESV
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. Col. 4:2 NIV
Courtney, Georgetown,TX
The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
Proverbs 18:21 NIV
And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all Grace who has called you to his eternal glory will, Restore, confirm, strengthen and establish you.
Kate from Sterling, VA
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.
Joshua 1:9
Tracee
Franklin, KY
John 15:5 NIV
I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
Sara P. Middleburg,Fl:
Luke13:24
Strive to enter in at the gate: for many, I say unto you
Will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.
KJV
Philippians 4:6-7 Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
HCSB
Adrienne
Houston
Joshua 1:9 NIV
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do
Not be afraid; do not be discouraged for The Lord your God
will be with you wherever you go.
for the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus. Rom 6:23 NIV
Jennifer Kirkes, Denham Springs, LA
You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your strength. Deut. 6:5, NKJV
Trying to memorize in Hebrew also (with the stress on “trying”)
Marsha Gray in Jefferson, ME
Janet-Montgomery, New York
His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence,..2 Peter 1:3 ESV
Kari: Amery, Proverbs 3:5, NIV
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.
Beth, Waco, TX
“He will take delight in you with gladness. With His love, He will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.” Zephaniah 3:17b NLT
Heather W, Nederland, TX
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Eph 4:32 (NIV)
Tori, Waco, TX
“Finally, brothers and sisters, 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.” Philippians 4:8 NIV
Owensboro, Kentucky
Isaiah 30:21
Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it.”
Lisa from Arlington, Texas: “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.” Isaiah 43:18-19 NIV
Marsha Gray in Jefferson, ME
So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.”
Hebrews 4:16 NLT
The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.
Psalms 103:8
“He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his Spirit than he that taketh a city”
Prov 16:32 (KJV)
Susan from Houston:
The end of the matter; all has been heard.
Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. Ecc. 12:13 ESV
Donna, Eastland. All your children shall be taught by the LORD, and great shall be the peace of your children.” Isaiah 54:13 ESV
Belinda
St. Joseph, Mo
12Â Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2Â looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2
Chyrll, Memphis Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. John 15:2 NASB
(so happy w/news of app again! Thank you!!)
Shari, Atlanta, GA
“You scrutinize my path and my lying down, and are intimately acquainted with all my ways. Even before there is a word on my tongue, behold, O Lord, You know it all.”
Psalm 139:3-4 NASB
“Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?” James 3:10,11 NIV
Faith E. Waldo, Ohio.
“For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”
2 Timothy 1:7 ESV
Erin, Phoenix.
“Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul.” 1 Peter 2:11 (NIV)
Sharon, McKinney, TX,… So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10 NIV
Kaycee Laboudiere from Somerville, AL, Hebrews 12:11 “No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening-it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.” NLT
Nancy ~ Kansas City ~ 1Cor. 2:4 “My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power.” NIV
Huntsville, AL
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Matthew 6:34 (NIV)
San Angelo, TX
For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)