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
Bonnie Vollmering from Victoria, TX
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
“Teach me your way, O Lord that I ay walk in your truth. Unite my heart to fear your name.
I give thanks to you , O Lord my God with my whole heart and I will glorify your name forever.
For great is your steadfast love toward me; you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.
Psalm 86: 11- 13 “. NIV
For me to live is Christ and to die is gain. Philippians 1.21 KJV
Melissa from Haltom City
NIV Proverbs 1:8
Listen, my son, to yours father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.
Ashley, Nashville, TN
“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.” Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)
Desiree—New Orleans ♥ You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance.
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. Psalm 32:7-8 ESV
Michele in North Oaks, MN
Isaiah 26:3
You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast because he trusts in you.
For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow
James 1:3
NLT
Cat
San Antonio, Texas
Isaiah 54:13 ESV
All your children shall be taught by the LORD, and great shall be the peace of your children.
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, (Romans 5:1 NIV84)
Paula, Oklahoma City: “When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.'” John 8:12 NIV
Kendi from Midland, Texas
“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
Mollie from Northwest Arkansas
Then all your children will be taught by the Lord, their prosperity will be great.
Isaiah 54:13 HCSB
Kristen, Marble, NC
His divine power has given us EVERYTHING we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness.
I Peter 1:3 NIV
Penny, Cincinnati, OH: Whether you turn to the right or left, you will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk it.” Isaiah 30:21 NIV
Charlotte from Frankston, Tx.
Psalm 65:11 NIV
You crown the year with your bounty, and your carts overflow with abundance.
Awesome!!
Katie Davis
Tifton, GA
Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transofrm you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
Romans 12:2 NLT
Isaiah 54:13
All your children shall be taught by the LORD, and great shall be the peace of your children. ESV
Jess, Dickinson, ND
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, through prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7
Annmarie- Livermore
“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.”
John 15:9 ESV
Kathryn, Austin, Texas
Proverbs 2:7, NIV
“He holds victory in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless…”
Ramona, Pasadena, Romans 10:17 NLT
So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.
Mandy, Austin, TX
“Come to me all who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28 NASB
Juli, Chokio, MN – “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8 ESV)
Katie Greene
Villa Rica, Georgia Psalm 120:6 I have lived to long with those who hate peace. NIV
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5
Commit your way to the Lord, trust in Him and He will do this for you.
Psalm 37:5
North Brunswick, NJ
Emily from Moore, OK
Deuteronomy 11:18-19 ESV
You shall therefore lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall teach them to your children, talking of them when you are sitting in your house, and when you are walking by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.
Denise Fast from Lenexa, KS
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 NIV
Karina in Independence, MO “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2”
Lindsey, Mishawaka IN
Phil 4:8, KJV
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Loretta, Stouffville, Ontario
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another will all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. Colossians 3:16 NIV
Heather from Penn Valley, CA
If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.
James 1:5 NIV
Carmaris from Springfield, MA “Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have domain over me! The I shall be blameless, and innocent of transgression.” Psalm 19:13 ESV
Cindy Franklin, Graceville,FL For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Philippians 2:13 KJV
Stacia Salina, Kansas
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
Stephanie Englehart, Vinton, LA
Ephesians 1:17 NIV
I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you might know him better.
Kim, Brooklyn, “Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the Lord be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.”(Psalm 35:27 KJV)
Psalm 46:10 “Be still and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”
Jenny, Douglas, GA
“All your children shall be taught by the LORD, and great shall be the peace of your children.” Isaiah 54:13 ESV
~I had to change my verse to yours Beth…I so pray this for my children and my generational children~
Jenny, McKinney, TX
You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.
1 John 4:4
Suet Caldwell ,Houston Texas. Jesus wept John something. Nkj. Thx
Whitney from Medora, IN
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Romans 12:2 KJV
Mary–Bolivar, MO–I soooo want to join you in praying this for my family (and yes, I “get” it). All your children shall be taught by the LORD, and great shall be the peace of your children. Isaiah 54:13 ESV
Claire, Houston, TX “God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.” Hebrews 6:10 NIV
Sharon from Huntsville, AL:
From the ends of the earth,
I cry to you for help
when my heart is overwhelmed.
Lead me to the towering rock of safety
Psalm 61:2 NLT
Lisa, Enterprise, AL
~ Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
— Hebrews 12:2 (NIV)
Suzie from Fort Mill, SC
She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future.
~Proverbs 31:25 NLT
John 8:36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed (NIV84).
Marrissa, Orlando, FL
Ephesians 4:11-14
Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. 12 Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. 13 This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.
14 Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth.” NLT