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
Peggy, Indianapolis
Hebrews 4:13 NCV “Nothing in all the world can be hidden from God. Everything is clear and lies open before Him and to Him we must explain the way we have lived.”
Lisa Rose – Moyock, NC
Because of your great compassion you did not abandon them in the wilderness. By day the pillar of cloud did not fail to guide them on their path, nor the pillar of fire by night to shine on the way they were to take.
Nehemiah 9:19 NIV
Sherri. Louisville, Ky. Romans 1:5-6.
Romans 1:5-6 Through him we received grace and apostleship to call all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith for his name’s sake. And you also are among those Gentiles who are called to belong to Jesus Christ. NIV
Mandy, Watkinsville, GA
Psalm 16:10- “For you will not leave my soul among the dead or allow your holy one to rot in the grave.”
NLT
Tina, Jacksonville, Florida
Psalm 66:19-20. NIV But God has surely listened and heard my voice in prayer. Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me.
Rebekah from Jacksonville,Fl
“Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy scriptures concerning his Son who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness but his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ out Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of His name among all the nations, including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.
To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 1:1-7 (ESV)
When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset. (Exodus 17:12 NIV
Alicia, St. Louis “The LORD your God its with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.” NIV 84
Opps! Zephaniah 3:17
Rejoice in the Lord always,again I say rejoice. Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Phil. 4:4&5 NIV
“Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” NIV 1 Cor 15:58
KJV Acts:11
18 “When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.” teresa,Akron
Brooke, French Lick, Indiana
My grace is enough for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses so that Christ power can rest on me.(2 Cor. 12:9 NIV)
Brenda Cousino, Frisco, TX
Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. (John 5:24 ESV)
“Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” I Corinthians 10:31
Cheryl, Los Osos, CA: ” Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Philippians 4:6 NIV
Sarah Bell
Mossy Head, FL
“I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you.”
Genesis 17:7 NASB
Susan, Norfolk VA
James 3:1 NIV
Not many of you shoud become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.
Kelly / Tomball, Tx.
All your children shall be taught by the LORD, and great shall be the peace of your children.” Isaiah 54:13 ESV
…. yes I’m copying – but Oh how I want this! 🙂
Heather willow grove, pa “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” Romans 12:12 ESV
Juli Vrotney
Psalm 128:1
Blessed is every one who fears the LORD,
Who walks in His ways.
Nkjv
Rhonda Anderson, IN
Isaiah 54:13 NLT
I will teach all your children and they will enjoy great peace.
Tiffany, Dublin – “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” Proverbs 4:23 (NIV)
Gay Wilgus, Fenwick Island, Delaware
The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. Psalm 118:6 (NIV)
All your children shall be taught by the LORD, and great shall be the peace of your children.
Allison, Greenville, SC
“And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow-not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below-indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” -Romans 8:38-39.(NLT)
Kim
Lakeland, FL
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Hebrews 10:23-24 NIV
So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.
Romans 8:6 NLT Greta, Greenville
Tyesha, Euless
Oh God, we meditate on your unfailing love as we worship in your temple. Psalms 48:9 NLT
Kim B. – Orlando, Florida
“So do not throw away your confidence, it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised.”
Hebrews 10:35-36
Patti Broer, Summerset, SD Zechariah 4:6 NAS Then he answered and said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel saying, ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirt’ says the Lord of hosts.
Sally, Bellaire, Tx. Psalm 46:10, NIV. Be still and know that I m God. I will be exaulted among the nations. I will be exaulted in the earth.
Stephanie Curry
McDonough, GA
“In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.” Ephesians 3:12 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. Romans 8:28 NIV1984
Jenny, Beavercreek, Ohio. “All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” (Psalm 139:16 NIV)
Stacy, Kentucky, “All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, ” (1 Peter 1:3, NLT)
Lisa, Marion IN
You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you;
I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you,
in a dry and parched land where there is no water.
Psalm 63:1 (NIV)
Columbus, OH
Matthew 5:7-12 (NIV)
Charissa – West Chester, OH:
For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13 NLT
Hot Springs Village, AR
Matthew 11:28-31 ESV
Come to me all who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your soul. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.
Patrice in Albuquerque
“Oh, that You would bless me and enlarge my territory. Let Your hand be with me, and keep me from harm sot that I would be free from pain. And God granted his request.”
Del, Clarksboro
“Bear in mind that the Lord’s patience means salvation.” (2 Peter 3:15 NIV)
Teresa, Austin, TX
Ephesians 3:20 NLT
Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.
Mollie, still Atlanta, soon Moscow
The LORD is gracious , and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.
Psalm 145:8
Oops– left off NLT
Psalm 145:8 NLT
Meagan, Houston
“For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” (2 Corn 10:3-5 NIV)
Kate, Amarillo
For The Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of The Lord is, there is freedom
2 Corinthians 3:17 NLT
Joy~ Iowa~ “…knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” James 1: 3 & 4 NKJ
Kim from Cincinnati, Ohio
“Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. James 1:12 (NASB)
Nicolie, Sterling Heights, MI
The Lord will fight for you; you need only be still. Exodus 14:14 NIV
Melissa, Kentucky
“Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” Psalm 27:14 (NIV)
Kathi, Kingwood, Tx, “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.” 1John 4:7, NIV