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
I Thesolonians 5:16-18
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.New King James Version
The LORD is my portion says my soul, therefore I will hope in him. LAminations 3:24
Danette Garcia, Wyoming Michigan
NIV Matthew 11:28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
Kelly : St. Paul, Minnesota
Deuteronomy 6:6-8 (MSG)
Write these commandments that I’ve given you today on your hearts. Get them inside of you and then get them inside your children. Talk about them wherever you are, sitting at home or walking in the street; talk about them from the time you get up in the morning to when you fall into bed at night.
Kelly, Dauphin, PA
” For He chose us in Christ, before the foundation of the world that we may be holy and unblemished in his sight.”
Eph. 1:4 NET
Audra, Houston, Hebrews 4:11-13 ESV “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”
Jeri – Dexter, NM
But you, Lord, are a shield around me,
my glory, the One who lifts my head high. Psalm 3:3
Nancilea, The Woodlands, TX
“Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by ceasing to pray for you, and I will instruct you in the good and the right way.”
(1 Samuel 12:23 ESV)
Heather King
Gloucester, Virginia
“All your children shall be taught by the LORD, and great shall be the peace of your children.” Isaiah 54:13 ESV
Karen from Fort Dodge. Neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:39 NIV
Omaha, NE
Then Peter said unto them, Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
Acts 2:38-39
KJV
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)
Fran, Gulf Shores, AL
And a little child will lead them.
Isaiah 11:6b NIV
Kathi from Enid, Oklahoma
Psalm 146:2
I will praise the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live. (NIV)
Joan, from Springfield Virginia
Turn to me and show me Your loving-kindness.
For I am alone and in trouble. Psalm 25:16 NLT
Ronella, Newcastle, Ok. The LORD always keeps His promises; He is gracious in all He does. Pslam 145:13b NLT
Great is the Lord and highly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable. Ps 145:3 nasb
Alisa, Cheraw, South Carolina
Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our LORD Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; He will surely do it. I Thessalonians 5:23-24
You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.
Matthew 5:14 – NIV
: “All your children will be followers of the LORD, and your children will enjoy great prosperity.” NET Isaiah 54:13
Libby – Littleton, CO
My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.
ESV 1 Corn: 12:9
Tracy from Rootstown Ohio
As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him. (Psalms 103:13 ESV)
Thou will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee; because he trusteth in thee. Isaiah 26:3
Mei, Easley SC:
What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” Romans 4:3 NIV
Charlotte, Easley SC
Receive instruction from His Mouth, and place His sayings in your heart. Job 22:22 HCSB
Gretchen, Kearney, Missouri
Come and see what our God has done, what awesome miracles he performs for his people! Psalm 66:5 NLT
Jennifer, Tomball, TX “Where there is no wood, the fire goes out; And where there is no talebearer, strife ceases.” Proverbs 26:20 (NKJV)
Debbie, Cabot, AR, “Let all that I am praise the Lord. May I never forget the good things he does for me.” Psalm 103:2 NLT
Diana Yarborough, Gallatin,TN
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 for him.
Isaiah 64:4. NIV
“Thus says the LORD to you, “Do not fear or be dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours but God’s!” 2 Chronicles 20:15
Jessica from Rockvale, TN
Matthew 22: 37-38 (NIV) Jesus replied: “Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.”
Erica Scott; Simpsonville, SC
Proverbs 18:10
The name of the Lord is a strong fortress; the godly run to him and are safe. (NLT
Sara, De Pere WI,
The Lord your God is 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.
Zephaniah 3:17 (NIV84)
Patty, Shelton, “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
Alisha Huff, Ewa Beach, HI
Do not conform 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)
“Keep your lips from speaking evil and your tongue from telling lies.”
Psalm 34:13 NLT
Rene, Overland Park, KS “… And now I have dedicated him to God. He’s dedicated to God for life.” Then and there, they worshipped God.” Samuel 1:28 the Message
Sarah, West Monroe, La
A man with many friends may be harmed, but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother. Proverbs 18:24 (HCSB)
Candace, Nashville, TN
I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. John 16:33 (NIV)
Heather, Round Lake, IL
For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
Philippians 1:21 KJV
NIV, john 3, 16
“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life”
Kelli, Watkins, CO
Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead
Philippians 3:13(NKJV)
Penny G
Coweta, OK
In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. Matt 5:16 (NIV)
Angie
Severance, CO
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9 (NIV)
And my God will supply every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen
Philippians 4:19-20 ESV
Heather – Richland, WA
Lamentations 3:25-26 (NIV)
25 The Lord is good to those whose hope is in Him,
to the one who seeks Him;
26 it is good to wait quietly
for the salvation of the Lord
Kat from Tyler, TX
Hebrews 6:19-20, NIV
19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, 20 where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.
Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you. Psalm 37:5
Katie
Houston
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, thn, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
Galatians 5:1 (NIV)
He will teach us His ways so we may walk in His paths.
Isaiah 2:3b
Dana
Boerne, TX