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 – 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.) 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
LPM Kimberly ~ Houston,TX
All your children will be followers of the LORD and your children will enjoy great prosperity! Isaiah 54:13 NET
Jennifer in Richmond, VA
Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground. Psalm 143:10 (NIV)
Joyce
Dalton, GA
Blessed is every one who fears the Lord, who walks in His ways. Psalm 128:1 NKJV
Shelly, San Angelo, TX
1 John 4:7 RSV Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.
Kim, Westfield. But from everlasting to everlasting, the Lord’s love is with those who fear him,and his righteousness with their children’s children. Psalm 103:17. NIV
Meg, Abbeville, SC. 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. NIV84
Jennifer K. From Florence, AL God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1
Christine in Augusta, Ga
“The Spirit of the Lord God is on me, because the Lord has annointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners.”
Isaiah 61:1 HCSB
Honea Path, SC
Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing’s desire besides you. Psalm 73:25 NIV
Rachel from Edmond, OK. “Because of the Lord’s faithful love we do not perish, for His mercies never end.” Lamentations 3:22. HCSB
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. (KJV) Psalm 46:1
Jill, Puyallup, WA
Psalm 37:3, NLT
“Trust in the Lord and do good, then you will live safely in the land and prosper.”
Michele Conner Leander, TX “He brought us out from there in order to bring us in, to give us the land which He had sworn to our fathers.” Deuteronomy 6:23 (New American Standard Bible)
matt 3:15
Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented.
Rouve hembling
Nakusp bc
Depend on the Lord, Trust in Him ,He will take care of you ps37.5
You must love others as much as you love yourself.
Mark 12:31
The Living Bible
Sarah Vint
Ames, IA
Romans 1:1-2 NIV
“Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God— the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets”
Kim, Blair NE
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. ~ Deuteronomy 6:6-8 MSG
Heather, O’fallon, MO
And the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Phil. 4:7 (NET)
Sue Anderson, Greenfield IN; “wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” Psalms 27:14 NIV
Sarah, New Zealand
How great is Your goodness that you have stored up for those who fear You and accomplished in the sight of everyone for those who take refuge in You. You hide them in the protection of Your presence; You conceal them in a shelter from the schemes of men, from quarrelsome tongues.
Psalm 31:19-20 HCSB
Ellen, Aurora, OH
All your children shall be taught by the LORD, and great shall be the peace of your children.” Isaiah 54:13 ESV
Stephanie – Mammoth Lakes, CA
When I am afraid,
I will trust in You.
In God, whose word I praise,
in God I trust; I will not fear.
What can man do to me?
Psalm 56:3-4 HCS
Nora Greer, Shreveport, LA
I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for Him.”
The Lord is good to those whose hope is in Him, to the one who seeks Him.
Lamentations 3:24-25, NIV
Courtney, Columbus, MS
The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the Lord are true, they are righteous altogether. They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb. ~Psalm 19:9-10 NAS
Michele
Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that He has promised.
Hebrews 10:36 NLT
Heather ~ Cypress, Texas
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding”
Proverbs 3:5(NIV)
Sandi H., Holt, MO
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Hebrews 13:8 (NIV)
Martha White, Chesapeake VA
Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us. Eph. 3:20 KJV
Katie, Fernandina Beach
Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us Eph 3:20 (NIV)
Brenna, Chatham IL
Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives.
1 Peter 3:1 (NIV)
Shari
Hemet, CA
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:7 NIV
Jennifer from Ardmore, AL …. Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners, and purify your hearts, ye double minded. James 4:8 KJV
Cathy, Gig Harbor, WA
When I am afraid, I will trust in you. Psalm 56:3 NIV
Do not remember the former things; neither consider the things of old. Behold! I am doing a new thing! Now it springs forth; do you not perceive and know it and will you not give heed to it? I will even make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. Isa. 43:18,19
And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:30, 31 NKJV)
Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the LORD your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you.Deuteronomy 31:6 NAS
Sandi
Duluth, MN
Psalm 56:3 (NIRV)
“When I’m afraid,
I will trust in you.”
Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16 NKJV
Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! Psalm 46:10 NKJ
Linda, Holts Summit,Mo
My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you.
Psalm 63:5 NIV
Jacki, Grandville, MI
“All your son’s will be taught by the LORD, and great will be your children’s peace.”
Isaiah 54:13, NIV
Jen Dancy, Antioch CA
For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7 NLT
Marcia from Windermere, FL
“His salvation extends to the children’s children of those who are faithul to his covenant, of those who obey his commandments.” Psalm 103:18 NLT
Cynthia,
Greenwood, AR
Oh Lord be gracious to us; we long for you.
Be our strength every morning, our salvation in time of distress.
Is. 33:2 NIV
Julie, Foxboro MA
“So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.”
James 1:19-20, NKJV
Deb from Pittsburgh
Psalm 90:12 NKJV
So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
Ellie Michener, Trophy Club, Texas
Greater love has no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.
John 15:13
NLT
Gail Turpin from Monroe,GA
Joshua 1:9 NKJV
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Courtney H., Flowery Branch, GA
“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”
~Hebrews 11:6 NKJV