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.Ā 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,Ā 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 Å”-l-m is of completion and fulfillmentāof 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 –Ā 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.)Ā 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 ā Scripture Memory Team ā 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
Christa, Denver, CO
“All your children shall be taught by the LORD, and great shall be the peace of your children.” Isaiah 54:13 ESV
Nikki, Wichita
“to announce the year when the Lord will show his favor,
the day when our God will seek vengeance,
to console all who mourn,” Isaiah 61:2 NET
Bria, Washington DC
Psalm 73:23-24 ESV
Nevertheless, I am continually with you;
you hold my right hand.
You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will receive me to glory.
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.
Psalm 19:14
Shout for joy,O heavens;rejoice,O earth;burst into song,O mountains! For the Lord comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones.
Isaiah 49:13
Kim in WA
“For nothing is impossible with God.”
Luke 1:37 NIV
Becky- Tifton
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.
2CORINTHIANS 10:5 NIV84
Elayne, Arlington – I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. Psalm 32:8 ESV
Karen, Knoxville, TN
“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.”
2 Corinthians 4:17 (NIV)
Karen, Virginia Beach, VA
Psalm 28:6-7 (NIV 1984)
Praise be to the Lord,
For He has heard my cry for mercy.
The Lord is my strength and my shield;
My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped.
My heart leaps for joy
And I will give thanks to Him in song.
“Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.”
~James 3:13 NIV
Karen Tucson, Arizona
” When anxiety was great within me, Your consolation
brought joy to my soul.” Psalm 94:19 NIV
Lisa, Charleston, SC
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.
Psalm 19:14 NKJV
Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.
Proverbs 4:23
Wendy, Plano, “Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord is the one who goes before you. He will be with you; He will neither fail you nor forsake you.” Deut 31:8 NLT
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 NIV
āNo temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.ā
1 Corinthians 10:13
NASB
Oops! Forgot — from Houston!
A few days late but better late than never! š
Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding.
Proverbs 3:5 NASB
Debbie Elrod, Seymour, TN
Romans 12:2 NIV
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 Godās will isāhis good, pleasing and perfect will.
A little late, but I have a grandson here from Texas and I have been so busy! Sorry, I plead grace!
Lissa – Hamilton, MI
“How much better to get wisdom than gold, to choose understanding rather than silver!”
Proverbs 16:16, NIV
I, even I, am the Lord, and besides Me there is no Savior. Isaiah 43:11 AMPLIFIED
Rejoicing in hope,persevering in tribulation,devoted to prayer—-Romans 12:12. NASB
Jennifer; Chattanooga,TN
The Sovereign Lord is my strength; He makes my feet like the feet of a deer, He enables me to go on the heights. Habakkuk 3:19 NIV
Beth Petty, Roswell, GA
“Everyone should be
quick to listen,
slow to speak and
slow to get angry.”
James 1:19 ISV
Angela, Alexandria, KY
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situaion, by prayer and petition, with Thanksgiving, present your requests to God
Philippians 4:6 NIV
Anna S. Sullivan, MO
“And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me shall never hunger, and he who believes in me shall never thirst.” John 6:35 NKJV
Alecia, Meridian, MS
Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you His peace at all times and in every situation. The Lord be with you all.
2 Thessalonians 3:16 NLT
Angela, Moreland GA “He brought us out from there in order to bring us in, to give us the land which He had sworn to our fathers.” Deut 6:23 NASB
Heather from Barttlesville, OK, “Don’t worry about anything; instead pray about everything you need, and thank Him for all He has done. Then, you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7 NLT
Hilary
Rochester, NY
“Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
bind them around your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart.”
Proverbs 3:3, NIV
Gina Tompkins, Tulsa OK
I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: love each other as I have loved you. John 15:11-12 NIV
…because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
James 1:3-4 NIV
Sheila, Beckley, WV, 2 Corinthians 3:5 NIV84 Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.
Tammie, Benoit, MS
I say to the LORD, “You are my Lord; I have no good apart from You.”
Psalm 16:2 (ESV)
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will guide you with My eye.
Psalm 32 :8 NKJV
Jennifer from Nashville:
“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
Tina from H-town
For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you. 1 Thessalonians 1:4 (NIV)
Tina, Houston
For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you. 1 Thessalonians 1:4 (NIV)
Susie, Swampers, LA
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. ~ 2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV
Emily. Lexington, Tennessee
1 Timothy 6:6-8, ESV
But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.
Christy – Justin, TX: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 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.” (NIV)
Psalm 139:2 NIV
You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
Stacie
Livonia, Mi
Amanda in Dodgeville, WI
Finally, brothers, 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
Pamela, New Bern NC
Romans 8:28
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.
Elizabeth, Cedar Hill TX, Psalm 71:20a (NIV) “Though you have made me see troubles many and bitter, you will restore my life again.”
Mellissa from Houston, TX.
Isaiah 43:18-19a (NASB)
18 Do not call to mind the former things, or ponder things of the past. 19a Behold, I will do something new, now it will spring forth.
Julie from Belleville, Ontario
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
Kendal, Tulsa, Oklahoma
1 Peter 4:14 “if you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the spirit of glory and of God rests on you”
PatW,WestVirginia.
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.
Deuteronomy 31:6, Holy Bible, NIV.
(taken from Sarah young’s devotional, Jesus Lives, p.63).
HelenWilfong,WestVirginia.
I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills. from which cometh my help. ..My help cometh from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
Psalms 121:1-2. KJV.
Margo, Laramie, Wyoming
2 Cor 3:16,17
But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.