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
Lisa from Ozark, MO
All your children will be taught by the Lord, and great will be their peace. Isaiah 54:13 NIV
Carrie W., Burnt Hills, NY
The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.
Exodus 14:14, NIV
Katy, New York
My son, do not despise the Lords discipline and do not resent his rebuke, because The Lord disciplines those he loves, as a Father the son he delights in. Provers 3:11-12 NIV
Amy H, Plymouth, MN
“For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.”
Philippians 2:13 NLT
Susan~Oak Grove, Alabama
All your children shall be taught by the Lord, And great shall be the peace of your children.
Isaiah 54:13
Holly- Dallas, TX
“Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.” Ephesians 1:2-4, NIV
Angie
Louisville, Oh.
For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to diving soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
Hebrews 4:11 (NIV)
Connie, Bolingbrook, IL
The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
Exodus 33: 14
Jennifer, Fort Worth, TX
“You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” 2 Tim. 3:14-15, NKJV
Catherine P., Clarkston, MI
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Psalm 73:26 (NIV)
Kim – Panama City, FL
He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted. Job 5:9 NIV
Anita, Covington,Ky. Jesus said, “No procrastination. No backward looks. You can’t put God’s kingdom off till tomorrow. Seize the day.” Luke 9:62 MSG
Andrea
Roscoe, IL
Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. Romans 13:8 NIV
“Let your light so shine before men that they will see your good works and glorify your father in heaven”
Matthew 5:16
NASB
Hannah Hancock, Winter Haven, FL
Psalm 119:2
“Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, Who seek Him with the whole heart!”
(NKJV)
1/15/13
Colossians 4:6 (NIV)
Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. #bibleverse
Dyane, Edmond, Oklahoma: “When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.” John 15:8 NLT
When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father. (John 15:8 NLT)
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
Char, Nashville
“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own”. (Matthew 6:34 NIV)
Moorpark
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of others.
Philippians 2:3-4
NIV
Detta – Yukon OK
Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothing. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfailing beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.
1 Peter 3:3-4 NIV
Kelly, Sandwich,MA
“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
Michele, Naperville, IL, “All your children shall be taught by te LORD, and great shall be the peace of your children.” – Isaiah 54:13 ESV
Mari from Zionsville
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up! NLT
mari from zionsville
i forgot my scripture address: Humble yourself before the Lord, and he will lift you up! James 4:10 NLT
Lonna, Olympia WA
Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.
Psalm 119:18 (NIV)
Twyla from Lubbock, TX
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8, 9 NIV)
Cape Town, South Africa
Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4
Amy, Parrish, FL
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. Hebrews 12:1 (NIV)
Rachel, Columbus: “Your salvation requires you to turn back to me and stop your silly efforts to save yourselves. Your strength will come from settling down in complete dependence on me.” Isaiah 30:15, The Message
Theresa – Pace, Florida
Psalm 65:11
“You crown the year with your bounty, and your carts overflow with abundance.”
Amy The Woodlands,TX. “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom Ithe Father will send in my name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” John 14:26 ESV
Carolyn from Catonsville, MD: Act 4: 12 “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” NIV
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 1Corinthians 10:31
Sometimes food can be an idol for me. This helps!
Cynda
Newnan, GA
Romans 8:26-27
The Spirit of God not only maintains this hope within us, but helps us in our present limitations. For example, we do not know how to pray worthily as sons of God, but his Spirit within us is actually praying for us in those agonizing longings which never find words. And God who knows the heart’s secrets understands, of course, the Spirit’s intention as he prays for those who love God.
J.B. Phillips translation
LaShae – Arlington, TX
The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him and I am helped. Therefore my heart exults and with my song I shall thank Him. Psalm 28:7 NASB
Patti, Houston,
For this reason, I bow my knees before the Father, NAS
Joni, Littleton CO
“They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord. Psalm 112:7 NIV
Michelle, Maryville. I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. Romans 8:18 NIV
Francine Crown City,OH.
“But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don’t need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true–it is not a lie. So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ.”
1 John 2:27 NLT
Fort Payne, AL
Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.
—Psalm 73:23–24
Darlene, San Jose, CA
Let me hear your lovingkindess in the morning, for I trust in you. Teach me the way in which I should walk, for to you I lift up my soul.
Psalms 143:8. NIV
Sonya
Aurora, Colorado
Whom have I in heaven but you,And Earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail. But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Ps. 73:25-26
Heather
Rossville, Ga
“That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day.”
2 Corinthians 4:16 NLT
Elizabeth Swanson–Round Rock, TX
Psalm 121:1
I lift up my eyes to the hills–
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven & earth.
Surprise, AZ
Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!
Psalms 34:8 NKJV
Grand Prairie, TX
For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline 2 Timothy 1:7 NASB
Danette
Melber, KY
Lamentations 3:22-24
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.
I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion;
therefore I will wait for him.”
translation is NIV for my post Lamentations 3:22-24, sorry..
Taylor Lane, Birmingham, AL
“Oh God, you are my God. Earnestly I seek you. My soul thrists for you. My body longs for you in a dry and weary land where there is no water. I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you! I will praise you as long as I live. In your name I will lift up my hands!’
Psalm 63:1-4 NIV