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
Michelle, Manitoba, Canada
“So if the Son seets you free, you will be free indeed.” John 8:36 NIV
Marilyn Kearney, NE All your children shall be taught by The Lord, and great shall be the peace of your children.
Isaiah 54:13 ESV
Nicolle Jones
Conway, AR
We can make our plans, but The Lord determines our steps.
Proverbs 16:9
The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him… Nahum 1:7 (NIV)
Caroline, Aiea
…The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:5-7 NIV84)
Brooke
Los Angeles
Isaiah 30:15 NIV
This is what the sovereign Lord, the Holy one of Israel, says: ” in repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength. ” NIV
JANE Americus, GA
The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Deut 31:8 NIV
Isaiah 54.12 All your children shall be taught by the LORD, and great shall be the peace of your children. ESV
Kat, Charlotte. Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy.
Psalm 126:5 NIV
Sandy Brooks, Austin,, Texas
Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable to you oh Lord, my rock and redeemer. Psalm 19:14 NIV
Brandy, Lynchburg, VA. Psalm 6:6 (ESV) I am weary with my moaning; every night I flood my bed with tears; I drench my couch with my weeping.
ESV Ps. 34:2
My soul makes its boast in the Lord, let the humble hear and be glad.
Denise
Jacksonville,Fl
Isaiah 54:13
All your children shall be taught by the Lord, and great shall be the peace of your children.
ESV
Christy
Tulsa, Ok
He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. (Psalms 23:3 ESV)
Chrissie from Aurora, CO
“Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.”
Psalm 34:5 NIV
Robin from Morehead, Ky says,
“And the Holy spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with a groaning that can’t be expressed in words.”
Romans 8:26 NLT
Jeremiah 1:5 NIV
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
before you were born I set you apart;
I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”
Diane Barr
Baton Rouge, LA
If I claim to be religious and do not control my tongue, I am fooling myself and my reigion is worthless. NLT James 1:26
Kristen
Costa Mesa, CA
“ ‘Nevertheless, I will bring health and healing to it; I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security. (Jeremiah 33:6 NIV)
Cynthia, Russellville, AR
Isaiah 54:13 ESV
All your children shall be taught by the Lord, and great shall be the peace of your children.
Christina Acree, Winter Haven
For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the casting down of strongholds. -2 Corinthians 10:4
ASV
Trish- Pamplico SC
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:34. NIV
Mary Beth, Blairsville, GA.
When you bow down before the LORD and admit your dependence on Him, he will lift you up and give you honor. James 4:10 NLT
Sharron, Spring
Do everything without complaining or arguing.
Phil 2:14 NIV
a little late to the game…
1 Thessalonians 1:4 NIV
For we know, brothers loved by God, that He has chosen you
Love that this is so encouraging. I need it daily. Thank you all.
Jenny hope Williams Hoover alabama “I will go before you and level mountains. Bronze doors I will shatter and iron bars I will hack through. (Isaiah 45:2 NET)
Valerie Farmington, MN
Isaiah 26:3 niv
He will keep in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Him.
Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity. (Ephesians 4:26, 27 NASB)
Monique Reynolds, Newbury Park CA
Give your full attention to what God is doing right now. Do not get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. Matthew 6:34a MSG
“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.” NIV
Joshua 1:9 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified, do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Psalm 119:2
blessed are they that keep his testimonies and that seek Him with the whole heart
kjv
Andrea in Gainesville, FL
“Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine, in the innermost parts of the house; thy children like olive plants round about thy table.” Psalm 128:3 ASV
Lisa, Birmingham, AL
2 Corinthians 5:20-21 ESV
“Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
Candi, South Lyon, “All of you, take up My yoke and learn from Me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for yourselves. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:29,30 HCSB
I had heard about you before, but now I have seen you with my own eyes. Job 42:5 (NLT)
Alison, Richmond, VA
But he said to me,”My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV
Sheila in Truro, Nova Scotia, Canada “My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely Christ,in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” – Colossians 2:2,3 NIV
Kelly, Sheridan, Ca.
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
Eph.4:29 NIV
Santa Rosa Beach, FL
“Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.”
James 4:10 KJV
Misti from McGregor, TX
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. -Philippians 4:6-7 NIV84
Wendi Gale; Yulee; “The times of refreshing shall come from the presence if The Lord.
Acts 3:18 (KJV)
Correction: Acts 3:19 (KJV)
Pam Olathe, KS
“The good man out of the good treasures of his heart brings forth good things. And the evil man out of the evil treasures brings forth evil things. But I say to you, that every idle word men shall speak, they shall give account of in the day of judgement. For by your words thou shalt be justified and by thou words thou shalt be condemned.” Matthew 12:35-37 NKJV
Delaney, Kitchener
“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.”
2 Corinthians 4:17
NIV
Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance, character, and character, hope. Romans 5:3 (Denver CO)
Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance, character, and character, hope. Romans 5:3 (*Denver CO)
Leila from Baton Rouge, La.
Psalm 96:1-3 (NIV)
Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth.
Sing to the Lord, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day.
Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples.
Kaci from Norman, OK
James 1:19 ESV
Know this, my beloved brothers, let everyone be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger, for the anger of man does not produce the rightousness of God.
Danielle, Loveland, OH
“He will not fear bad news; his heart is confident, trusting in the Lord.” (HCSB)