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
Faith, Murfeesboro, TN
“And yet he did not waiver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith giving glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.”
Romans 4:20-21
Suzanne, Birmingham: “I will lie down and sleep in peace, for You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.”
Psalms 4:8 NIV84
Isaiah 41:31 (NIV)
For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.
Becky, Stromsburg, NE
Isaiah 41:10 NIV
So 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.
Kassie Dulin from Southlake, Texas
“Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.” Romans 13:1-2, NKJV
Ann Skaehill • McKinney, TX
Truly he is my rock and my salvation, he is my fortress; I will not be shaken.
Psalm 62:6 NIV
Andi Lincoln NE
Oops- forgot the verse.
My victory and honor come from God alone. He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me. Ps 62:7 NLT
Beth Webster Waco, Texas
2 Corinthians 9:8 ESV
“And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having sufficiency in all things at all times you may abound in every good work.”
Cassidy from St. Louis, MO
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV
Andi, Rockwall, TX
“I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Praise be to you, O Lord, teach me your decrees.”
Psalm 119:10-12 NIV
Trish in Saginaw, TX
Listen to me! You can pray for anything, and if you believe, you will have it. Mark 11:24 (NLT)
Show me your paths and teach me to follow; guide me by your truth and instruct me. You keep me safe, and I always trust you. Psalm 25:4-5 CEV
(6YO) Lord, help me learn your ways. Show me how you want me to live. Psalm 25:4 ERV
(2YO) Be kind and loving to each other. Eph. 4:32a ERV
Lynn in Frankfurt, Germany
Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”
Isaiah 30:21 (NIV)
Julie Brierley, Carlsbad, CA
“The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine powers to demolish strongholds. 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.”
2 Corinthians 10:4-5 (NIV)
Judy Hand Littleton NC
He sent forth his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave. Psalm 107:20 NIV
Amanda Seagoville TX
1 Peter 4:8(CEV)
8 Most important of all, you must sincerely love each other, because love wipes away many sins.
Dora, Houston, TX:
“Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” –Psalm 37:4 (NIV)
Nancy, Versailles, Kentucky
Rescue me and deliver me in your righteousness;
turn your ear to me and save me. -psalm 71:2 (NIV84)
Ashley from Knoxville, TN
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
Joshua 1:9
NASB
Kaylenn, Temple, TX
2 Timothy 1:7
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
Lynn, Horseheads, NY
My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples. (John 15:8 NASB)
Linda – LPM, Houston, Psalm 25:5(HCS) Guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; I wait for You all day long.
Birmingham, AL
Whatever is lovely – think about such things.
Philippians 4:8 NIV
Sondra, Lincoln, Calif.’
Oh, Lord, God! Behold, Thou hast made the heavens and earth by Thy great power and by Thine outstretched arm!
Nothing is too difficult for Thee.
Jeremiah 32:17 NAS
Kristy Dorminy
Woodstock, GA
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.”
Matthew 13:45-46 ,NAS
Patty, Allison Park, PA
“One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.”
Psalm 27:4 NIV
3 John 1:4
I have no greater joy than to hear thay my children are walking in the truth. (NIV)
Psalm 18:2 Amplified bible
The Lord is my Rock, my Fortress, and my Deliverer; my God, my keen and firm Strength in Whom I will trust and take refuge, my Shield, and the Horn of my Salvation, my High Tower.
Lori from Plano, TX “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” Psalm 139:14 NIV
Ashley Carter from Knoxville, TN
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
Joshua 1:9
NASB
Knoxville, TN
2 Samuel 7:25
“And now, Lord God, keep forever the promise you have made concerning your servant and his house. Do as you have promised, so that your Name will be great forever.”
NIV
“But now Jesus,our High Priest,has been given a ministry that is far superior to the old priesthood, for He is the one who mediates for us a far better covenant with God based on better promises.” Hebrews 8:6 NLT
do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God – Phillipians 4:6 ESV
Lissa from Granbury, TX “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain” Hebrews 6:19, NIV
Consider this: whoever sows sparingly will reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will reap bountifully.
2 Corinthians 9:6 NAB
James 5:16
Confess your faults to one another, that ye may be heeled. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
Leigh, Woodway, TX. All your children shall be taught by the LORD, and great shall be the peace of your children.” Isaiah 54:13 ESV
No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. (1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV)
Christina Frailey Modesto, Ca
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.
Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
(Phil. 4:13). NLT
Valerie
Sparks, Nevada
I will teach all your children, and they will enjoy great peace. Isaiah 54:13 NLT
Alicia; Riverton, UT. “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore, you are of more value than many sparrows.” Matthew 10:29-31, ESV
that was KJV for James 5:16!! 🙂
donna huneycutt, mt. pleasant nc
For they are not meaningless words to you but they are your life, and by them you will live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess. Deuteronomy 32:47
Jo, Columbia, Missouri
This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 1 John 1:5 NIV
Carrie Gill, Tyler, TX. “Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man who makes the Lord his refuge and trust, and turns not to the proud or to followers of false gods.”
Psalm 40:4. AMP
Carol Walter – Salem, MO
Psalm 118: 5-6 NIV.
“In my distress I prayed to the Lord, and the Lord answered me and set me free. The Lord is for me so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?”
John 17:17 NIV, “Sanctify them by the truth; your Word is truth.”
Barb R.
Victoria, BC
Isaiah 59:1 KJV
Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:
Melanie, Mineola, TX Be still and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10 NIV