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
Shannon Olson, Cardiff-by-the-Sea, CA
Psalm 70:4 (MSG)
Let those on the hunt for You sing and celebrate.
Let all who love Your saving way say over and over,
“God is Mighty!”
Cynthia – Charlotte, NC Teach me your way, O Lord, lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors. Psalm 27:11 NIV
Nina, Moore, OK
Psalm 65:11 – You crown the year with your bounty; your wagon tracks overlfow with abundance. ESV
“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?” Matt. 6:25-27 (ESV)
Shelley, Fort Walton Beach, FL; “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and He will establish your plans.” Proverbs 16:3 (NIV)
Jen, York, NE
But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. Romans 6:17-18 (NKJV)
Kendra Green, College Station, TX
But I will look to the Lord; I will wait on the Gof of my salvation. My God will hear me. Micah 7:7 (HCSB)
Longview, tx
Psalms 19:14 NIV
“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.”
Jess–Columbia, MO
John 16:33 NIV “I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you may have trouble. But take heart: I have overcome the world.”
“You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast because he trusts in you. Isaiah 26:3 NIV
Tracy, Sidney, Ohio
So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Galatians 6:9 NLT
“The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your love, O LORD, endures forever–do not abandon the works of your hands. Psalm 138:8 NIV
Heidi, Oak Harbor ~ “He knows the way that I take; when He has tried me, I shall come out as gold. My foot has held fast to his steps; … I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my portion of food.” Job 23:10-12 ESV
Bri from Visalia, CA. Isaiah 61:3b (NIV)
“to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes,the oil of joy instead of mourning,and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness,a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.”
Briley, Alexandria, Va: Hebrews 10:22-23 (God’s Word Translation)
22Â We have been sprinkled with his blood to free us from a guilty conscience, and our bodies have been washed with clean water. So we must continue to come to him with a sincere heart and strong faith. 23We must continue to hold firmly to our declaration of faith. The one who made the promise is faithful.
Lisa, Darden, TN
Hebrews 6:19 (NIV)
We have this hope as an anchor fo rthe soul, firm and secure.
Page, Tucson, Arizona
Isiaih 43:1
But now, this is what the Lord says, he who created you, Jacob
He who formed you, Israel:
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you,
I have summoned you by name;
You are mine.
Kristi, Seagrove Beach, FL
“All your children shall be taught by the Lord and great shall be the peace of your children.” Isaiah 54:13 ESV
I refresh the humble and give new courage to those with repentant hearts. Ish 57:15 (TLB)
Peggy from Bangor, Maine: “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV84
Chelsea, Forest, MS. “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, NIV
Charlotte, England
Habakkuk 2:3 (ESV)
“For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end – it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it, it will surely come; it will not delay”
Woodstock, Ga.
Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust him.Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.
Ephesians 3:17(NLT)
Shauna, Buda, TX
Hebrews 10:23, NLT
Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.
“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
Those who guard their lips preserve their lives, but those who speak rashly will come to ruin. Prov. 13:3
Jaclyn, Houston. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation, for you I wait all the day long.
Psalm 25:5,ESV
Rachel Wanzer, Owasso, OK
Psalm 121:2 NIV
“My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.”
Fran – Eden Prairie, MN.
Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. NIV
Janine, Minneapolis, MN
“This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” John 15:8 (NIV)
Maxine, Southlake, Tx
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10 NIV
Yolanda, El Paso, TX
“Be joyful 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)
Alison from Southport, NC. “Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against you.” Psalm 119:11. NKJV.
Meghan Dicke, Van Wert, Ohio- Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-21 NIV
John 15:8 (NIV)
This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
Mark 11:24-25 NLT
24 “I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours.
25 “But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too*.”
~*11:25 Some manuscripts add verse 26, But if you refuse to forgive, your Father in heaven will not forgive your sins. [Compare Matt 6:15]
Suan, Pittsburgh, PA
Psalm 18:30 (RSV)
This God – his way is perfect; the promise of the Lord proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.
Jenny, Branson, MO
Matthew 6:34 MSG
Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.
Kristin from Kentucky:
Psalm 25:1-11
King James Version (KJV)
25 Unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.
2 O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me.
Lisa, Plano, TX: “So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.” Hebrews 10:35-36 NIV
Myra H, St. Louis, “Trust in Him at all times you people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah” Psalm 62:8 (NKJV)
Cindy, Mount Gilead
Psalm 27:1 Amplified
The Lord is my light and my salvation –
whom shall I fear or dread?
The Lord is the refuge and stronghold of my life –
of whom shall I be afraid?
Jessica
Westminster, MD
“Listen! It’s the voice of someone shouting, “Clear the way through the wilderness for the Lord! Make a straight highway through the wasteland for our God!” – Isaiah 40:3
Jan, Athens,Ga
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power”
Ephesians 4:10, NIV
Barb from Kentwood MI
“Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full”. John 16:24 NKJV
Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT)
“For I know the plans I have for you, ” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you future and hope.”
Melanie from Georgetown
The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.
Isaiah 58:11 NIV
Denyse
Dallas, TX
Psalm 103:12
“As far as the east is from the west, so far has He forgiven our transgressions from us.”
Amy, Washington DC, “God-friendship is for God-worshipers;
They are the ones he confides in.” Psalm 25:14 The Message
forgot to add NIV