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
Karen H. , Conway AR
NAS – phillipians 4:8
Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is [e]lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, [f]dwell on these things
Katie West, Augusta, Ga: Live wisely among those who are not Christians, and make the most of every opportunity. Col 4:6 NLT
Mary Anne, Saskatoon, SK
“The LORD your God, who is going before you, will fight for you, as He did for you in Egypt, before your very eyes, and in the desert. There you saw how the LORD your God carried you, as a father carries his son, all the way you went until you reached this place.” Deut 1:30-31 NIV
Jenny Ross, Lynnfield, MA
Command those who are rich in this present world to not be arrogand nor to put their hope in wealth which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.
1 Timothy 6:17, ESV
Wendy
Vero Beach
Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.
Ephesians 6:11 (NIV)
Becky, St. Augustine. “And he who searches our hearts
knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit
intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s
will.” Romans 8:27 NIV
Anne Atchison
S. Chesterfield VA
James 5:19-20
My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, remember this: whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and over over a multitude of sins.
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done. (Philippians 4:6 NLT)
Russellville, Arkansas
Betty M, Voltaire, ND
You know my sitting down and my rising up. You understand my thought afar off. Ps 139:2 NKJV
in Muscle Shoals, AL
Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. James 3:13 NIV
Romans 12:2 NASB
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
San Diego, CA
But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.
James 3:17 (NKJV)
Donna from Huntington, WV
“This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.” Joshua 1:8 NASB
Atlanta, Georgia
Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in The Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
2 Timothy 1:7
ESV
Cathy, Dallas
All your children shall be taught by the LORD, and great shall be the peace of your children.” Isaiah 54:13 ESV
Sonya from Frisco, TX “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 NIV.
Heather, Shokan, New York
Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that which is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed. Hebrews 12:12-13 NKJV
Gretchen, Gahanna, Ohio–But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing the Lord’s praises for He has been good to me!! Psalm 13:5-6 NIV
Kelly, Charlotte, NC
Oh that we might know the LORD! Let us press on to know him. He will respond to us as surely as the arrival of dawn or the coming of rains in early spring.
Hosea 6:3 NLT
Karla~Sedro-Woolley~Acts 3:19~HCSB
Therefore repent and turn back that your sins may be wiped out so that seasons of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.
“For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the spirit set their minds on the things of the spirit.”
Romans 8:5 ESV
Samantha, London, England.
“You will seek me and FIND ME when you seek me with ALL your heart”
Jeremiah 29:13 ESV
Nancy, Lee’s Summit, MO
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:7 NIV
Stephanie, Hamilton GA John 15:8 “By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. ESV
Jada,Chattanooga,TN
James 1:2-3
Consider it all joy my brethren,when you encounter various trials,knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
Carmen, Knoxville
Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Psalm 51:10 NIV
“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,” Isaiah 61:1 (NIV)
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
Dee, Zeeland, MI from NIV84:
Isaiah 40:10
“See, the Sovereign LORD comes with power, and his arm rules for him. See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him.”
Sandra, Swainsboro, GA
I have not departed from the commands of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread. Job 23:12 NIV
Patti, Clemmons, NC
For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.
2 Corinthians 2:15 NIV
Christene from London, Canada
Isaiah 40:28-40 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Austin Pulliam, Cary, NC
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not harm you, plants to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 NIV
He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. Psalms 91:1 KJV
When I am afraid, I will trust in you. Psalms 56:3 HCSB
Julie, Lexington, KY
After this, the Word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.” NIV84
Jeanene, Newnan, GA
“Peace I leave with you,my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
John 14:27 KJV
“Don’t worry about anything; instead pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.” Phil 4:6 NLT
Michelle K., Warner Robins, GA “So I sent messengers to them, saying, ‘I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?'” Nehemiah 6:3 NASB
Ginny Wilson, Ooltewah, TN
“All your children shall be taught by the Lord, and great shall be the peace of your children.”
Isaiah 54:13 ESV
Carrie James from Aubrey, TX
2 Corinthians 13:11 (NIV) Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.
Teri, Wayne, MI
Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him. – Isaiah 64:4 NIV
Sarah Baker, Louisiana
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. Colossians 4:2
Jenna from Sandusky, Ohio.
“Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?” Luke 6:41 NASB
Angie, Columbus,Ohio
New International Version
Psalm 139:2
You know when i sit and when i rise
You perceive my thoughts from afar
Betina Brandon, Brandon, Mississippi, Because the Sovereign L ord helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore, I have set my face like a stone, determined to do his will. And I know that I will not be put to shame. (Isaiah 50:7 NLT)
Deb, Kokomo, Indiana
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 3:5,6 NIV84
JoRene from Aurora, Illinois:
“Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong.” 1 Corinthians 16:13 (NLT)
We need to put on our armor every day ladies!