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
Kara, Chico CA. 1Pet. 1:13 NIV “Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.”
Pour out your hearts like water before the face of the Lord. Lift your hands toward him for the life of your children.
Lamentations 2:19
Erin, Evant- Texas
Lisa -Forsyth, IL
“Hold unswervingly to the hope we profess for He who promised is faithful!”
Hebrews 10:23 NIV
Julie H. Corpus Christi, TX
Isaiah 55:12 “You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace, the mountains and hill will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.” NIV
Carol, North Carolina
Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths;
guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.
Psalm 25:4-5
Jenn, Houston “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Romans 12:18 NIV
Beth, Louisville, “Don’t let your hearts be troubled, trust in God and trust also in me. ” John 14:1, NLT
Pat B. at Water Valley, MS
This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 1John 4:10 NIV
Andrea; Cartersville, GA: “I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free.” Psalm 119:32 NIV84
Sarah- Chattanooga, TN “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8 ESV
He will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways.
Psalm 91:11 NIV
Janice, Mountain View, Arkansas “This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” John 15:8 NIV
Martha Williams, Catawba, NC
1Corinthians 10:13(NASB)
No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it.
Isaiah 45: 5-6 (NLT)
I am the Lord; there is no other God. I have equipped you for battle, though you don’t even know me, so all the world from east to west will know there is no other God. I am the Lord, and there is no other.
Tami
Columbus, Ohio
Michaelene Beall – Loganville, GA “(S)he will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” Jeremiah 17:8 NIV
Nell, Chattanooga, Tn. Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. Romans 8:1
All your children shall be taught by the LORD, and great shall be the peace of your children.” Isaiah 54:13 ESV
Rosanna – St, Stephen,NB “the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us-” 1 John 1:2 ESV
“My people have committed two sins: they have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.” Jeremiah 2:13
Jessa from Grantville, PA:
Habakkuk 3:17-18 (NKJV)
17 Though the fig tree may not blossom,
Nor fruit be on the vines;
Though the labor of the olive may fail,
And the fields yield no food;
Though the flock may be cut off from the fold,
And there be no herd in the stalls—
18 Yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will joy in the God of my salvation.
Megan, Grants Pass, OR
So teach us to number our days, That we may present to Thee a heart of wisdom. Psalm 90:12 (NASB)
“Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.”
Matthew 7:20 (NLT)
Leanne – San Antonio, TX
This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. John 15:8
Isaiah 41:10 NLT
Don’t be afraid for I am with you.
Don’t be discouraged for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you,
I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.
Deena, Corona, CA
“Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouths; meditate on it day and night, so that you can be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”
Joshua 1:8. NIV
Hannah; Maryland;
1st John 4:18a (ESV)
“There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.”
Kim from Dimmitt, Texas “God is able to do far more than we could ever ask for or imagine. He does everything by His power that is working in us.” Ephesians 3:20 NirV
Jill- Rochester, MI
“We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.”
2 Cor. 10:5 NASB
Let us keep on running the race marked out for us. Hebrews 12:1b NlrV
Betsy, San Diego
Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us. NIV
Ephesians 3:20
Kim, Tucson, AZ
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
Hebrews 11:1. NASB
Jan – Marion, IA “Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.” 1 Thessalonians 5:24 NASB
Anna Gibbany Harrison, AR
“Be still, and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!” Psalm 46:10 (ESV)
Cindy, St. Louis, MO – “He rescues them from death and keeps them alive in times of famine.” Psalm 33:19 NLT
Monica Pribe, Blacklick, Ohio. “Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect”. Romans 12:2 ESV
Bethany from Katy, TX “Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” Psalm 90:12 NIV
daughter, Hannah “The LORD is my shepherd;I shall not want.” Psalm 23:1 NKJ
daughter, Maddy “How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word.”
Lacey, Katy, Tx Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9 NIV
Leah, Kansas City, MO “The Lord isn’t slow to do what he promised, as some people think. Rahter he is patient for yoursake. He doesn’t want to destroy anyone but wants all people to have an opportunity to turn to him and change teh way they think and act.” 2 Peter 3:9 GWT
Allyson, Summerville SC
“Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.” Romans 5:2, ESV
Teach me to do your will,
for you are my God;
may your good Spirit
lead me on level ground.
Psalm 143:10
Bobbie Murphy
Danville, KY
Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
And the young men shall utterly fall,
Isaiah 40:30 NKV
Courtney Eastman – Kingsport, TN: “In Him and through faith in Him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.” Ephesians 3:12 (NIV)
Jen from wyoming. All your children shall be taught by the Lord, and great shall be the peace of your children. Isaiah 54:13 ESV
Moore, OK
1 Thess. 5:16-18 (NET) Always rejoice. Constantly pray. In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.
Jennifer B.; Cincinnati, OH
Romans 8:6 Complete Jewish Bible translation
Having one’s mind controlled by the old nature is death, but having one’s mind controlled by the Spirit is life and shalom.
Ellisa-Tulsa, OK
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.” Colossians 3:23 NIV 84
Christy from Holland, MI
So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. John 8:36, NIV
Tiffany Feathers, Murfreesboro, TN
Joshua 1:9 NIV
“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.”
Corpus Christi, Lorraine, “Then Jesus said, ‘Did i not tell you that if you believed,
you would see the glory of God?” John 11:40 NIV
Dyersburg TN
You have been my hope, O Sovereign Lord, my confidence since my youth.
Psalm 71:5 NIV