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
Lantana- Edmond, OK
“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.”
-Isaiah 45:5,6 NLT
Meinhild, Lyons, France
Jeremiah 33:3 (ESV)
3Â Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.
Carla Lee
Corryton, Tn
Hebrews 10:35 NASB
Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward.
Amanda-Clinton, MS
“But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions–it is by grace you have been saved.”
Ephesians 2:4-5 NIV
Jodi, Johnston, “Then the LORD touched my mouth and said ‘See, I have put my words in your mouth! Today I appoint you to…build other up and plant them.” Jeremiah 1:9-10
Elizabeth – Moore, OK
“And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” Galatians 5:24 (ESV)
Susan, Maynard MA
Psalm 52:1 – ESV
“Why do you boast of evil, O mighty man? The steadfast love of God endures all the day.”
Jennifer ~ Grandville, MI “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil, or fade.” 1 Peter 1:3-4a
Lisa~ Bethany, OK
James 2:2 NIV1984
Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in.
I’m memorizing the second chapter of James this year, just felt the need to explain why I chose this verse.
Donna – Dauphin, PA “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.” James 1:2-3 NIV
paula from denver a soft answer turns away wrath, but harsh words cause quarrels. proverbs 15:1 the living bible
Judy from Selah, WA
Psalm 34:2 – 3
“My soul shall make its boast in the LORD;
The humble shall hear of it and be glad.
Oh, magnify The Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together.”
NKJ
Megan-Upland, IN
If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.
James 1:5 NIV
Jennifer, London Ontario, Canada
Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)
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.
Callie
Eugene, Or
Proverbs 31:12
She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.
Lesley from Westminster, CO “Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,” Ephesians 6:14 (ESV)
Tana from Cataula, GA
“All your children shall be taught by the LORD, and great shall be the peace of your children.” Isaiah 54:13 ESV
Cindy – Fort Worth, TX
‘Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.’
Philippians 4:8 NIV
Brea Rich from Ripley, MS
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 NIV84
Sandra
Wichita Falls, TX
Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.
IS 43:19 ESV
Alisa, Chattanooga
He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all-how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Romans 8:32 NIV
Allison, Parker. Isaiah 40:31. 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. (NIV)
Wellington, Florida.
Love The Lord your God with all you heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. Mark 12:30 NIV
Jamee–Sanford, FL “So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.” Hebrews 10:35, NIV
Christa, Lenexa, KS:
For the word of the Lord holds true, and everything he does is worthy of our trust. Psalm 33:4 NLT
Denise
The Woodlands, Texas
Luke 4:19
To proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.
Lisa
Van Buren, AR
and whenever you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear this command behind you: “This is the way. Walk in it.”
Isaiah 30:21
HSCB
Jennie
Beaverton, OR
“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.”
Colossians 3:1-2
Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks looks at his face in the mirror
James 1:23-NIV
June Collinsville, IL
Psalm 100:1-2
Shout for joy to The Lord, all the earth. Worship The Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.
“Christ has set us free. He wants us to enjoy freedom. So stand firm. Don’t let the chains of slavery hold you again.” Galatians 5:1 NIRV
Robyn, Plano, TX
“If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given him.” James 1;5 (NIV)
Julie, Boerne TX
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.
Romans 15:13 NIV
Isa 29:14 Therefore once more I will astound these people with wonder upon wonder.
How great is our God!
Brenda,Jordan, MN Isaiah 54:13 ESV
“All your children shall be taught by the LORD, and great shall be the peace of your children.”
Philippians 3:9 NIV
And be found in Him not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ – the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.
Kristin, North Carolina, Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. (2 Corinthians 12:9 NLT)
Carole from Webb City, MO: Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5 NKJV
Danielle from Van Buren, AR:
“We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.”
-2 Corinthians 10:5
Natalie, Grand Prairie, Tx, In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. Romans 8:26 NIV
Stacy Detroit, MI
“They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, ‘The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.'” Lamentations 3:23-24 (NIV)
Rhonda
Gilmer
Philemon 1:3(NKJV)
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Julie Long- Bonaire, GA
Proverbs 31:11-12
The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life. (ESV)
Deanna, soon-to-be Houston, TX
For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways;
they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
Psalms 91:11-12
Hannah, Miramar Beach. “She is not afraid of bad news; her heart is firm, trusting in the Lord.”
Psalm 112:7 ESV
Psalm 29:9 The voice of the Lord twists the oaks and strips the forests bare. And in His temple all cry “Glory” NIV
Our bodies are the temple of the Lord
“Let the morning bring me word of Your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in You. Show me the way I should go, for to You I lift up my soul.”
Psalm 143:8 (NIV84)
Kristin
Calgary, AB Canada
1 Corinthians 2:9-10a (TNIV)
“However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived- these things God has prepared for those who love him” for God has revealed them to us by his Spirit.”
This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue, but with actions and in truth.
1 John 4:16-18 NIV
Tracy
Lake St. Louis
Sandy from Vienna, VA
Let them sacrifice thank offerings and tell of his works with songs of joy.
Psalm 107:22 NIV