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
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches the hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. Romans 8:26-27 ESV
Tammy H in Van, TX Jeremiah 29:11 NIV 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.
Laura, Bossier City
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.
Ephesians 3:20 NIV
“Jesus is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Hebrews 13:8
Caitlyn – Blacksburg, VA
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7 NIV)
Mandi from Oklahoma:
In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin, but he the refraineth his lips is wise.
Proverbs 10:19 KJV
“Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; Distributing to the necessity of the saints; given to hospitality. Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.”
Romans 12:10-15 KJV
Stephanie, Valrico, FL. “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”
Hebrews 12:1, NIV84
Psalms 118:14 The Lord is my strength and my might; He has become my salvation. (NRSV)
Callie Superior, WI
Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is going through the same kind of suffering.
1 Peter 5:8-9 (NIV)
Skeet from Monroe, GA.
Isaiah 30:18 NIV
Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!
Lauralee Courtney Austin, TX
Trust in the Lord with all you heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make all your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV
Laura, Savannah, GA
Philippians 2:2 “then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.” (NIV)
Kimberly L, New Castle, “Arise, shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.” Isaiah 60:1, NIV
Diane from Littleton, CO
Ephesians 1:18 NIV
I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints,
Dee Dee Walker, Smyrna, GA – “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” Philippians 4:8 (ESV)
Cheryl Midlothian Va
My sisters ( brothers) take note of this : everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to be angry for mans anger does not bring about the righteous life God desires.
James 1:19 NIV
Melody- Greenville, SC Phillipians 4:6
New Living Translation (NLT)
6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.
Ginny- Atlanta, GA
“Fearing human beings is a snare; but he who trusts in ADONAI will be raised high [above danger].”
Proverbs 29:
Marie, Greenville, SC
“But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, the are without understanding.” 2 Corinthians 10:12 NIV
Lea Ann McFarland in McKinney TX
“You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you. Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock.”
Jeremiah 26:3-4
Rhonda, Hattiesburg, MS. Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations. Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. Psalm 90:1-2 NIV
Stacie
Tenaha, TX
“Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.”
Psalm 73:25 NIV
But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. Romans 8:6 NLT
Mary Ann, Woodbury, MN
All your children shall be taught by the LORD, and great shall be the peace of your children.” Isaiah 54:13 ESV
Becky, Medford, OR
For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.
James 3:16-17 NIV84
Jacki Blaylock; McCurtain, Ok.
“He must increase, but I must decrease.” (John 3:30 ESV)
Amy in Clarkesville, GA
This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
John 15:8 NIV
Kelli, Apex NC
“And above all these put on love , which binds everything together in perfect harmony.”
Colossians 3:14
Jennifer Johnston from Leesburg, GA
“Cast your burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.” Psalms 55:22 NASB95
Do not be anxious about anything
but in every situation, by prayer and
petition, with thanksgiving, present your
requests to God.
Darlene, Pittsfield, NH
“For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
Luke 12:34 NASB
Jodie Dye in Perrysburg, OH
I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.
Romans 8:18 NIV
Deb in Ruthven Canada
For the eyes of The Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him.
2Chronicles 16:9 NIV
Carrie D,Boonville,Indiana
God’s Spirit doesn’t make us cowards out of. The Spirit gives us power, love and self-control.
2 Timothy 1:7 CEV
Kathy Schettler Boerne, TX
“Can you find out the deep things of God? Can you find out the limit of the Almighty? It is higher than heaven —what can you do? Job 11:7 ESV
Rev 21:2
And I saw the Holy City, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. NASB
Lori from Toledo
2 Sam 14:14 Like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be recovered, so we must die. But God does not take away life, instead, He devises ways so that a banished person may not remain estranged from Him. NIV 1984
Lori in Pine Island, MN
“He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8 NIV
Becky in Norfolk, VA
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By His great mercy he gave us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
1 Peter 1:3 (NET)
Becky, Roswell, GA
“The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”
Psalm 118:6, NIV84
Seantea Burroughs, Los Angeles CA
“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)
Laci, Albany, Georgia
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.
Philippians 4:4,5 NIV
Micha in Flower Mound, TX
Psalm 121:1-2 I lift up my eyes to the mountains- where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth. NIV
Katherine, Akron, PA
1 Peter 5:10 ESV
And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.
Julie Speyer
Madison , Ga
Commit your way to The Lord, trust in Him and He will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.
Psalm 37:5-6
Brittney, Florissant, MO. “All things are possible for one who believes.” Mark 9:23 ESV
Karen, Springdale, Arkansas
Likewise, reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Let not sin, therefore, reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in its lusts.
Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin, but yield yoursleves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
Romans 6:11-13 KJV
Debbie Laureen, New Port Richey,
“Our help is in the name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” Psalm 124:8 NIV
Do not be anxious about anything,
but in every situation, by prayer
and petition, with thanksgiving,
present your requests to God.
Philippians 4:6 NIV