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
Susie H. from McKinney, Texas
“Because Your lovingkindness is better than life,
My lips shall praise You.” (NKJV)
Psalm 63:3
Jennifer, Cleveland 2 Timothy 1:7 (NIV) – For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.
John 14:1, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. NIV
Lindsay from Nashville, TN “Search me O God and know my heart. Try me and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there be any hurtful way in me. And lead me in the everlasting way.” Psalm 139:23-24 NASB
Mary, Spring TX
“I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.”
Proverbs 8:17 (NIV)
Megan from Sioux Falls, SD.
“But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” -Matthew 6:17-18 NKJV
Mindy B, Gloster, LA – And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. 2 Kings 6:17 NIV
Nicole, Ortonville, MI
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.
Psalm 19:14
Brandy Reed in Raceland, LA
“Because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.” James 1: 3
Sarah B
Gainesville, Ga
But He said to me,”My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV
Keturah
Wilson, NC
Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NASB
Maddy in Prattville, AL
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.
Psalm 19:14 NASB
Crystal Sullivan, West Palm Beach, FL, Psalm 73:23-26- Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel; and afterward you will receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. ESV
Kristi, Fayetteville, AR
Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.
Proverbs 29:25 (ESV)
18) There is no fear in love: but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. I John 4:18
JILL FROM PRINCETON, NC
1COR 14:1 “LOVE IS PATIENT, LOVE IS KIND” NIV
Katy from Snellville, GA:
Isaiah 55:8-9
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways”, declares the Lord. 9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (NIV84)
Katie Sura, West Palm Beach
23 Nevertheless, I am continually with you;
you hold my right hand.
24 You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will receive me to glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but you?
And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.
26 My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength[a] of my heart and my portion forever.
Psalm 73:23-26
Beth, London ON
Isaiah 54:13 ESV All your children shall be taught by the LORD, and great shall be the peace of your children. (thank you Beth – perfect verse!)
Ashley Pointer from Spring, Texas
You crown the year with your bounty, and your carts overflow with abundance. Psalms 65:11 NIV
Naomi, Colorado Springs, CO
“You crown the year with your bounty, and your carts overflow with abundance.” Psalm 65:11
“He was wounded for our transgressions. He was bruised for our iniquities. The chastisment of our peace was upon Him. And by His stripes we are healed.” Isaiah 53:5 NKJV
Sherri Smith, Bellevue Nebraska,
“All your children will be taught by the LORD, and great will be their peace.” Isaiah 54:13, NIV
Anne, Lady Lake Fl
29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Mt 11:29 NIV
Jennifer- Charlotte, NC
“Be joyful in hope, faithful in affliction and fervent in prayer” Romans 12:12 ESV
Nora in Huntington, WV – Luke 10:2 “These we’re his instructions to them: “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.” (NLT)
Shanalea from Riverside, ca The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving. Psalm 28:7 NLT
Deborah, Higden AR ~ Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take. ~ Proverbs 3:6 NLT
Luke 9:23. Whoever wants to be my disciple must take up his cross daily and follow me. M’Lisa, Mtn Home, AR
For you know when your faith is testes, your endurance has a chance to grow,
James 2:3 NLT
Paula K
Muskegon, Michigan
My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands with you, turning your ear to knowledge and applying your heart to understanding – indeed if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.
Proverbs 2:1-5 NIV
Megan, Charleston WV. “You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.” Isaish 26:3 NIV
1 Peter 5:7 “Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about you” NLT
Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4 NIV
Lauren from Charlotte, NC
“I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” Psalm 119:10-11, NIV.
Auneca from Donalsonville, GA
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Your sight, oh LORD, my strength and my redeemer
Psalms 19:14 NKJV.
Mary Beth, Tennessee (Missouri today!)
… let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out of us, fixing our eyes on Jesus the pioneer & perfecter of our faith….
Hebrews 12:1b-2a (NIV)
Cathy from Chesapeake Beach, MD
Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did. I John 2:6 NIV
Brandy, Ashland City, TN – Psalm 39:6 NLT – We are merely moving shadows, and all our busy rushing ends in nothing. We heap up wealth, not knowing who will spend it.
Cindy in Raleigh NC
Ephesians 3:20-21 NIV
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, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen.
Linda, Ashville, OH
Psalms 57:2
I call to God Most High, To God [who] is perfecting for me. (YLT)
Ginny from Rice Lake, WI
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight,
O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
Psalm 19:14 ESV
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
Tracy from Kentucky, In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; Ephesians 6:16 ESV
Beth in Jonesboro, AR
Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 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.
Romans 12:1-2, NASB
Sheila from Florida
Fear of the LORD is the foundation of true wisdom. All who obey his commandments will grow in wisdom.
Psalm lll:10, NLT
Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me! For my soul trusts in You; and in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, until these calamities have passed by.
Psalm 57:1 NKJV
Kathy: Greer, SC
Show me your ways, O Lord,teach me your paths; quide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.
Ps 25:4-5 NIV
John 16:33 NIV
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.
April Kentucky
This is the day the Lord has made I will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalms 118:24 niv