Hey, you Scripture memory fiends! I am so proud of you guys for keeping your numbers up with your second verses! There can be a really big drop out between the hype surrounding the first verse and the discipline that starts kicking in with the second verse. Stay at it, you guys. Not one of you will be sorry you did. No one is going to get to the finish line next December 15th and say it wasn’t worth the work. God is far more faithful than that. He rewards those who seek Him (Hebrews 11:6) and diligently uses His Word to equip us in our callings (2 Timothy 3:16-17). He uses His Word to make us wiser, more aware of His will, more fortified against temptation, and more alive in His Spirit. He uses His Word to make us less gullible when our hearts are trying to deceive us, when someone we love is trying to mislead us or when Satan himself is trying to seduce us. Be encouraged. Not one ounce of your effort is wasted.
Here is the biggest key to accomplishing this task: throughout the entire process, continually ask God to enable you to memorize. In John 14:26, Christ tells His followers that the Holy Spirit is the one who will “bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” Proactively taking Him up on this assurance has been strategic through the years I’ve memorized Scripture. Over and over I convey to God that I know only He can empower those inspired words on the page to find a permanent place in my memory and a home in the marrow of my bones. I call upon His Spirit in Jesus’ Name to stir up those verses in me and remind me of every word and phrase.
When you’re able to say your verse with any accuracy at all, start thanking Him. Do it right then. Completely engage in the relational side of your memory work. That will be by far the biggest success in this endeavor. God is after your heart, not just your mind. He’s not just looking for your discipline. He wants to be your desire. His aim is relationship. Ask Him to help you then thank Him when He does it. When you’re working on a beautiful verse, tell Him you think it’s beautiful. When you keep stumbling over one particular word, ask Him right then to help you get that phrase straight. His Word is God speaking to you so speak back. Use it as an invitation to dialogue. Is the verse really hard? Say to Him, “This verse is killing me here, Lord. I can’t seem to get it. Grant it to me. Help me with it.” Get what I’m saying? This way He gets all the glory in every success and we get immeasurable gain.
This I promise you: God’s objective for you and me in 2015 is not for us to memorize 24 verses. It’s for us to draw nearer and nearer to Him, love Him more, know Him more, trust Him more, and believe Him more. To let His Word go down deep where He wants it. To invite it fervently and proactively to abide in us and bring vivacious life to us. To meditate on His words and to prize them more than our daily bread. Job said it this way: “I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my portion of food.” (Job 23:12b) That’s what these 24 verses are about. So, let’s engage with Jesus throughout the entire process. THAT, at the end of our journey, is what will determine our success.
I think I just changed my mind on what I want to present you for my 3rd verse. I am doing memory work out of the Book of Ephesians right now but I don’t happen to be on a verse that stands alone in a comprehensive enough way to offer it to someone to share. Mentioning Job in the previous paragraph stirred up in my memory how much I love that 23rd chapter. Savor the gorgeousness of verses 8-12. (ESV)
8      “Behold, I go forward, but He is not there,
and backward, but I do not perceive Him;
9Â Â Â Â Â Â on the left hand when He is working, I do not behold Him;
He turns to the right hand, but I do not see Him.
10Â Â Â Â Â Â But He knows the way that I take;
when He has tried me, I shall come out as gold.
11Â Â Â Â Â Â My foot has held fast to his steps;
I have kept his way and have not turned aside.
12Â Â Â Â Â Â I have not departed from the commandment of his lips;
I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my portion of food.
Translation of verses 8-10??? I may not know where God is right now in my situation but of this I’m sure: He knows where I am. Isn’t that powerful? Then, behold the faith and steadfastness of Job in that 10th verse: because God is at work and is at the helm, “I will come forth as gold” (NIV). (If you get a chance, glance at how perfectly that concept corresponds with 1 Peter 1:7.) I believe Job 23:10 is the exact verse I want to choose this time around and I think I’ll use the NIV. So here goes:
Beth Moore, Houston, Texas. But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold. Job 23:10 NIV
Hit it, Girls.
So honored to study and memorize Scripture with you. Much, much love to you.
Keri, Fresno, CA
Colossians 3:23 New International Version (NIV)
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,…”
Fokelien Haije-Ploeg, Amersfoort, The Netherlands – Want niet door de wet is de belofte aan Abraham of zijn nageslacht gedaan, dat hij een erfgenaam van deze wereld zou zijn, maar door de gerechtigheid van het geloof. Romeinen 4:13 (HSV)
Elisabeth
Pretoria, South Africa
“You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.” Psalm 139:3 NIV
May the God of hope fill you with all the 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
Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
Psalms 51:10 (NKJ)
Wendy, West Monroe, La.
The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?
Psalm 27:1 NKJV
Mandi N, Sugarcreek, Oh
Matthew 7:8 NIV
“For everyone who asks receives; the who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”
Jami Miltenberger, Olathe, KS: “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.” Ephesians 4:31 (NIV)
James 1:5
” If any of you lacks wisdom let him ask of God
who gives generously to all without reproach and it will be given him. “
Carla, Missouri
Show me the right path O Lord; point out the road for me to follow.
Psalms 25:4 NLT
Annette B.
Reno, NV
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
Psalm 46:2 NIV
Judy – Kansas City – Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NLT)
Shannon, Churubusco, IN
“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:18 (NIV)
Alison Wagler, Vancouver, Canada. Matthew 6:34 NKJV
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Diane from Modesto, Ca.
If therefore you have not been faithful in the use of worldly wealth, who will entrust the true riches to you? NASB
Rhonda Mckamie, Oklahoma City, James 3:16, NIV, “For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and every evil practice.”
Tina Dill, Biloxi, MS 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.
Sharon, Riverside, Ca.
Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens. Psalm 68:19 NIV
Catherine Hines, Orlando, Florida
“I remember the days of long ago;
I meditate on all your works
and consider what your hands have done.
I spread out my hands to you;
I thirst for you like a parched land.”
Psalm 145:5-6 NIV
Chris Wheeler Bend, OR But seek first the kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will given to you as well. Matt 6:33 NIV
Cathy, Orofino, ID
The world and its desires pass away but the one who does the will of God lives forever! 1John 2:17 NIV
Karen Whatley, Little Rock, Arkansas
By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days. Hebrews 11:30 NIV
Jackie UK
Luke 5 37-38 NET
And no-one pours new wine into old wineskins
If he does, the new wine will burst the skins and will be spilled and the skins destroyed.
Instead,new wine must be poured into new wineskins.
Dana, Rogers, AR “The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance.” Psalm 16:6 NIV
Hi Dana! I love it when I see another SSMT Sista from Arkansas. I live in Pottsville, a little town right past Russellville. Let’s do this thang!! I pray God blesses you and I with ability to memorize His Word for His Glory!
Michelle, Houston, “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2, NIV
Melana Cummings Sheridan Wyoming
Numbers 6:24-26 (NIV)
The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.
“When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.” Psalm 94:19
Heather, Colorado Springs, CO
Who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases. Ps. 103:3 NIV
Diane from Modesto, Ca.
Luke 16:11 NASB
If therefore you have not been faithful in the use of worldly wealth, who will entrust the true riches to you?
Conni, Columbia MD
“He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.” Psalm 40:2 NIV
Terra Mueller, Broomfield, CO
“I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” Psalm 119:11 NIV
Sarah Miller
New Palestine IN
Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always. (â€1 Chronicles‬ â€16‬:â€11‬ NIV)
Since ancient time 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 (HCSB)
Sara, Bristol, VA
Proverbs 29:17 New Living Translation (NLT)
17 Discipline your children, and they will give you peace of mind
and will make your heart glad.
Patty Lincoln, Columbia, SC: “The glory strength God gives is strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy, thanking the Father who makes us strong enough to take part in everything bright and beautiful that He has for us.” Col. 1:11-12 MSG
Jackie, Versailles, KY
“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.” 1 Peter 5:10 ESV
Evan, Charlotte NC
Ephesians 1:16 NIV
I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.
Karen – “Because of your unfailing love, I can enter your house; I will worship at your temple with deepest awe.” Psalm 5:7 (NLT)
This is such a beautiful verse! It’s because of HIS love we are able to worship Him. 🙂
Codie Chevalier, Loudon, NH.
“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12 ESV
Jane Amos – Clarks Summit, pa
‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty’ John 6:35 (esv)
Mary from Tiffin, my verse this time is Psalm 27:8 (esv)
My heart says to you, “Your face, Lord, do I seek.”
Jan Morton
Hawkinsville, GA
Colossians 4:2
Continue steadfastly in prayer,
being watchful in it with thanksgiving.
Karen Roberson, Cullman, AL. Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are good, your whole body is also full of light. But when they are bad, your body also is full of darkness. See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness. Luke 11:34-35 NIV
Janet, Columbus, GA – “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.” –Colossians 3:1, NIV
Morgan, Denver, Colorado “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. ” Psalm 23:1-3 NASB
Ann Seaney, Santa Cruz, Bolivia
“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.” Hebrews 10:23 NIV
Mipa, Nottingham, UK
Some people make cutting remarks,
but the words of the wise bring healing. Proverbs 12:18 (NLT)
“You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you.
Hear my prayer, LORD; listen to my cry for mercy.
When I am in distress, I call to you, because you answer me.” Psalm 86:5-7 NIV
Dacia Edmonson, Bullard, Texas.
Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. Proverbs 16:24 NIV
Laura Hagedorn, Rib Mountain, WI., My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you. On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night. Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me. They who seek my life will be destroyed; they will go down to the depths of the earth. They will be given over to the swordand become food for jackals. But the king will rejoice in God; all who swear by God’s name will praise him, while the mouths of liars will be silenced. Psalm 63:5-11 NIV