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.
“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” 2 Corinthians 4:16-17 (NIV)
Lauren, Rockledge FL
Psalm 37:23-24 “The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in Him; though he may stumble he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand.”
Kim Cliatt, Loganville, GA
“The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance.”
Psalm 16:6
NIV Oops!:-)
Joyce, Harrisonville, MO
The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.
Exodus 14:14, NIV
Cendi R. – Bakersfield, CA
John 14:21 NIV
“Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father and I too will love him and show myself to him”
Lisa Snyder in Montgomery, TX
Colossians 3:15B NIV
And be thankful.
Alicia, Edgewater Florida,
“And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,” Philippians 1:9-10, NIV
Veronica Lemon, Temple, TX
Seeing then that we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Hebrews 4: 14-16 (NKJV)
Melissa Emma, Scarborough, Maine: “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” Matthew 12:34 ESV
April, Boone, NC
And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Ephesians 3:17b-19 NIV
Judy, River Forest, IL
“I will say to the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in who I trust.” Psalm 91:2 NIV
Jessica Reed, San Diego, CA
Show me the right path, O Lord;
point out the road for me to follow.
Psalm 25:4(NLT)
Pam, Wassenaar, The Netherlanda
But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold. Job 23:10 NIV
Ashlen
Dayton, TN
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you. (â€Psalm‬ â€32‬:â€8‬ NIV)
Jennifer Olson, Wichita, KS “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Eph 2:10 NIV
Becky from central Pa
“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
Emily, Bothell WA
“For now we see only a reflection, as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.” 1 Cor 13:12 NIV
Dana Goodwin Ashland, Ky
And from the time John the Baptist began preaching until now, the Kingdom of Heaven has been forcefully advancing, and violent people are attacking it.
Matthew 11:12 NLT
Bev, Lexington, KY 1John 5:15-15 NLT This is the confidence which we have before Him,that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know He hears us in whatever we ask, we know we have the request which we have asked from Him.
Sharon Cox, Aransas Pass, Texas “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May those who love you be secure.” Psalm 122:6 NIV
Teresa, Callahan, Florida
Proverbs 31:12
She brings him good and not evil all the days of her life.
NIV
Lee Ann, Brentwood, TN “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” COL 3:17 NIV
This is good ~ a good reminder!
Anne Miller, Ballwin, Missouri “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” 1 Peter 3:15 NIV
Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. (â€Proverbs‬ â€3‬:â€5-6‬ NLT)
Cindy from Bend Or says
Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Hebrews 4:16 ESV
Kim – Greenfield Indiana “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” 1 Peter 5:7 NLT
Sheree Campbell, AZ “Call to me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things which you do not know” Jeremiah 33:3 (NKJV)
Jenny Tanner, Texas, Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. (â€1 Peter‬ â€4‬:â€8‬ NIV)
Carol, Waterloo, ON “Even when you are chased by those who seek to kill you, your life is safe in the care of the Lord your God, secure in His treasure pouch.” 1 Samuel 25:29a NLT
Robin, Knoxville, Ps 16:11 ESV
You make knopwn to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Shanda, from York, PA :”8Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name” (Philippians 2: 8-9 NASB).
Amanda, Genoa City, Wi
“As for God, His way is perfect; the Word of The Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust Him” Psalms 18:30
Careese in Amarillo, Texas.
But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold. Job 23:10 NIV
Emily Jenkins, Morristown Tn
Yes, the Lord has done Amazing things for us!! What Joy!!!
Psalms 126:3
Karin van Marken
Toronto,Canada
“Pay attention and listen to the sayings of the wise;
apply your heart to what I teach. For it is pleasing when you keep them in your heart and have all of them ready on your lips”
PROVERBS 22:17,18 (NIV)
Anne Shelby Township
But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold. Job 23:10 NIV
Fairfield, Ca.
For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.
1 Corinthians 1:25
Holly Belt, Spring Hill, TN
and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the Head over every power and authority.
Colossians 2:10
“Yahweh your God is among you, a warrior who saves. He will rejoice over you with gladness. He will bring you quietness with His love. He will delight in you with shouts of joy.” Zephaniah 3:17 Holman
Kim Davis – Lakeland, FL
Colossians 4:5-6 (NIV)
Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
Beth D, Madison, MS “And without faith, it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Hebrews 11:6 NIV84
Gina, Naperville, IL
I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13 NLT
Jennifer Walker, Fort Worth Tx. “Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalms 46:10 NASB
Jeremiah 29:11New (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.
Lisa Williams, Houston, TX “The man who feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him.” John 6:56 NAB
Tammy Decker from Mt Pleasant, SC.
“Praise the Lord! It is good to sing praises to our God; it is good and pleasant to praise him. 2 The Lord rebuilds Jerusalem; he brings back the captured Israelites. 3 He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds.” Psalm 147:1-3 NCV
Dana Roberts, McKinney TX. “For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, ”
1 Timothy 2:5 NIV
Rebecca, Akron, Ohio. “Before I formed you in your mother’s womb I chose you. Before you were born I set you apart. I appointed you to be a prophet to the nations.” Jeremiah 1:5 NET
Abigail Davey, Overland ParK, KS
1 Peter 5:8
“Be serious! Be alert! Your adversary, the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion looking for anyone he can devour.” (HCSB)
Sarah Woodard, Kansas City, MO
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. (â€Romans‬ â€12‬:â€2‬ ESV)