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;
9 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.
10 But He knows the way that I take;
when He has tried me, I shall come out as gold.
11 My foot has held fast to his steps;
I have kept his way and have not turned aside.
12 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.
“But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man shall be blessed in what he does.” James 1:25 NASB
Denise Tonn, Edmonton, Alberta
Adria A., Jackson TN
Show me the right path,O LORD; point out the road for me to follow. Lead me by Your truth and teach me, for You are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in You. Psalm 25:4,5 (NLT)
Candy Seale, Winchester, Texas
What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.
Psalm 56:3 KJV
MaryBeth Sauter Mechanicville,New York
I have upheld you since you were conceived
and have carried you since your birth. Even
to your old age and gray hair I am he, I am
he who will sustain you. I have made you
and I will carry you. Isaiah 46:3 NIV
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, oh Lord, my strength and my redeemer.
Psalm 19:14 Scofield Reference Bible
Karen S, Norfolk, VA: If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. 1 Cor 13:3 (NIV)
Leslie Bailey, Arvada, CO “And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, 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 3:17-19 NIV
Christina, Valley Center, CA “And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;” 1 Peter 1:5 KJV
Cambridge, England
The Lord will work out His plans for my life– for Your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever.
Don’t abandon me, for You made me. Psalm 138:8 (NLT)
Bobbi Potyok Fort Saskatchewan, Ab, CA
2 Samuel 22:34–35 (NIV)
34 He makes my feet like the feet of a deer;
he causes me to stand on the heights.
35 He trains my hands for battle;
my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
Psalm 103:1-5
Bless the Lord oh my soul, and all that is within me bless His holy name. Bless the Lord oh my sould and forget not all of His benefits: who forgives all of your iniquities, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your llife from destruction, who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagles.
NKJV
Cathy, Mobile, AL Show me the right path, O Lord;
point out the road for me to follow.
Psalm 25:4(NLT)
Coleen Beasecker from Greenville, Ohio
Joshua 1:9 ESV
Have I not commanded you? Be stronng and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.
Cece from Gilbert, Arizona
“…my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.”
Lamentations 3:20b-23, 25-26 (NIV)
Staci Adams, Harrisburg Pennsylvania: “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NIV
Debbie Edwards, Greer, SC 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
Stacey S., Palm City, FL
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. Isaiah 40:31
Ruth Augustine, Sparta,Mi: James 4:7 Submit yourselves, then to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you
Katheen Knowles
Clinton NC
“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.” Colossians 4:5-6
Brandy Fox, Siloam Springs, AR
So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for The Lord, for you know that nothing you do for The Lord is ever useless. NLT
Maria Bennett
Oxford, MS
In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.
Ephesians 4:26-27
Christine Caris, Newfield, NY
“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”
-Ephesians 4:29 NIV
Gail Ouimette, Tumalo, Oregon
” But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.”
James 1:22-25 NIV
Carrie Romero, La Grange, Missouri
“The LORD will fight for you; You need only to be still.” Exodus 14:14
NIV
Marcy Euless, TX
“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
Psalm 46:10(NIV)
Janell Dixon from Virginia Beach, VA: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” Psalm 23:4, NKJV
Candy from St Louis
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 sure and blameless for the day of Christ
Philipians 1:9-10 NIV
Fran Scott, Stafford TX, “Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” Phil 4:6, KJV
Shanna Roldan Pueblo,Co
Great is his faithfulness;his mercies begin afresh each morning. Lamentations 3:23 (NLT)
Katie, Columbus, Oh
The day my enemies turned tail and ran, they stumbled on you and fell on their faces. You took over and set everything right; when I needed you, you were there, taking charge.
Psalm 9:3-4 The Message
Karla, Broomfield, CO “Invigorate my soul so I can praise you well, use your decrees to put iron in my soul”. Psalm 119:175 MSG
Michelle Helmic, Lansing, Michigan. “Jesus said to him, if you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” Matthew 19:21 KJV
Heb. 13:15
Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of the lips that acknowledge his name. ESV
Nancy Clark from Tyler Texas “for it is God who works in u to will and to act according to His good purpose ” Phil 2:18 NIV
Tracy, Battle Creek, MI
“I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands.” Psalm 119:10 NIV
Jill, Troy, Kansas “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” 2 Corinthians 4:17 NIV
Karen Foster, Warsaw, IN
2 Corinthians 4:16 (ERV)
That is why we never give up. Our physical body is becoming older and weaker, but our spirit inside us is made new every day.
Sherry Bolander, Burlington, Iowa “God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.” 1 Cor. 1:27 NIV
Marie, Kinard, FL
Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
bind them around your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart.
Proverbs 3:3 NIV
Melissa Turner, Senatobia, MS
I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my portion of food. (Job 23:12b)
Courtney Rohloff, Morris, MN “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” Romans 8:18
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. (Philippians 4:6) ESV
Sandra Jones from Knoxville, TN: “But He knows the way that I take; when He has tried me, I shall come out as gold.” Job 23:10 NIV
Rachel – Le Mars, IA
For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:10 NLT
Christie Kelly from Neosho, MO
“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Mark 10:45 (NLT)
Nicole S, Oviedo FL Pslm 105:4 NIV “Look to the Lord and His strength, Seek His face always”
Lucy Wagenbach, Tremont, IL
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1 KJV
Ps. 121:1-2 I lift my eyes up to the hills. Where does my help come from? It comes from the Lord, maker of heaven and earth!
Cheryl Couperus, Redlands, CA
Psalms 84:4 (NIV)
“Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you.”
Misty Schoephoerster, Abilene, TX. “One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in his temple.” Psalm 27:4