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.
Sandra Kent, Gwinn MI “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. We love because He first loved us.” 1 John 4:18-19 ESV
Jacalyn Miles
Richmond, TX
1 Peter 4:7 ESV
The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers.
With God we will gain the victory, and He will trample down our enemies – Ps.60:12
And we all, with unveiled face, be holding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:18 ESV
Carol Bowen, Highlands, NC
Isaiah 26:3 ESV
You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you because he trusts in You.
Ginger, Shelby Twp., MI ~ 1 Corinthians 3:7 (NIV) “So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.”
Kaitlyn from Tampa, FL
“And we all, with unveiled faces reflecting the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another, which is from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”
2 Corinthians 3:18, New English Translation (NET)
Patience Nason, Citrus Heights, CA
“So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.” Rom. 8:1-2 NLT
Beth, Troy, MI “My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.” James 1:19-20 NIV
Charlotte Nix, Jacksonville, Florida. “and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind,” Ephesians 4:23 NASB
Mandy Helm
College Station, TX
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.
Galatians 5:16-17 (NASB)
Tammy L. Alexander,NC
“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise.” Ephesians 5:15 ESV
Misha McGill, Arroyo Grande, CA
“I will say to the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in who I trust.”
Psalm 91:2 NIV
Ruth Dale, Greenwood, MO “Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it.” Hebrews 13:2 NLT
Jenna McMurphy, New Orleans, LA
“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” 2 Corinthuans 10:5 (NIV)
Kylie Mitchell, Farmington, MO
“He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ.”
Colossians 1:28 (NIV)
Sarah Timmerman, Durham NC
The LORD came to Sarah, just as he had said, and the LORD did for Sarah what he had promised.
Genesis 21:1 ISV
Lesa, Garden City, Kansas
“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who is to come, the Almighty.”
Revelation 1:8 ESV
LaCretia Taylor, Cordova Tennessee
When Jesus heard this he told them “healthy people don’t need a doctor sick people do I have come to called not those who think they are righteous but those who know they are sinners”
Mark 2:17 NLT
Barb, Pittsburgh,Pa
“The LORD is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.” Psalm 145:9 NIV
Heather Morgan
Waxahachie, TX
Jeremiah 17:7-8 NLT
7 “But blessed are those who trust in the Lord
and have made the Lord their hope and confidence.
8 They are like trees planted along a riverbank,
with roots that reach deep into the water.
Such trees are not bothered by the heat
or worried by long months of drought.
Their leaves stay green,
and they never stop producing fruit.
“The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” Exodus 14:14 NIV
Denise, Stillwater, Oklahoma Philippians 4:8 New Living Translation
And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.
Stacy Parker, Byram, MS ESV; Galatians 6:9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.
Jennifer, Fort Worth, TX “The mouths of fools are their undoing, and their lips are a snare to their very lives.” Prov. 18:7 NIV
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of sound mind.
2 Timothy 1:7
NKJV
Victoria, Hooksett NH
I’m a KJV girl by birth, but the NIV says is perfectly!
“As for God, his way is perfect: The LORD’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him.” Psalm 18:30 (NIV)
Prayer please: that I might be constantly looking at Jesus in rough waters-thanks 🙂
Rachel McManus, Montgomery Texas
1 John 4:4 NASB
**You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.**
Johannah McNulty, Woodhaven NY
“But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.” 2 Thess 3:3
Lauren, Fort Worth, TX ” Honor your father and mother. Then you will have a long full life in the land the Lord your God is giving you.” Exodus 20:12 NLT
Ye shall not fear them: for the Lord your God he shall fight for you. – Deuteronomy 3:22
Kasi Walker – Tacoma, WA
Amanda Hodge, Sherman, TX
“Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love Him.” James 1:12 KJV
2/1/15: Matt. 7:14
For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it.
Katie, Wheatland Mo
Philippians 1:9-10 NIV
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,
Kathy Emeigh, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania “Then Jesus said, “Come to Me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle of heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” Matthew 11: 28-30 NLT
Karen Garlick, Westminster, Colorado “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
Carrie, Eure, NC
1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. 3 He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. 4 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 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever. Psalm 23 NKJV
YOU WILL SEEK ME AND FIND ME
WHEN YOU SEEK ME ALL YOUR HEART
JEREMIAH 29:13
Rachel, Atlanta, GA
“Give freely & become more wealthy; be stingy & lose everything.” Proverbs 11:24 NLT
You will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the message that gives life. Philippians 2:15b-16a (NIV)
When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.
Psalm 56:3 NIV
Kim W
Arlington, TX
Psalm 19:9 ESV
“the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether.”
Robin, Bentonville AR “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” Philippians 2:3-4 NIV
Sharon,Somerville, AL 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
“Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh the joys of those who take refuge in Him!”
Psalm 34:8 NLT
Ann Ft Lauderdale, FL
Alethea Savannah from Houston, TX
Psalm 34:1 ESV- “I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.”
Rebecca Copico, Monticello, AR
“Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.” Proverbs 3:9-10 (NIV)
Kayla N., Jacksonville, FL. “11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.” (â€Philippians‬ â€4‬:â€11‬ ESV)
“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/ NIV84
Jeanne from Floyds Knobs, Indiana
Susan Kuruvilla, Katy,TX “You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me” Psalm 139:5 ESV