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 onĀ 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)
8Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āBehold, I go forward, but He is not there,
and backward, but I do not perceive Him;
9Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 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.
10Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā But He knows the way that I take;
when He has tried me, I shall come out as gold.
11Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā My foot has held fast to his steps;
I have kept his way and have not turned aside.
12Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 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).Ā (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.
Gayla, Fullerton, California “And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow – not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below – indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39. NLT
Sarah,Knoxville TN,Malachi 3:10 NIV
Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,ā says the Lord Almighty, āand see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.
Stacy Baker, detroit michigan
Ephesians 4:1 “as a prisoner of The Lord then I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.” (NIV)
DeAnn
Friendswood,Tx
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
Jeremiah 29:13. ESV
JH, Dallas, TX. “The LORD will cause your enemies who rise up against you to be defeated before your face; they shall come out against you one way and flee before you in seven. The LORD will command the blessing on you in your storehouses and in all to which you set your hand, and He will bless you in the land which the LORD your God is giving you.” Deuteronomy 28:7-8 NKJV
Jen Wellman, Spring, Texas.
Psalm 65:3
“When iniquities prevail against me,
You atone for our transgressions.”
ESV
Jesus answered, āIt is written: āMan shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.
Vicki
Murfreesboro, TN
Exodus 33:14 (HCSB)
“Then He replied, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
Jennifer Tinsley, Indianapolis, IN. “The Lord himself watches over you! The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade. The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon at night. The Lord keeps you from all harm and watches over your life. The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever.” Psalm 121:5-8 NLT
Kris Morrissey, Omaha, NE
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners.
Isaiah 61:1 (NIV)
Theresa, Glendale AZ
” For You, Lord, are kind and ready to forgive, abundant in faithful love to all who call on You. Ps 86:5 (NKJV)
Tonya Moorhead Cleora,OK
So I will bless you as long as I’m alive; I will lift up my hands in your name.
Psalms 63:4
Tracie,Bristow VA
Colossians 1:16-17 HCSB
For everything was created by Him,
in heaven and on earth,
the visible and the invisible,
whether thrones or dominions
or rulers or authoritiesā
all things have been created through Him and for Him.
He is before all things,
and by Him all things hold together.
Phyllis Bertram
Grand Forks, ND
Now, O Lord God, confirm forever the word You have given as to Your servant and his house, and do as you have said.
2 Samuel 7:25. Amplified
Theresia Whitfield, Indianapolis, IN
“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:34
Shannon Pate
Little Rock, Arkansas
“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness.” 2 Peter 1:3 (NIV)
Robin Ridenour, Chambersburg, PA
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Colossians 3:23-24 NIV
Lynn Hildenbrand, Easton, MD
This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 1 John 4:9 NIV
Sharon Hyde, Independence, MO ~ “Donāt be afraid, for I am with you. Donāt be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.” Isaiahā¬ ā41ā¬:ā10ā¬ (NLT)
Christine Vaughan Ozark, Mo
Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “this is the way; walk in it.”
Isaiah 20:31
Kim from St. Charles, IL
23 The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips.
24 Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
Proverbs16:23-24 kjv
Tammy, McKinney, Texas
A good man brings good things out of the good stored in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. Luke 6:45 NIV
Teena Trumbo
Huntsville, AR
Psalms 18:28-29
28 You, O Lord, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light.
29 With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall.
Christine, Bozeman, MT 2 Thess 1:11-12 ESV
That our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you and you in him according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ
Lisa Hohlt, West Seattle, Washington
“The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever.” – Psalm 138:8 ESV
Linda from Enumclaw, WA
Psalm 51:11 ESV
Cast me not away from your presence
And take not your Holy Spirit from me.
Lorie McFee, Weaverville, NC
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Psalms 73:26 (NIV)
Merilee , New Sharon, Iowa
Psalms 119: 21 You rebuke those cursed proud ones who refuse your commands –CLB
Shawn AZ
Psalm 100:4: Enter into His gates with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him and bless His name.
NKJV
John 13:7 NIV “Jesus replied, āYou do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.ā
Kayla Bollman, Fargo, ND
“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6 ESV
Amanda – Austin, Tx
Encourage the exhausted, ad strengthen the feeble. Say to those with anxious heart, “take courage, fear not. Behold, your God will come with vengeance; The recompense of God will come, but He will save you.”
Isaiah 35:3-4 NASB
Let all that I am wait quietly before God,
for my hope is in him.
Psalm 62:5(NLT)
I will bless the Lord at all times, His praise shall continually be In my mouth.
PS 34:1
AMP
Melissa Sangster, Simpsonville, KY
“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edge sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”
Hebrews 4:12-13 NIV
“The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.”
Psalm 9:9-10 NIV
Adrianna Anderson
Pinson, Al
The Lord is my light and my salvation–whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life–of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1 (NIV)
Karen Stark
Tallahassee, FL
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
And He is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything He might be preeminent.
Col. 1:15 & 18 ESV
Filling in verses to complete Col. 1:15-20
Kelly from Jefferson City, MO
āI 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.ā
John 16:33 (NIV)
“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
For men are not cast off by the Lord forever. Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love,
Lamentations 3:31-32
Karen, Minneapolis, MN
Colossians 3:23 (NIV)
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men,
Laura, Clay Center, KS
John 8:12 (ESV)
Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
Jen I., Eaton, OH Micah 6:8 NIV
“He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”
Lorna Coonrad Austin Texas
1Corinthians 13:13 NIV
And now these three remain:
Faith, Hope and Love.
But the greatest of these is Love.
Hannah, Fuquay, NC
Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the LORD rises upon you and his glory appears over you. Isaiah 60:1-2, NIV
Cara Reyes
Dickinson Texas
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said , “never will I leave you never will I forsake you.”
Herrews 13:5
NIV
Adrienne, Valdosta, GA
“May mercy and peace and love be multiplied to you.”
Jude 2 NASB
Monroe, Washington
I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”
Psalm 91:2
ESV
O LORD, You are my God; I will exalt You and praise
Your name, for in perfect faithfulness You have done marvelous things, things planned long ago.
Isaiah 25:1 (NIV) Kathy Freshwater, Vonore, TN