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.
Lindsay Roe, Houston, TX
Better a patient man than a warrior, a man who controls his temper than one who takes a city.
Proverbs 16:32 (NIV)
Rebecca Alread, St Simons Island, GA. “Open up before God, keep nothing back; He’ll do whatever needs to be done: He’ll validate your life in the clear light of day and stamp you with approval at high noon.” Psalm 37:5-6, MSG
Valarie from Cincinnati, “You, O Lord, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light. With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall” psalm 18:28-29 NIV
Sarah Spencer, Marion, KS – 31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-32, ESV
Lisa Owen
Lakeville, MN
Psalm 143:10
Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. May your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing.
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.Jeremiah 29:11 NIV
Gena Carter
Elgin, Texas
“But I will sing of Your strength and will joyfully proclaim Your faithful love in the morning. For You have been a stronghold for me, a refuge in my day of trouble.”
(Psalm 59:16 HCSB)
Selena – Cordele, GA
Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.
Luke 24:45, HCSB
(Making this my prayer as I do the study A Woman’s Heart.)
But He knows the way I take ;when He has tested me ,I will come forth as gold .Job 23:10
Stacy, Ruston, LA “My victory and honor come from God alone. He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me.” Psalm 62:7 NLT
Karen Sanders, Burleson, Texas “This is love for God: to obey His commands. And His commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world.” 1 John 5:3, 4a NIV
Caroline, Broken Arrow, OK -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
Sabrina Brown, Pikesville, MD-
May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us;
establish the work of our hands for us—
yes, establish the work of our hands. Psalm 90:17 NIV
Barb of Crown Point – Do not fret because of evildoers, Psalm 37:1 NASB
Marianne G
Brandon, Manitoba, Canada
“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;I will counsel you with my eye upon you.
Psalm 32:8. ESV
Amy H, Eva, AL Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know. Jeremiah 33:3 (NIV)
Michelle, North Little Rock, AR
“‘I will restore you to health and heal your wounds,’ declares the Lord.” Jeremiah 30:17 (NIV)
Tessa Clark, Jefferson City, MO “Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:3-4 ESV
Hilary S.
Orlando, FL
But if someone claims to be a prophet and does not acknowledge the truth about Jesus, that person is not from God. Such a person has the spirit of the Antichrist, which you heard is coming into the world and indeed is already here. (1 John 4:3 NLT)
Amy, Murfreesboro, TN
Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
Ephesians 4:29, ESV
Kerry, Buckeye AZ – “Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.” 1 Peter 4:8 NASB
Laura, Pensacola, FL. – “So you, by the help of your God, return; observe mercy and justice, and wait on your God continually.” (Hosea 12.6 ESV)
Nancy Oliver, Centerville, OH
Pleasant words are a honeycomb,
sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.
Proverbs 16:24 NIV
I have told you these things so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.
John 15:11, NIV
Lindsay Hull, Terre Haute, IN
Then he added, “Now go and learn the meaning of this scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.” Matt 9:13, NLT
Fran Thomas, Jackson, TN
“Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.” Proverbs 16:3
Kristy Holland Shelby, NC ” When tempted, no one should say, ‘God is tempting me.’ For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when by his own evil desire he is dragged away and enticed.” James 1:13 -14 NIV
Troy, OH
But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold. Job 23:10 NIV
1 Thessalonians 4:7-8
“For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. Therefore, anyone who rejects this
instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit.”
Marilyn Thompson, Muskego, WI. – The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are protected. Proverbs 18:10 HCSB
2 Timothy 3:16-17
“All scripture is inspired by God and is useful to show us what is true and teach us what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us how to do what is right. God uses it to prepare his people to do every good work.” NLT
Jenna S – Ooltewah, TN
EPH 4:1-3 ESV
I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Nedra, Blue Springs, MO “I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; from where shall my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” Psalm 121:1-2 NAS
Kristi, Logansport, LA, ” Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable on thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.” Psalm 19:14 KJV
Claire Cline, Boone, NC
Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers all wrongs. Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning. Proverbs 10:12-13
Chastity Charlottesville Va
Do not let your heart be troubled you believe in God; believe also in me.
John 14:1 NIV
Regena, Roswell, NM–“But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold. My feet have closely followed his steps; I have kept to his way without turning aside. I have not departed from the commands of his lips. I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread.” Job 23:10-12 NIV
Allyson, Decatur, Tx – “Do not tremble, do not be afraid. Did I not proclaim this and foretell it long ago? You see my witnesses. Is there any God besides me? No, there is no other Rock. I know not one.” Isaiah 44:8
Paula Rambo, Rowkett, Tx
Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23
“For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.” 2 Timothy 1:7 (NIV)
Jamie, Crossett, AR
“O God, You are my God;
Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh
longs for You in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water.”
Psalm 63:1 NKJV
John 14:27 – Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled; neither let it be afraid.
Kim Bemis from Westfield, IN – Finally, brothers (sisters), whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Philippians 4:8 ESV
Gabby Cianciotto-Dickinson Texas
“For every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills.” Psalm 50:10 NIV
Jeana, Shallowater, Texas
A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. Proverbs 15:1, NIV
Celeste Inman
San Antonio, TX
From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. John 1:16 (NIV)
Sara in Binghamton NY: Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things. Col 3:2NIV
Gail Jones
Decatur TX
Galations 5:17 NIV
For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contray to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.
Little children, let no one deceive you: The one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as Jesus is righteous.
1 John 3:7 NET