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.
Dawn , Pampa, TX
Psalm 16:8 NIV
I keep my eyes always on the Lord.
With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
1 Timothy, 5, Verse 1
Rebuke not an elder, but entreat him as a father, and the younger men as brethren.
Bethany Massey
Nashville, TN
Psalm 139:23NIV
Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.
Wendy L., Lancaster, PA
The Lord is my strength and my shield;
in him my heart trusts, and I am helped;
my heart exults,
and with my song I give thanks to him
Psalm 28:7 (ESV)
Psalm 62:5-8
Find rest O my soul in God alone; my hope comes from Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor depend on God;heis my Mighty rock, my refuge. Trust in Him at all times,O people; pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge.
Myra, Johnson City, TN
But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold.
Job 23:10 NIV
Gloria Davis-Mansfield, OH
“The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.”
Zephaniah 3:17 (KJV)
Moriah, Washington, IL
“To the Jews who had believed Him, Jesus said, ‘If you hold to My teaching, you are really My disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31, 32 NIV
Karen Thiessen, Everett, WA
El Roi-The God Who Sees Me
2 Chronicles 16:9 (NLT)
The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him.
Canta, Mandeville, LA
2Corinthians 4:16 NIV
Therefore we do nog lose heart Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.
BobbieHead, Radium Springs NM
And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. James 5:15 NKJV
Kristi, Telford, PA “Search for the Lord and for His strength; seek His face always.” Psalm 105:4 HCSB
Alaina – Pittsburgh, PA
“Look, I am about to do something new; even now it is coming. Do you not see it? Indeed, I will make a way in the wilderness, rivers in the desert.”
Isaiah 43:19 HCSB
Love it!
Debra Fuller, Peoria Az.
Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, I will never fail you. I will never abandon you. Hebrews 13:5 NLT
Amy, Little Rock Arkansas. At once Jesus said to them, “Take courage”, it is I; do not be afraid.” NAB
Phillipians 4:6 (NLT)
“Don’t worry about anything, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.”
Shelley, from Bolivar, MO
“For the word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does.”
Psalm 33:4 NIV
Carol Crabtree, Farmers Branch, TX
But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
2 Corinthians 9:6, NKJV
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us. Ephesians 3:20
Katie Smith, Fort Worth, Texas
Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. (â€James‬ â€1‬:â€2-3‬ NASB)
Darla H., Aurora, CO. “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of it’s own.” Matthew 6:34, NIV
Riche L, Irving, Texas. If you make the Most High your dwelling – even the Lord, who is my refuge – then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent. Psalm 91:9-10 (NIV)
Mark 11:24-25 (NLT)
I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours. But, when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins too.
Rita Hipp, Lexington SC
But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all your works. (â€Psalm‬ â€73‬:â€28‬ ESV)
Denise, Greer, SC “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are the sons (daughters) of God.” Romans 8:14 NET
Angela McGinnis, Brockport, NY
Psalm 91:1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. Amen! NIV
Julie Osterberg, Marshfield, WI
Psalm 103:17-18New International Version (NIV)
17 But from everlasting to everlasting
the Lord’s love is with those who fear him,
and his righteousness with their children’s children—
18 with those who keep his covenant
and remember to obey his precepts.
Melanie, Escondido, CA
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27 (NIV)
Redfield, AR
[9] When He works on the left hand, I cannot behold Him;
When He turns to the right hand, I cannot see Him.
[10] But He knows the way that I take;
When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.
Job 23:9-10 (NKJV)
Highlands Ranch, CO
God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. Heb. 6:10
Hana Banks, Waconia MN
Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.
Ephesians 6:11New International Version (NIV)
Highlands Ranch, CO
God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. Heb. 6:10
Kamber W., Tulsa, OK
I decided to take a bigger chunk of scripture this month, because these verses are so common and easy to memorize – yet are ringing in my heart right now.
“Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, not height nor depth, nor any other created thing shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 8:37-39 NKJV
Kristie, Birmingham Alabama, Not many of you should presume to be teachers my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check. James 3:1-2. NIV
Cindy
Chandler, OK
that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.
Ephesians 6:3 NIV
Christy Jones, Summit, MS; “If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God.” 1 John 4:15 NIV
Eniola Harrison, Lagos, Nigeria
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
Isaiah 43:1b NIV
Better late than never!!
Betsy Roberts – Antwerp, OH
“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.”
Hebrews 10:23
Christi Hudson, Newnan, GA
By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen. Hebrews 11:3
Jana Dawn Bott
Wardsville, MO
“He heals the brokenhearted, and binds up their wounds.” Psalm 147:3
Dina Hart, Hartsville, SC
Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you, unless you abide in Me. (John 15:4, NASB)
Heather- Marion, IL
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Romans 12:2 NIV
Dawn from Bristow, VA – He won’t let me leave Philippians yet!
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Phil 4:6 NIV
Adele-Alys, Matthews NC Psalm 18:24, The Message
God rewrote the text of my life when I opened the book of my heart to his eyes.
Caryn C. from Bedford, TX
“So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.”
Romans 8:6 (NLT)
Anna, Little Elm, TX
Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise!
Praise Him, bless His Name.
Psalm 100:4 (TLV)
Melody Cox, Whitmore Lake, MI
Those who guard their mouths and their tongues keep themselves from calamity. Proverbs 23:21 (NIV)
Nancy, Junction City, AR
“As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.” John 15:9 NKJ
Christina Luther
Roseburg, Oregon
For the word of the LORD holds true,
and we can trust everything he does.
Psalm 33:4 NLT
Katie Fox, Nyenga, Uganda
Serve only the Lord your God and fear Him alone. Obey His commands, listen to His voice, and cling to Him. Deuteronomy 13:4 NLT