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.
Michelle Bredine, Arvada, CO
“Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28 HCSB
Lesli Westfall, Pearland, Texas — “Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.” Psalm 143:8
Your righteousness, O God, reaches to the highest heavens. You have done such wonderful things. Who can compare with you, O God? (Psalm 71:19 NLT)
Psalm 4:8 (NIV)
I will lie down and sleep in peace, for You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.
(I got started late, but am all caught up.)
The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage. Psalm 16:6 (KJV)
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
Veronica Harvey, Colorado Springs CO “I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for my own sake,and remembers your sins no more.: Isaiah 43:25 NIV
Brenda Alberts, Axtell, NE. Hebrews 10:36: You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.
Holly Cogdell, Lubbock, TX – “Finally, brothers & sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things.” Philippians 4:8 (NIV)
Jennifer Tribbie, Columbus, OH
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
Philippians 4:13 NKJV
Adrienne Gaines, Springdale AR. Romans 15:13 May the God of all 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.
That was Rmoans 15:13 NIV
Priscilla Fair, Orange, Ca
That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. Ephesians 1:17 NASB
Cindy Franklin, Graceville, FL
Ex 14:13-14 ESV
3 And Moses said to the people, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again.
14The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.”
Shirley Williams, Greenville, MS “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful. I know that full well.” Psalm 139:13-14 NIV
christina moore, Plano, TX~ “For people swear by something greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation. So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of His purpose, He guaranteed it with an oath…” (Hebrews 6:16-17, ESV).
Meredith Sloan
Greer, SC
1 Thessalonians 5:5 (NIV)
You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness.
Pamela
Manitoba, Canada
Genesis 41:52 NIV
It is because God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering.
Emily K. Billings, MT
Psalms 23:1-6
“1The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. 3He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 4Even 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. 5You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows. 6Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”(ESV)
The heavens declare the glory of God: the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Psalm 19:1 NIV
Sara Middleburg, FL.
1 Timothy 4:12 NIV
Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for believers in speech, in love, in faith and in purity.
Elisha Joy Billings, MT
1 Thessalonians 5:18 “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ for you.” (NLT)
Tirsa, Bloemfontein, South Africa, “For He satisfies the longing soul, And fills the hungry soul with goodness.” Psalm 107:9 NKJV
Mary Anne Kent, Austin, Texas ” And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.
8 For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.
Philippians 1:6-8
Tyler Camp
Pineville, KY
LORD, You have assigned me my portion and my cup; You have made my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance.
-Psalm 16:5-6 (NIV)
Carrie R., Clayton, NC
Respect and obey the Lord!
This is the first step
to wisdom and good sense.
God will always be respected. Psalm 111:10 CEB
Stephanie Knight, Sedona AZ
“What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also.” (1 Corinthians 14:15 ESV)
G. Michelle Billings, MT
Ephesians 3:17-19 (ESV)
17so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Romans 6:12 NIV
Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires.
Sherilyn, Warsaw, IN
For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.
I Timothy 4:10, ESV
Jennifer Jackson, Tulsa OK
For God’s gifts and His call are irrevocable. [He never withdraws them when once they are given, and He does not change His mind about those to whom He gives His grace or to whom He sends His call.] Romans 11:29 AMP
Christy
Fayetteville,AR
Job 23:10
NIV
“But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold.”
Lori Krueger, Leawood, KS.
The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.
Numbers 6:24-26 NIV
Pam, Dublin, VA
Bring all the tithes (the whole tenth of your income)into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and prove Me now by it, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour out a blessing that there shall not be room enough to receive it. Malachi 3:10 AMP
Amy, Hermann, MO
Psalm 73:26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. NIV
Kay Richmond, Va
You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Ustedes ya han sido podados and purificados por el mensaje que les di. John 15:3 NIV
We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 (NIV)
Christi,Gilbert, AZ
2 Thessalonians 3:16 May the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way. NLT
Shirley Barry, Mooresville, NC
For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.
2 Timothy 1:7 NIV
Linda Reeves, Delray Beach FL
“For from Him and through Him
and to Him are all things.
To Him be glory forever. Amen” Romans 11:36(ESV)
Deborah Flora, Sawyer, KS
John 16:33
I 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.
NIV
Christine Caine. Sydney Australia ” I am determined oh God! I am determined! I will sing and praise you! Psalm 57:7 (NET)
Tracy-Aurora, CO
Hebrews 11:6=It is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him. (NLT)
Nicola Evans, Oceanside, CA “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”
Hebrews 4:16 NIV
Nancy Turner, Woodbridge, VA
Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Ephesians 3:20-21(ESV)
Susan Thomson, Crockett, TX
“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
Karey Bourgeois, Justin Texas
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade – kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith – of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire – may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” 1 Peter 1:3-9
Teach me your way, Lord, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.
Psalm 86:11
Aleah, Vacaville, CA Back to memorizing 1 Peter after that sidetrack in Lamentations 3
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you. (1 Peter 1:1-2 ESV)
Janet, Boulder Colorado, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. I Corinthians 13:4 – 7 (NIV)
Lesley, Oceanside, CA.
“And the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.”
Isaiah 58:11 ESV