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.
For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.
Romans 6:14
Sara CA
Jeremiah 15:16 [NIV] When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heartās delight, for I bear your name, Lord God Almighty.
I am the true vine and my father is the gardner.
John 15:1
NIV
Erin, Lexington, NE
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.
Proverbs 3:5 NIV
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them.
1John2:15
“Therefore the LORD longs to be gracious to you, and therefore he waits on high to have compassion on you” Isaiah 30:18 NASB
Susan, UK
Kathleen Forbes, Katy, TX. “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16 ESV
Kim A., Vanceboro, NC
Joshua 1:9-NKJ
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.
I am the true vine and my Father is the gardner. John 15:1 NIV
Vanessa Lipsit, San Antonio, TX
Isaiah 30:21 NIV
“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.”
Pam Willis, Centerville, Texas
Proverbs 4:23 NIV
Above all else guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.
Whatever you do,work heartuly, as for the Lord and not for man.
Colossians 3:23 NIV
Morrilton AR
Rene’ Adee, Canyon, TX
Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. Ps 90:12 NIV
Crystal & Reese, Canton MI
Psalm 84:3 NLT Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow builds her nest and raises her young at a place near your altar, O Lord of Heavenās Armies, my King and my God!
Rachel Mason. London. UK.
I wait for the Lord. I expectantly wait and in his word do I hope.
Psalm 130:5 (Amplified)
Pearland, TX
“Thus you are to be holy to Me, for I the Lord am holy; and I have set you apart from the peoples to be Mine.” Lev 8: 26 NASB
Nan, La Vernia, Texas
“And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. For the old skins would burst from the pressure, spilling the wine and ruining the skins. New wine is stored in new winseskins so that both are preserved.” Matthew 9:17 NIV
Pamela in Rock Island, IL
2Chron 32:8b …with us is the Lord our God to help
us and to fight our battles.
Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Ephesians 6:11, KJV
Sweet Springs, WV
Pamela Beers, Colville WA
“You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord, is the Rock eternal.” Isaiah 26:3-4 NIV
1 Peter 5:7
Cast all your care upon Him, For HE cares for you.
Ps 91:3 NIV
Surely he will save u from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence.
Jennifer W., Janesville WI
Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.
I Corinthians 6:19-20 NASB
Syneva, Topeka, KS
“O magnify the LORD with me,
And let us exalt His name together.” Psalm 34:3 NASB
Tristan from Cypress, TX “The Lord is my strength and my song; he has given me victory. ” Psalm 118:14 NLT
Isaiah 26:3 NLT
You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!
Debby, Whitehouse, TX
Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men so that you do not grow weary and lose heart.
Hebrews 12:3 (NIV)
And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. 2 Corinthians 9:8 ESV
Wendy P. Milwaukee, WI “Therefore, confess your sins to each other and pray for eat other so that you may be healed. The power of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” James 5:16 NIV
Mary Lyne, Amarillo Tx. Rejoice in the Lord always, I will say it again, Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God wich transcends all understanding will guard your hears and mind in Christ. Phil 4:4-7 NIV
Renee Yates – Pearl, MS – And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
Hebrews 11:6 NIV
Krist Sullins- Albuquerque, New Mexico
Give your burdens to the Lord, and He will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall. Psalms 55:22 (NLT)
Ava, Casper, Wyoming
Psalm 103:5-6 NIV ’84
Who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the Eagles. The Lord works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.
Nancy Peters
Manheim, Pa
Isaiah 32:17
The fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever.
Barbara LaBrier, Dayton Ohio
And you will know the truth and the truth will make you free. John 8:32 NASB
Your ears will hear a word behind you, “This is the way, walk in it,” whenever you turn to the right or to the left.
Is. 30:21
Sandy
Dodge City, KS
But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble.
Psalm 59:16 NIV
Whitney Harrington, Michigan
“The Lord is close to the broken hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:18
Marci Stone Pinellas Park, Fl
“I will espouse you in fidelity, and you shall know the Lord.”
Hosea 2:22 NAB
Prince Albert, Sask., Canada
Matt. 17:20 ESV
He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.”
Beth Buzzello
Northridge, CA
John 16:24 NIV
Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.
Andrea Richmond, TX But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold. Job 23:10 NIV
Anna Elkhart IN
2 Corinthians 3:17 NKJ
Now the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty
Isaiah 43:19 NIV
God ha something great in your future.
Yvonne
Louisville
Psalm 126:5 (NIV)
Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy.
Sadie
Louisville
Jeremiah 29:13
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
Shew me thy ways, O Lord, teach me thy paths. Psalms 25:4. KJV
Becky Orin, Sugar Land, Texas Feb. 1st Scripture:
Psalm 24:18 ESV “This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it”
Germantown, WI Psalm 27:4 ESV
One thing have I asked of the Lord , that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple.
Connie Morrow, Midland, Tx
James 1:2-3(NLT)
Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.
Alicia L Clinton, Balch Springs, TX, for they are life to those to find them and health to one’s whole body – Proverbs 4:22