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.
Joan, Portage, MI
“You have commanded Your precepts that we should fully obey them. Oh that my ways were steadfast to obey Your statutes! Then I wouldn’t be disappointed, when I consider all of Your commandments…I will meditate on Your precepts,& consider Your ways. I will delight myself in Your statutes. I will not forget Your word.”
Psalm 119:4-6,& 15-16
Sharon Bolton, Bowling Green, KY
All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things edify.
1 Corinthians 10:23 (NASB)
Deuteronomy 5:33 NLV
Stay on the path that the Lord your God has commanded you to follow. Then you will live long and prosperous lives in the land you are about to enter and occupy.
Lucinda Bomberger
Watsontown, PA
Jeremiah 33:3 ESV
” Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.”
Lacy, Eugene, Oregon, “The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him” Nahum 1:7, NIV
NLT Proverbs 4:20-23 My child pay attention to what I say,. Listen carefully to my words. Don’t loose site of them. Let them penetrate into your heart, for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body. Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of you life.
Erin Rhoades – Maryville, TN
Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God. -1 Peter 3:3-4 NLT
Kristy, Seattle, WA
Romans 12:2
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
ESV
Missy from Arkadelphia, AR: Now to him who is able to immeasurably more than all we ask of imagine, according to his power that is at work in us, to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21 NIV
Andrea Thibodeaux, Carencro, LA “When I am overwhelmed, you alone know the way I should turn.” (â€Psalms‬ â€142‬:â€3‬a NLT)
Connie, Dublin, VA
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
Susan Moore, Houston, Texas
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Psalm 23:1-3 KJV
Emily, Rogersville, TN
Philippians 4:7 NLT
Then you will experience God’s peace which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you love in Christ Jesus.
“I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. I have set the Lord always before me. Because He is at my right hand I will not be shaken.”
Psalm 16:7-8 NIV
Keller, TX
Saucier, MS
For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways says the Lord, As the heavens are higher than the earth so are My ways higher than your ways
and My thoughts than your thoughts Isaiah 55:8-9 NKJV
Nina, Winston Salem NC
2 Chronicles 20:12 NIV
For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.
Jane, Houston
Song of Song 4:7 (NIV)
“You are altogether beautiful, my darling;
there is no flaw in you.”
Cher Goeder, Toledo, Ohio
Ephesians 3:20 NIV “Now to Him Who is able to do immeasurably more than all we can ask or imagine according to His power that is at work within us…”
Psalms 63:5-8 (NIV) 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, He is my rock, my refuge.Trust in Him at all times , o people; pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge
Selah
Luke 14:28 NET
For which of you, wanting to build a tower, doesn’t sit down first and compute the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it?
Jonna Decker, Malibu, CA . But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold. Job 23:10 NIV
Mary Ann Holton, Woodbury, MN
But the Lord is faithful; He will strengthen and guard you from the evil one.
2 Thessalonians 3:3 HCSB
Dilara, Alexandria, VA
“Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, and in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.”
Psalms 51:6 (NKJV)
Kara, Overland Park, KS
“The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 NIV
Jennifer, Erie, PA:
He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NIV)
Joan, Dousman, WI
The LORD protects you;
the LORD is a shelter right by your side.
The sun will not strike you by day
or the moon by night.
Psalm 121:5-6
HCSB
Anita, Victorville, California
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
Proverbs 3:5. NIV
Rachel~ Wichita, KS~ Philipians 4:8 Whatever is…true, nobel, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, or praise worthy…think on these things. (NIV)
Angie Shockney- Lafayette, IN
Psalm 1:3
He is like a tree planted by streams of water which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. NIV
Brandy Allred, Tennessee,
Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him.
Psalm 62:1
Amy Hobe Sound, FL “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.” Psalms 20:7
Dianne Jones, Fairfield, CA – Psalm 68:11 NIV
The Lord announces the word, and the women who proclaim it are a mighty throng.
Laurie Bishop, Niceville, Florida.
For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, (â€Romans‬ â€8‬:â€38‬ ESV)
Pam Jackson, Blue Springs, MO “Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart.” Proverbs 3:3 ESV
Laura Han, Tyler TX
“May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed. Psalm 20:4 NIV
Olive in Kingston, TN
Psalm 18:5,6 (NASB)
From my distress I called upon the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me in a large place. The Lord is for me; I will not fear; what can man do to me?
Mindy In Wichita, KS “Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take a stand against the devil’s schemes.” Ephesians 6:10-11 (NIV)
Leah from Athens, Georgia
“Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord! Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart.”
(Psalm 119:1-2…ESV)
Judy
Farmington, MI
Isaiah 54:10
For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed says the Lord, who has compassion on you.
Wendi, Damascus, AR
You will keep the mind that is dependent on You in perfect peace, for it is trusting in You.
Isaiah 26:3 , HCSB
Poorna Diaz, Reston, Virginia. “Do you know that all over the provinces of both Macedonia and Achaia believers look up to you? The word has gotten around. Your lives are echoing the Master’s Word, not only in the provinces but all over the place. The news of your faith in God is out. We don’t even have to say anything anymore—you’re the message! People come up and tell us how you received us with open arms, how you deserted the dead idols of your old life so you could embrace and serve God, the true God. They marvel at how expectantly you await the arrival of his Son, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescued us from certain doom.” 1 Thessalonians 1.7-10, MSG.
Linda Nelson, Shreveport, Louisiana
Ephesians 3:17-18 NLT
Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.
Dee Ann Wallace from Henderson Texas “Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God our savior through Christ Jesus our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority before all time, now and forever! Amen.” Jude 24-25 ESV
Diane Balagna, Palatine, IL.
“Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure.” Psalm 16:5 NIV
Misha, Joppa, MD
For you shall go out in joy and be led in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
Isaiah 55:12 ESV
Susan, Richmond, VA
“May the God of hope fill you will 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 NIV
Dawn, Chambersburg PA
Psalm 1: 1-2 (NIV)
Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.
But, his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law me meditates day and night.
Psalms 103:5
God renew my energy when I am tired
Gail, Atascadero, CA
…but He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.
2 Corinthians 12:9 NRSV
Megan S.–Kansas City, KS
Philippians 1:6(NIV)
6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.