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.
When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. Psalm 56:3 NIV
I just finished listening to Beth on TV, colour conference ,I was so blessed and decided to look for her on line and oh mine I am even more blessed to find this blog and I will make it part of my daily life. Even thinking about getting some of her books. Anita,Uk
So glad to hear from you, Anita, and to know that God ministered to you through Beth’s teaching! Welcome to the LPM Blog!
Kait Opperman, Toledo, OH
“Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.” James 4:14
A verse speaking to the shifting season of life I’m in, when things I thought were concrete are turning upside down, and leaps of faith are required.
Tammy Drake, Hemingway, SC “But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31
Whitney Amos, Temple, TX
“Those of low estate are but a breath;
Those of high estate are a delusion;
In the balances they both go up;
They are lighter than a breath”
Psalm 62:8 NRSV
Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. John 8:32 NIV
Sally Heilinger, Port Orchard, WA
All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever. 1 Peter 1: 24-25 ESV
February 1st memory verse (oops! – a little late getting posted)
Sherry
Perry, GA
‘For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
nor are your ways My ways,’
declares the Lord.
Isaiah 55:8 NKJV
Beverly, Prosper, TX
[32] For if He causes grief, Then He will have compassion
According to His abundant lovingkindness.
[33] For He does not afflict willingly Or grieve the sons of men.
Lamentations 3:32-33 NASB
Dianne, Andover MN
And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.
Philippians 4:8(NLT)
Hannah, La grange, TX, John 15:4, ESV “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.”
“And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us”
1 John 3:23 NIV
In honor of the new identity given to me by my Heavenly Daddy: “Your name will no longer be Jacob,” He said. “It will be Israel because you have struggled with God and with men and have prevailed.” Gen 32:28 HCSB
Sorry- Kelly- Atlanta, GA
Valerie Clark, Lewisville, NC
“Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” 1 Corinthians 13:7
Agnes Romer Tulsa, OK
“The LORD bless you and keep you; The LORD make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.” ’ (â€Numbers‬ â€6‬:â€24-26‬ NKJV)
Amanda, Marion, IN
Psalm 143:8 (MSG) “If you wake me each morning with the sound of your loving voice, I’ll go to sleep each night trusting in you. Point out the road I must travel; I’m all ears, all eyes before you.”
Melandie, Raleigh, NC “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” NIV
Proverbs 3:5-6
Proverbs 3:5 NIV
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.
Carrie Reddell, Blue Springs MO
And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
Luke 9:23 KJV
Brenda Dulin, Denton, Tx “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” Romans 12:12 NIV
I’m a little late :/
Nicole Holloway, Cookeville, TN
“But to you who are listening I say: love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” Luke 6:27-28 NIV
For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.
Romans 6:14
Genesis Eakes, San Antonio, TX – “And (so that you can know and understand) what is the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His power in and for us who believe, as demonstrated in the working of His mighty strength, which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His (own) right hand in the heavenly (places)” Ephesians 1: 19 – 20 AMP
Melissa, Lugoff,SC – Proverbs 3:5-6 The Message
Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track.
Ally Tedrow, Spokane WA “Therefor we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ” Hebrews 12:1
Shelly Lake Village, Indiana
No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation He will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV
Philippians 4:6-7
“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”
Rahab, Nairobi,Kenya. “He has made everything beautiful in its time.He has also set eternity in the hearts of men:yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” Ecclesiastes 3:11
Kelli Holland
Lafayette, IN
Psalm 91.1-2, NIV
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of The Lord,”He is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust.”
Stacy Roznovak, Taylor, TX
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV
Tracey Isais – Gulf Breeze, FL
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. Eph. 4:29 NIV
Sarah Kukshtel
Warner Robins, GA
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” Philippians 4:6, ESV
Heather H, Mena Ar
But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Hebrews 11:6 NKJV
Laura
Mckinney, TX
“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.”
Romans 12:12 ESV
Shelly Reusch
Illinois
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:12, NIV
Let me experience your faithful love in the morning, for I trust in you. Reveal to me the way I should go because I long for you. Psalm 143:8
Have a great February!
Julie, Rancho Cucamonga, CA
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
(â€II Timothy‬ â€1‬:â€7‬ NKJV)
Cheryl, Oregon, WI For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life appears, then you will also appear with Him in glory.
Colossians 3:3-4 NIV
Beth C., Huntsville, Al
For you give them splendor and strength. By your favor we are victorious.
Psalm 89:17 NET
Eph 4.2
With all humility and gentleness, with patience showing tolerance for one another in Love….!
Michelle Pritchard
okeechobee, FL
Denise Madison Al.
If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. I Cor 13:3 NIV
Andree, Evansville, IN – Ephesians 1:1-2, NIV
“As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.”
Hannibal, NY
Psalm 46:10 NLT
Be still, and know that I am God!
Haley Dill, cypress, TX
“Be appalled, O heavens, at this; be shocked, be utterly desolate, declares the LORD, for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water.”
Jeremiah 3:12-13 ESV
Kara Collins
Hot Springs, AR
Colossians 3:14 KJV
And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
LOVE is what’s most important. People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care!!!
Jacki Roche, Jacksonville, Florida
“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” (â€Romans‬ â€12‬:â€12‬ NIV)
Psalm 84:11 NASB
“For the Lord is a sun and shield; HE gives grace and glory; no good thing does HE withhold from those who walk upright.”
This pictures overall God’s provision and protection! AMEN!
Valarie, Pocatello, Idaho
I can do all everything through Him who gives me strength.
Phil. 4?13 NASB
Mary, Westfield, NJ
Proverbs 30:5 (The Message) “Every promise of God proves true; he protects everyone who runs to him for help.”
Emily, Bay Village, OH
For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart. 1 Samuel 16:7b