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.
Reyne erie,pa
Blessed Is she who has believed that The Lord would fulfill his promises to her. Luke 1:45 NIV
Martha Buckner, Brentwood, TN
Such confidence we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God, who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
2 Corinthians 3: 4-6, NASB
I see how many comments are here so don’t know if this will even get through. But it’s important enough to share! A friend found a scripture memory app that’s very helpful. It’s called Spripture Typer. It allows you to review as often as you’d like and stores your scriptures for you. I am not affiliated with the app so I get nothing from this shout out. But it has been very helpful! Press on siestas!
Nicci Hejnar, DFW-TX, Finally decided:
Timothy 6;6-9
Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content. But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.
CORRECTIONS
1 Timothy 6:6-10 NLT
Laura K, Spearfish, SD
But I have trusted in Your steadfast love; My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, because He has dealt bountifully with me. Psalm 13:5-6 (ESV)
Lora Lovin Osburn, Morristown, TN. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: Psalm 46:5a KJV
Emily Bell, Wilmington, NC
“Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.” Psalm 143:8 ESV
Amanda Dodd, Queen City, TX
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths.
Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV
“Life and death are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”
Proverbs 18:21 HCSB
Angie Keener, Bella Vista, AR
Ann Wellmann, Lino Lakes, MN “May those who hope in you not be disgraced because of me, O Lord, the Lord Almighty; may those who seek you not be put to shame because of me, O God of Israel. Psalm 69:16 NIV
Lana’s third verse for 2015 is:
Hebrews 1:3
He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. ESV
Dollie Carey, Benton Arkansas
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7 NIV
Kristy, Birchwood, TN
All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ.
Ephesians 1:3 NLT
Melissa E
Anna, Tx
“And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your sins.”
-Mark 11-25
NIV
James 1:5 NASB
But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
Jennifer, Whitewright, TX
Philippians 2:1-2 NIV
“Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.”
Kimberly Kirby, Dallas TX.
‘Delight youself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.”
Psalm 37:4 ESV
Cindy Bradshaw, Murphy NC “In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey it’s evil desires.” Romans 6:11-12 NIV
Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving. Colossians 4:2 NSRV
Melinda Moyer, Wichita, KS
You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. Isaiah 23:6
Monica K, Malvern , PA
Jeremiah 32:27
“I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?”
Beverly, Vicksburg, MS
“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9
my son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. let them not escape from your sight; Keep them within your heart. For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh.
Proverbs 4:20-22
Marsha, Beaver Center, PA. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him. And by His stripes we are healed. Isaiah 53:5
Trish Y from Siloam Springs, AR
But He knows the way I take; When He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold.
Job 23:10 NAS
Casie Gall, Wylie, Tx THis is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Isreal, says: “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness & trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.” Is 30:15 NIV
Heather Maise, Glencoe, AL
And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:17 NIV
Tara from San Antonio
Therefore I am now going to allure her; I will lead her into the wilderness and speak tenderly to her.
Hosea 2:14
Diana-Guymon,OK
But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. — John 14:26 NIV
“In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe.” Psalm 4:8 NLT
Jetta – Owensboro, KY. “When it is in your power, don’t withhold good from the one to whom it is due. Don’t say to your neighbor, Go away! Come back later. I’ll give it tomorrow–when it is there with you. ~ Proverbs 3:27-28 HCSB
Nikki McGregor, Radford, VA. “Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable,
whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things.”
Philippians 4:8 NASB
Donna Pippin, Wendell, NC
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV
Donna- Birmingham, AL
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV
Lauren – Upstate NY – Philippians 4:13 NJ
I can do ALL things through Christ Who strengthens (loves) me!
That’s supposed to be NKJV, not NJ lol 🙂
Rachel from Middletown, DE
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.”
James 1:5 ESV
Irma Barbee, The Woodlands Tx.
“The Father has delivered us and drawn us to Himself out of the control and the dominion of
darkness and has transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of His love. Colossians 1:13 Amplified
Angela. Warsaw, IN.
But in your great mercy you did not abandon them to die in the wilderness. The pillar of cloud led them forward by day, and the pillar of fire showed them the way through the night. Nehemiah 9:19 (NLT)
Jennifer Ogle, TN.
Ephesians 6:10-12
“Finally my brethren be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of this dark age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” NKJ
Tammy Stephens, Wingo, KY Joshua 23:3 NKJV ” You have seen all that the Lord your God has done to all nations because of you, for the Lord you God is He who fought for you.”
Crystal Jordan, Fort Worth TX
I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
Psalm 119:11
Sara
Somerset, KY
The Sovereign LORD is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights. Habakkuk 3:19 (NLT)
Nicole Taulman, Windsor, MO
The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness; He will quiet you by His love; He will exult over you with loud singing.
Zephaniah 3:17 (ESV)
Debi, Alva,FL Psalm 33:4 (NIV)
For the word of the Lord is right and true, He is faithful in all he does.
Gretchen Kinchen, Lexington, KY
“When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fires of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.” Isaiah 43:2 NLT
Teresa, Tyler TX
I know The Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken for HE is right beside me!
Psalm 16:18
Courtney, Houma, LA
There is profit in all hard work, but endless talk leads only to poverty. Proverbs 14:23, HCSB
Marti, Charlotte, NC “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.” -Proverbs 16:9
Jennifer, Denham Springs, LA
“He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.” Colossians 1:17, NIV
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Colossians 3:1 (ESV)