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.
leah, Fort Worth, tx
The Lord will give strength unto his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace. (āPsalmsā¬ ā29ā¬:ā11ā¬ KJV)
Allison M., Bedford, Texas
You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one. You do not want a burnt offering. The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.
Psalm 51:16-17 NLT
Candis Oswalt, South Bend IN,
Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O Lord God of hosts
Jer 15:16 (KJV)
Melanie, Bartlett, TN
I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth.
3 John 1:4 NASV
Muriel in Ontario Ecclesiastes 4:12 (NIV)
Though one may be overpowered,two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
Julie, Tallassee, AL
āDo not fear, for I am with you;
Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you, surely I will help you,
Surely I will uphold you with my righteous right handā
Isaiah 41:10, NASB
Lori Raymie, Knoxville, IOWA
Psalm 15:1-3, ESV
“O LORD, who shall sojourn in your tent? Who shall dwell on your holy hill? He who walks blamelessly and does what is right and speaks truth in his heart; who does not slander with his tongue and does no evil to his neighbor, nor takes up a reproach again his friend”
Stephanie Teahn, Lafayette, OR
Deuteronomy 31:6 (NIV) “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.”
“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” Matt 6:33 NLT
Charlene Peterson
Norcross, GA
And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
1Cor 13:3
1 Thessalonians 1:2
2 We are ever giving thanks to God for all of you, continually mentioning [you when engaged] in our prayers,
Elisabeth, Lake in the Hills, IL
“Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.” Psalm 90:14, ESV.
Shannon McGann, Spruce Grove, Alberta, Canada. The Lord reigns, let the earth be glad; let the distant shores rejoice. Psalm 97:1 (NIV)
Vicki Judd
Longview, WA
Blessed are the meek for they will inherit the earth.
Matthew 5:5 NET
Jasper, TX
2Corinthians 10:5 (NASB)
We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.
Kyla, Arlington, VA
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go” Joshua 1:9 (NIV)
Sherril Ann, Bountiful, UT
But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. – Luke 21:14 NIV
Jill Sanders, Leachville, AR
“Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you.” ~1 John 2:15
Sherree, Mansfield, TX
Ephesians 3:18 NLT
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.
Paula, Poplar Bluff, MO: NIV: Matthew 11:28 “Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest.
Mindy from Austin, TX, “In the same way let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5/!6, NIV.
Matthew 5:7
You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye then you
will be able to see clearly enough to remove the speck from your brothers eye.
Caitlyn Marlin, Leavittsburg, Ohio. “Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth. Sing to the Lord, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day.” Psalm 96:1-2 (NIV)
Susan L. (central IL)
And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. (Col. 3:17, HCSB)
Vicki in Texas, Corpus Christi: Look to the LORD and His strength; Seek His Face always! Psalm 105:4
Kailyn Miller, LA
Jesus replied: ‘love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.
Matthew 22:37-38
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” -Matthew 11:28
(ESV) …. You may feel like you just have the world on your shoulders, but God is here waiting for you to give it to Him, to give you rest.
Trinity and Taylor Todd (daughters) Lebanon, TN. Jeremiah 29:11
NIV For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Denise Anderson, Great Bend, KS. “Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.” James 1:19 ESV
Tricia Enfield, Gardner, KS: “He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler. You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.” Psalm 91:4-6 NKJV
Psalms 4:8 (NASB)
In peace I will both lie down and sleep,
For you alone, O Lord, make me to dwell in safety.
Linda, Plainfield, In Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for ,the evidence of things not seen.
Kristine
Broken Arrow, OK
I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his spirit in your inner being, so that Christ nay dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you,being rooted and established in love, May have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge–that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:16-19 NIV
Kalee Duesing Kansas City, MO “But endurance must do its complete work, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.” James 1:4 HCSB
Mildred from Montserrat.
Whoever seeks good finds favor, but evil comes to one who searches for it. Proverbs 11:27 NIV
Kara Streetsboro, Ohio
“The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride. Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the laps of fools.”
Ecclesiastes 7:8-9 NIV
For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future. THen you will come and pray to me and I will listen to you . Jeremiah 29 11-12
Have I not commanded you? Be stron and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9 NIV
Pamela. Fulbright-Scheyer, Houston, TX
Colossians 1:11 NLT
We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father.
Mary
Woodway, TX
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV
Jo Harris, Cary, NC
Galations 6:9 NIV-Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Natalie
Jonesboro, AR
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:9 ESV
Ashley Davis, Joplin, MO
2 Corinthians 5:7
“For we live by faith, not by sight.”
Lisa Moss, Lancaster, Tennessee
Proverbs 3:5-6
(5) Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. (6) In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.
Carol, Highland, Indiana. “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10 (NIV)
Janelle Wilson, Atlanta, GA area. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Psalm 73:26 NIV
Susanna, Ross, CA Ephesians 3:14-16 ESV
14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being,
Amanda, Monona Wi, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8, NIV
Terri Franz, Wichita, Ks
Devote yourself to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. Colossians 4:2 NLT
Melissa Harold from Bassett, Virginia
“Neither Height Nor Depth Nor Anything In All Creation Will Be Able To Separate Us From The Love That Is in Christ Jesus.” Romans 8:39