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.
Brandi, Knoxville, TN
John 14:21 (NIV) Jesus said, “Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.”
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God
Psalm 37:39-40 NIV
The salvation of the righteous comes from the Lord. He is their stronghold in time of trouble. He helps them and delivers them. He delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in Him.
Tina: H-town, TX
Eph. 4:26 (HCSB)
Be angry and do not sin.
Rita Brown
Midland, TX
Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vine,
though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will be joyful in God my Savior,
The Sovereign Lord is my strength…
Habakkuk 3:17-19a NIV
Western NC
But love your enemies, do good to them and lend to them without expecting anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
Luke 6:35-36 (NIV)
Vivian, Person, NC
“This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.” NKJV
Sharon in Florien LA: When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned nor shall the flame scorch you. Isaiah 43:2 (NKJV)
Tonasket, WA
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 path straight.
Proverbs 3:5-6
Melanie Bangkok, Thailand
“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 with guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:6-7 NIV
Joyce Dover
Stigler, OK
Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light to my path.
Psalm 119:105
Jenny Werth, Grand Ledge, MI “I have not departed from the words of His lips, I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my portion of food.”
-sorry im late-
Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude.
1 Corinthians 13:4
Sara, College Station TX // Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” (â€John‬ â€8‬:â€12‬ NLT)
Shari Arkills, Buckeye, AZ – Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
—Romans 12:2 NIV
Psalm 25:5
“Lead me in your truth and teach me , for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.”
“Do not be conformed of this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.” Romans 12:2 HCSB
Amy, Chesterfield, MO
James 1:5a TLB
If you want to know what God wants you to do, ask Him, and He will gladly tell you.
Cast your anxiety on Him because He cares for you!
1 Peter 5:7 NIV
Theresa Bradford
Pace, Florida
2 Kings 17:33
They worshipped the LORD but they also served their own gods.
Angelina Eger, Capistrano Beach, CA
Matthew 6:19
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
Is there a way to check to see if your #3 scripture was posted without going through all of them?
Hi Theresa, It is quite a task finding them isn’t it? Grin. I was able to find your first 2 verses, but not verse 3.
In the future if you want to see your comment, the best thing to do is note the time you submit it (Central Standard Time) and it will show up in chronological order. Blessings, and welcome to SSMT!
Mary Jo W
Whitman, NE
Casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.
1Peter 5:7 NIV
All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the powers of any.
Amanda Miller, Lafayette, LA
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds
James 1:2 NIV
Lori
Bangor, Maine
The Lord’s faithfulness overwhelms the one who trusts in Him.
Psalm 32:10B (NET)
Rose Richardson, Fullerton, CA
Psalm 19:14 (NASB)
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Your sight,
O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.
Donna Sutherland,
Waterford, Texas
Psalm 100:4, “Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.”
Lorie Houston, TX
And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. (â€Galatians‬ â€6‬:â€9‬ ESV)
Layla shingledecker, Fort Worth Texas
“Your word I have hidden in my heart that I might not sin against you” psalm 119:11
Dametra Stevenson , Fort Worth Texas
“Your word I have hidden in my heart that I might not sin against you” psalm 119:11
Diann, Fernandina Beach, FL
For nothing is impossible with God. Luke1:37 NIV
Gwen Beard, Edina MN
Zephaniah 3:17 (NIV)
The Lord your God is with you he is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love,
He will rejoice over you with singing.
Lisa Shirey~New Haven,IN
Deut. 6:13 Fear the LORD your God, serve him only and take your oaths in his name. NIV
1 John 4:7(NKJV)
7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.
Shelly Higgins, Pikeville, Tennessee.
Psalms 48:14
(KJV) 14 For this God is our God for ever and ever:
he will be our guide even unto death.
Christy Billingsley, Terry, MS
“Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defense; He has become my salvation.”
Isaiah 12:2 NIV
Rita Ford, The Woodlands, Texas “They have no speech, they use no words;
no sound is heard from them.” Psalm 19:3 NIV
Davina Denny, San Diego, CA
“Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” Jeremiah 33:3 NIV
ps 40:3 NIV
He has put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord.
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35. ESV
Theresa J.
Cypress, Tx.
3John 4 NIV
I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.
Gering, NE
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. Jeremiah 29:11
Sheryl, Golden, MS– “Trust ye in the Lord forever,for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength.” (KJV)
Susan Kalina
Houston, TX
Proverbs 10:12, “Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs.”
Tammy
Alexander,NC
So as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. (â€Colossians‬ â€1‬:â€10‬ ESV)
Alison Pannell
McComb, MS
“Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from Him.”
Psalm 62:5 (NIV)
Psalm 141 Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips.
Katie, Calhoun, GA
Philippians 4:6 (NLT)
“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all he has done.”
“Be filled with the Spirit; speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 5:18b-20 KJV