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.
Rebecca, Cleveland, OH. For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him. Psalm 62:5 ESV
Sarah-Simms, TX
“And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. For all these things the nations of the world see after, and Your Father knows that you need these things. But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you.”
Luke 12:29-31 NKJV
Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it and it will be yours. Mark 11: 24 NIV
Debbie, Hattiesburg, MS
“Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands!
Serve the Lord with gladness;
Come before His presence with singing.
Know that the Lord, He is God;
It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.”
Psalm 100:1–3 NKJV
Suzie, Pennock, MN
This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.
1 John 3:16, NIV
Bonnie Mink Hendersonville,Tennessee You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13
Deborah Welch
Shelbyville, TX
Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth,
Keep watch over the door of my lips.
Psalm 141:3 NASB
Lee from IN says ESV Psalm 91:3 “For He will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence”
I Thessalonians 1:4 “For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that He has chosen because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction.”
Bonnie Mink Hendersonville, Tennessee Lord through all the generations you have been our home! Before the mountains were created, before the earth was formed, you are God without beginning or end. Psalm 90 1&2 TLB
Michelle Schmid Murphysboro, IL. Philippians 1:6 KJV 6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
Romans 12:12 NIV Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer
Teel-OKC,OK
Jesus replied, “You do not understand now what I am doing, but someday you will”.
John 13:7 NLT
I John 4:18 (NLT)
Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear! If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love.
Leslie, Plymouth, Indiana
“Joshua told the people, ‘Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.'”
Joshua 3:5
Diana, Round Hill, VA; Take delight in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4 NRSV
Janette
Estes Park, CO
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
Tina from Cincinnati Ohio – John 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am, you may be also. ESV (Can’t remember commenting for verse 3!)
Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them, and our God, for he will freely pardon. Isaiah 55:7 NIV
“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.” John 14:1
1 Corinthians 13:4-5 (NIV)
Love is patient. Love is kind.
It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It does not dishonor others,
it is not self-seeking,
it is not easily angered,
it keeps no record of wrongs.
Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs. But I, with a song of thanksgiving, will sacrifice to you.
Jonah 2:8-9a
NIV
I have loved you with an everlasting love
I have drawn you with loving-kindness
Jeremiah 31:3
Brianna Powers, Overland Park KS, “Tune your ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding. Cry out for insight, and ask for understanding. Then you will understand what it means to fear the Lord, and you will gain knowledge of God.” (Proverbs 2:2,3,5, NLT).
1 Thessalonians 5:5 NIV
You are all children of the light and children of the day. we do not belong to the night or to the darkness.
Shelby Shackleford, Hendersonville, TN
Set your mind on the things above, not on the things of this earth. Col. 3:2
Ericka F, Orlando FL. PHP 4:6-7 NIV
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
Janet, Holmes Beach, FL
Be joyful always;
pray continually;
give thanks in all circumstances,
for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
I Thessalonians 5:16-17
Jayn, San Diego, CA, Proverbs 31:25 I am clothed with strength and dignity; I can laugh at the days to come.
Peggy Underwood, Winona Lake, IN I forgot to post my last verse. Here are the two I am memorizing for February
Heb 6:19 HCSB We have this hope as an anchor for our lives, safe and secure. it enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain.
Luke 1: 37 HCSB For nothing will be impossible for God.
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Ephesians 4:2
DLynn; Argyle,TX
Matthew 8:2 NIV
A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”
Summing it all up friends,
I’d say you’d do best
By filling your minds and meditating
on things that are true, noble, reputable,
authentic, compelling, gracious,
the best not the worst,
the beautiful not the ugly,
Things to praise and not to curse.
Phil. 4:19, NIV
Karen, Elkins WV, And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all they heart and with all thy soul. Deuteronomy 10:12 KJV
Karen, Elkins WV, Here is my verse 4 to get caught up. Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man. Colossians 4:18 KJV
Rhonda Smith, Unionville, Tennessee.
Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (â€Philippians‬ â€3‬:â€13-14‬ ESV)
Emma Dunsmoor – Little River, KS – Psalm 27:1 (The Voice)
“The Lord is my light amidst my darkness and my rescue in times of trouble. So whom shall I fear? He surrounds me with a fortress of protection, so nothing should cause me alarm.”
Sharon Meekins
Charleston, SC
And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. James 1:4-6 ESV
Be completely humble and gentle be patient bearing with one another in love Ephesians 4:2 NLT
Alma Miller, San Antonio, Texas. “When a man’s ways are pleasing to the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him”. Proverbs 16:7 (NIV)
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.”
Deuteronomy 6:5 NIV
Sarah Marcellino, Laurel, MS. “For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body.” 2 Corinthians 4:10 (NIV)
Like one who grabs a stray dog by the ears is someone who rushes into a quarrel not their own.
Proverbs 26:17 NIV
“”Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” Romans 8:26-27 (KJV)
Lisa Rivers. Sandersville, Ga
He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord. Proverbs 18:22 NIV
Melissa from Houston, TX
Love must be sincere. What what is evil; cling to what is good. Romans 12:9 NIV
Wendy Berenson, Mechanicsville, VA
“Great peace have those who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble.” Psalm 119:65 NIV
Phyllis Sills, Charlotte, NC,
Jeremiah 29:11 (HCSB)
“For I know the plans I have for you” — This is the LORD’s declaration — “Plans for your welfare, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”
Sorry for the belated post for verse 3
Anissa McGuire claremore, ok “who has believed our message and To whom has the arm of The Lord been revealed? He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground . He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to Him, nothing in His appearance that we should desire Him.” Isaiah 53:1-2
Psalm 121:1-2 NIV
I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord , the Maker of heaven and earth.