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.
Aloha Bishop, Keller, TX
People may be right in their own eyes, but the lord examines their heart.Proverbs 21:2 NLT
(Catching up) :
Judy – Cottageville WV
“And now for a little space grace hath been shewed from the Lord our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in his holy place that our God may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage.” Ezra 9:8 KJV
Canton, MI
For you died and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.
Colossians 3:3 NIV
Booker, TX
“I can do all this through him who gives me strength”
Philippians 4:13
(Catching up)
Dickson, TN
“Seek the Lord and His strength;
Seek His presence continually!”
I Chronicles 16:11 ESV
Lauren from Steinbach, Manitoba
“Lord, when my mind is in doubt and my heart is in turmoil, God, quiet me and give me new hope and cheer.” Psalm 94:19 (TLB)
Janna Halterman, Fresno CA
“When tempted, no one should say, ‘God is tempting me.’ For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone;” James 1:13 (NIV)
The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple. Psalm 119:130 (NIV)
Forgot to post my Feb 15th 2015 verse:
Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2 (NIV)
Mandi Bulen Licking MO Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love. Ephesians 6:24 NIV
Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. (Luke 10:19 KJV)
Annie, Turlock, CA
“For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond servant of Christ.” Gal 1:10. NASB
James 5:16: “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.”
Susie Parsons, Boston, MA
“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my eye upon you.” Psalm 32:8 ESV
Cathy Bay, Webb City, MO. ” If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14 NIV
Erin, Chippewa Falls, WI
And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
2 Cor 9:8 NIV
Tabitha Whitacre, Louisville, KY
“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” -Philippians 2:3 ESV
Audrey Whitacre, Louisville, KY
“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” -Philippians 2:3 ESV
Amanda, Washougal, Washington.
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13 NIV
Haley thiels pineville la kjv 1 Peter 4:10 as every man hath received the gift even so minister the same one to another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
Psalm 1:2
But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on His law he meditates day and night.
Anita Koen, Winterville, NC
Hebrews 4: 14-16 NASB 14Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus Christ the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.16Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of trouble.
Susie Sharrai, Harrisburg, PA
On Him we have set our Hope that He will continue to deliver us.
~ 2 Corinthians 1:10 NIV
Phil 4:6 NKJV
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made know to God;
Angie Miller – Macon, MS
1 Thessalonians 3:8 (ESV)
For now we live, if you are standing fast in the Lord.
Kim from Mary Esther, FL
Deuteronomio 5:19 RVR196O
No hurtarás.
Deuteronomy 5:19 ESV
And you shall not steal.
This verse might look small, but our pastor unpacked it for us this morning and it contains so much more than I ever thought!
Darlene from Turner, Maine
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:17 KJV)
April Jones, Springfield,IL.
“For he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his,faithful ones.” Proverbs 2:8 NIV
Kenna Davey, Overland Park, KS
Heb. 4:14 (NIV)
Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into Heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.”
Abigail, Overland Park, KS
Eph. 3:14 (NIV)
“For this reason I kneel before the Father,”
Doris, Madison, MS
But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jeses.
Philippians 4:19. KJV
Dana Walters, Covington, LA
“Be joyful always, pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus “I Thessalonians 5:16-18
Stephanie Conroe TX
So God created mankind in his own image,
in the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them.
Gen. 1:27
Ephesians 20:13
“You shall not murder.”
Exodus 20:13
“You shall not murder.”
Lee from IN says, Psalm 91:4 ESV, “He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge. His faithfulness is a shield and buckler”
Jean – Franklinton, NC
Then the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:9 NLT
Pamm from Albuquerque, NM
‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord. (Lev.19:18) NIV
Diane White, Williamstown, WV
“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male or female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Galatians 3:28 NIV
Laura Hiatt, Las Vegas, NV
“My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him.” Psalm 62:1 NIV
I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Psalm 119:11 NIV
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. Psalm 91:1 NIV
Cheryl, Austin:
for we walk by faith, not by sight 2 Corinthians 5:7(NASB)
But know that the Lord has set apart the Godly for himself; the Lord hears when I call him. Psalms 4:3 ESV
Cindy Kelley, Cleveland, TN. Matthew 6:34 “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will [fn]care for itself. [fn]Each day has enough trouble of its own. NASB
Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. 1 John 3:18 NIV
March 1, 2015 9:07 pm Shelly and Sienna Busby Colorado Springs, CO
“Do not conform 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
Dawn from Beavercreek, OH
Malachi 4:2 (NLT)
“But for you who revere my name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in His wings.
And you will go free, leaping with joy like calves let out to pasture.”
Oakdale, CA
“Your hands made me and formed me, give me understanding so that I can learn your commands. Those who fear you will see me and rejoice, for I put my hope in your word.”
-Psalm 119:73-74
Proverbs 3:5
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
Jody Casey, Fresno, CA “Do all things without grumbling or questioning, Philippians 2:14 ESV
Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground. Psalm 143:10.
Vanessa Peacock, Augusta, Georgia