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.
Sabrina Young, Yakima, WA
“Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.” – Hebrews 11:1 NLT
Raquel Davis, Monticello, Ms
“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 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.” 1 Corinthians 13:1-3
Brittany Powell, Jayess, Ms
Now unto Him that is able to do abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. – Ephesians 3: 20-21
Kay Berland, Richmond Hill Ga
“But He knows the way that I take, when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold.”
Job 23:10 NIV
Jo, Columbia, Mo
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. (â€Proverbs‬ â€3‬:â€5-6‬ NIV)
John3:17 for God did not send his son to condemn the world but that through him we might be saved
Psalms 37:37 (NKJV) 37 Mark the blameless man, and observe the upright; For the future of that man is peace.
Debbie Robson, London Ontario, Canada
In all toil there is profit,
but mere talk tends only to poverty
Proverbs 14:23 ESV
debbie, Littleton, CO
So obey all the commandments I am giving you today so that you will be strong and can go in and take the land you are going to take as your own.
Deuteronomy 11:8 NCV
Late Entry – Psalms 46:10 “He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” (NIV)
Psalm 61:2 When my heart is overwhelmed lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
Let us not become weary in doing good,for at the proper time we will reap a harvest I we do not give up.
Gal. 6:9 NIV
Sometimes I give up easily
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Ephesians 4:2
Brooke Koehl Mongomery, TX “She is clothed in strength and dignity; She can laugh at the days to come. Proverbs 31:25
Carolyn, Atlanta, So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him. Col. 2:6 NIV
Mariely Sanchez, Miami, FL: “He will cover you with His feathers. He will shelter you with His wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection.” Psalm 91:4 NLT
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Ephesians 6:17
cathi Lucas, Newark, Ohio “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you.” 1 Peter 5:6
You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Isaiah 26:3 (NIV)
Mona – Rome, GA
“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being,” (â€Ephesians‬ â€3‬:â€16‬ NIV)
Danielle, Garden City, KS
Trust in him at all times, O People, pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.
Psalm 62:8 NIV
Melonie Blackwell Sparks, OK
Jas 1:1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings.
Testing of Your Faith
Jas 1:2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,
Jas 1:3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.
So you should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Jesus Christ.
Romans 6:11 Life Recovery Bible
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 a hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11 NIV
Nicole Auburn, WA
Hebrews 12: 1-2 NIV
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything which hinders us and the sin which so easily entangles us and run with perseverance the race set before us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him, endured the cross, scorning it’s shame and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
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.
Proverbs3:4,5.
“from whom his whole family on heaven and earth derives it’s name”
Eph. 3:15, NIV
Ps 42:8 NLT “Through each day the Lord pours his unfailing love upon me, and through the night I sing his songs praying to God who gives me life.”
Micah 7:7 HCSB But as for me, I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me.
Carol – Wilsonville, OR
Joshua 1:9 NIV
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.
Let us now become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Gal 6:9 NIV
Kyleene Anderson, Yucaipa, CA. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes.
Donna, Ponder, Texas Teach me to do your will, for You are my God. May your gracious spirit lead me forward on a firm footing. Psalm 143:10 NLT
Nikki Hurtado, Houston, TX
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Jeremiah 29:11
Do you not know? Have you not heard?
The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth
Does not become weary or tired.
His understanding is inscrutable.
Isaiah 40:28 NASB
You will keep perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts you.
Isaiah 26:3
Psalms 143:10 NIV
Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good spirit lead me on all level ground.
Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips.
Psalms 141:3
NIV
Pam, Caldwell TX
PSALM 25:5 “Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day.” NIV
You came near when i called you, and you said,”Do not fear.” Lamentations 3:57 NIV
I can do all this through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13. NIV
Houston, TX
Even to your old age I am he, and to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save. Isa 46:4, ESV
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:6-7 NIV
Ruth, Austin, Texas
“Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
James 1:4
NIV
Cynthia Roberts, Lynchburg, VA
 My eager expectation and hope is that I will not be ashamed about anything, but that now as always, with all boldness, Christ will be highly honored in my body, whether by life or by death.” Philippians 1:20 (HCSB)
jenni Thomas
Tionesta, PA
I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance Luke 5:32 NIV
Audrey, Loganville GA
Then god said to Moses, “go into Pharaoh and say to him “thus say the lord, let my people go, so that they may serve me”. Exodus 8:1 esv
Marti Loganville, ga
“Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; and the Lord has forgiven you so you also must forgive.” Colossians 3:13 ESV
Melissa Beth
Murphy IL
I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and My fortress, My God in whom I trust”. Psalm 91:2, (ESV)
Jenny Manis, Glen Rose, TX, We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. (â€2 Corinthians‬ â€10‬:â€5‬ NIV)