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.
Emily Byrd from Monroe, LA:
Only fear the Lord and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things he has done for you.
1 Samuel 12:24 NASB
Her husband can trust her and she will greatly enrich his life. Proverbs 31:11
Heather Dutton League City, 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. 2 Corinthians 10:5 (NIV)
This I declare about the Lord. He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; He is my God and I trust him. Psalm 91:2 NLT Shirley McCoy Belton, TX
Kelley, Fort Collins, CO
Even so, I have noticed one thing, at least, that is good. It is good for people to eat well, drink a good glass of wine, and enjoy their work- whatever they do under the sun- for however long God lets them live.
Eccl 5:18 NLT
Lori K., Leander, TX “Come near to God and He will come near to you.” James 4:8 NIV
olivia, East Tennessee
Psalm 16:7-9 niv
I will praise the Lord who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. I have set the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand I will not be shaken.
Arlene C. from Georgetown, Texas: For I am the Lord, I do not change; that is why you, O sons of Jacob are not consumed. Malachi 3:6 AMP
Ashley from San Antonio, TX
For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.
Philippians 2:13, NLT
Joyce LaForte, Lee’s Summit, MO
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” Romans 1:16 NASB
Kathy French, Austin, Texas
“Yet I am always with You; You hold me by my right hand. You guide me with Your counsel, and afterward You will take me into glory.
Whom have I in heaven but You? And earth has nothing I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”Psalm 73:23-26 NIV
But he who treasures His Word truly in him the love of God and the love for God has been perfected, completed. By this we may know that we are in Him.
I John 2:5 Amplified Bible
“but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts.” 1 Thessalonians 2:4 ESV
Susan Bostaph Buffalo NY
Psalm 56:13 (ESV)
For you have delivered my soul from death, yes, my feet from falling,
That I may walk before God in the light of life
Kandace Blowey – Houston, TX
Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. Make level paths for your feet so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed. – Hebrews 12:12-13
And take up the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God.
Ephesians 6: 17. NASV
Lisa Jensen
Lyman, WY
The Lord has done great things for us and we are filled with joy. Psalm 126:3 (NIV)
Leslie Dorrough , Longview,Tx.
And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of The Lord and may please him in every way:bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God..
Colossians 1:10
Zara, Seoul, South Korea
“Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the LORD who has compassion on you.” Isaiah 54:10 NIV
Deb Nance
Merced, CA
Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!
Luke 5b-6a
“And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.””
John 12:32 NASB
Aimee Adams – Highland, IN – “Do not repay evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. …live at peace with everyone.” Romans 12:17, 18b
“I am the Lord your God. I teach you what is best for you. I direct you in the way you should go.
Isaiah 48:17 NIrV
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self discipline. ” 2Timothy 1:7
Have you never heard?
Have you never understood?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of all the earth.
He never grows weak or weary.
No one can measure the depths of his understanding.
He gives power to the weak
and strength to the powerless.
Isaiah 40: 28-29
Julie Myers
Rutledge, TN
Keep me safe, O God, for in you I take refuge.
Psalm 16:1 (NIV)
Sarah Grant – Durham, Ontario, Canada
Psalm 91:1-4 (NLT)
“Those who live in the shelter of the Most High
will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
This I declare about the Lord:
He alone is my refuge, my place of safety;
he is my God, and I trust him.
For he will rescue you from every trap
and protect you from deadly disease.
He will cover you with his feathers.
He will shelter you with his wings.
His faithful promises are your armor and protection.”
Carrie Hammons – Arlington, TX – “May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.” Psalm 19:14
“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” Romans 12:12
Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139: 23-24. NKJ
do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Philippians 4:6
let him know, that he who converteth a sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall cover a multitude if sins.
ASV James 5: 20
Allison Bayles, Katy, TX
Hebrews 4:13 (niv)
Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
John 15:4. “Dwell in me and I will dwell in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit of itself without abiding in being vitally united to the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you abide in Me.”
Amplified Bible
“May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Romans 15:5-6 ESV
Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
-1 Thessalonians 5:18
Inez Barnes
Hamburg AR
Proverbs 13:3. NLT
Those who control their tongue will have a long life opening your mouth can ruin everything
Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value.
Proverbs 31:11 NIV
Colossians 3:3 “For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” NASV
Joan
Springfield VA
Uncover my eyes so that I may see the miraculous things in Your teachings
Psalm 119:18 GW
“He said unto me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” ~2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV)
Hollie
Granbury, TX
PSALM 90:12
So teach us to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom. NKJV
Katie Nash
San Antonio, TX
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
I Corinthians 13:6 NIV
Emily Kingsbury, Elkins, AR “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.” Proverbs 4:23 (NRSV)
Julie Myers
Rutledge, Tn
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for The Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.
Joshua 1:9 (NIV)
Patti Knobbe from West Point, NE
“We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. To this end I labor, struggle with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.” Colossians 1:28-29
Patricia Clevenger, Midland TX
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11: (KJV)
Patricia Clevenger, Midland TX
“My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.”
Psalm 73:26(KJV
I lift my eyes unto the hills. Where will my help come from? Psalm 121:1 NIV
Toni Cassidy from Toney, AL
“Commit your works to the Lord And your plans will be established.” Proverbs 16:3 NASB