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.
Laurie – Albany, Ga.
He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. Revelation 21:4 NIV
NLT For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.
Nor of the pestilence that stalks in darkness,nor of the destruction and sudden death that surprise and lay waste at noonday. Psalm 91:6 AMP
Rhonda, Anderson, Indiana
Psalms 19:1-2
The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech, night after night they reveal knowledge. NIV
Psalm 139:3 NLT
You see me when I travel
and when I rest at home
you know everything I do.
Kaufman, TX
But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
Isaiah 53:5 (KJV)
Lynne Brown, Jackson, Alabama
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”
Proverbs 3:5-6 (NASB)
Psalms 37:4 GNB
Seek your happiness in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desire.
Indianapolis, Indiana
Jessica, Vicksburg, MS, “Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.” Proverbs 29:25 (NIV)
Laura Naiser, Georgetown TX
Psalm 46:1, NIV
God is our refuge and strength and ever-present help in trouble.
Vanessa Peacock, Augusta, Georgia
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do do not give up. Galation 6:9. NIV
Sarah, McKinney, TX,
Colossians 3:5 NIV
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
Natalie, Cumberland Gap, TN
Psalms 25:4-5 KJV
Shew me thy ways, O Lord; teach me they paths. Lead me in they truth, and teach me; for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.
Beverly, Cumberland Gap, TN
Ephesians 6:12
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world against spiritual sickness in high places.
Scarlett, Round Rock, TX
You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you. (Psalm 86:5, NIV)
Nancy Huebner, Spring Hill, TH
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” Romans 12:12
“Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.” (Isaiah 40:28 KJV)
Janice, Tulsa, OK.
Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” John 8:12 NKJV
“but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40:31 NIV
The Lord is near to the broken-hearted and saves the crushed in spirit
Psalm 34:18
NRSV
Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will reap of the flesh corruption but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.
Galatians 6:7-10 New King James
That same day Jesus left the house and went to the lakeside, where he sat down to teach.
Matthew 13:1 GNB
Hilary
Orlando, FL
1 John 4:3
but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.
Red Deer, AB Canada
“You are my hiding place and my shield; I wait for your Word.”
Ps. 119:114 NAS
Melinda, Rowlett, TX
And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ (Mark 12:30 ESV)
Joan, La Vernia, Texas
In the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God. John 1:1 ESV
Karen Helms from
Largo, FL, “do not let this book of the law depart from your mouth, meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” Joshua 1:8, NIV
Cara
Umatilla, FL
Psalm 139:3
You discern my going out and my lying down,
you are familiar with all my ways. (NIV)
6)”Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and
supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
7)and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:6-7 (NKJV)
Gayle in Atlanta, Texas
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13 NKJV
Jerri Thompson of Omaha, NE says
If you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall.
1 Corinthians 1:12 NIV
Jerri Thompson says
Correction: 1 Corinthians 10:12
keelie ferguson Gunter to “let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart.” Proverbs 3:3
Jesus wept
John 11:35
GNB
“None of us lives to himself but to the Lord and none of us dies to himself but to the Lord. If we live we live to the Lord, if we die we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or we die we belong to the Lord.” Romans 13:7,8 Amp.
Dawn Ferguson, Peoria, AZ
11 “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. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”
Jeremiah 29:11-13 NIV
Debbie Kaiser, Rancho Cucamonga, CA
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. (John 3:17 NIV)
Tina from San Antonio And pray in the spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. Eph 6:18 a NIV
Lissa, Greenville, SC
Let all that I am praise the Lord, may I never forget the good things He does for me.
Psalm 103:2 NLT
among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.
Sherry, Jay, OK
“A friend loves at all times. They are there to help when trouble comes.” Proverbs 17:17, NIrV
Patty Keller Tx
Whoever heeds instruction is on the path to life, but he who rejects rep roofless others astray
Proverbs 110:17
ESV
My apologies. For being late this month but both my mother and mother I. Law passed this month.
Thanks Patty
GA
She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear at the future. Prov 31:25 NLT
I reentered my vs#2 here.
My vs#3 is Jere23:29 ESV
SORRY
I’m LEARNING new things!!!
Strive yo entering by the narrow door;for many, I say unto you. Shall seek to enter in, and shall not be able
Luke 13: 24. ASV
Tina from San Antonio. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lords people. Eph 6:18b
Catasauqua, PA
Psalm 91: 2 (NLT)
This I declare about the Lord, He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; He is my God and I trust Him
Pam Mesa, AZ
So that you may live a life worthy of the Lord & please Him in every way: Bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God.
Colossians 1:10 NIV
Whoever speaks must do so as one speaking the very words of God; whoever serves must do so with strength that God supplies so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Chtist. To Him belongs the glory and power forever and forever. Amen
1 Peter 4: 11
Drbbie LeBlanc, Rockledge, Fl
Eccl4:9 two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work.
Bonnie O’Shields, Dacusville, SC
Knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
James 1:3 HCSB