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.
Lyric – Garner NC Psalm 45:10-11 Listen, O daughter, consider and give ear; Forget your people and your father’s house. The king is enthralled by your beauty; honor him, for he is your lord. NIV
Good to see someone else from NC. Be Blessed!
Since the children are made of flesh and blood, it’s logical that the Savior took on flesh and blood in order to rescue them by His death. By embracing death, taking it into Himself, He destroyed the Devil’s hold on death and freed all who cower through life, scared to death of death. Hebrews 2:14-15 The Message
Mary Rosevear McNeal
Roswell, GA
“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)
Melissa, Peoria, IL
Let all that you do be done in love. 1 Corinthians 16:14 ESV
Carol
Carthage, NY
Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
Colossians 4:6 NIV
Michelle Cheney, Bossier City, LA
Isaiah 40:28 (NIV)
“Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.”
Beth, Omaha, NE
“Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” Colossians 4:5-6 (NIV)
Leslie
Wisner, La.
Kind words are like honey —
sweet to the soul and healthy for the body,
Proverbs 16:24 NIV
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may over flow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13 New International Version (NIV)
Maryse Sturm, Hoofddorp , ( the Netherlands, Europa )
Sta op en schitter, je licht is gekomen, over jou schijnt de luister van de HEER.
Jesaja 60:1 (NBV)
Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying,This is the way walk in it.
Isaiah 30:21
The Lord answered me: Write down this vision; clearly inscribe it on tablets so one may easily read it. For the vision is yet for the appointed time; it testifies about the end and will not lie.Though it delays, wait for it, since it will certainly come and not be late. Habakkuk 2:2:3 (HCSB)
Toni Schumacher Amarillo TX
Do not remember the former things,nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness AND rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43: 18-19 NKJV
Deb Mott, Bradenton, FL John 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. KJV
Linda, Ft. Collins, CO
“He brought me out into a spacious place.
He rescued me, because He delighted in me.”
Psalm 18:19
He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. (â€Psalms‬ â€103‬:â€3‬ NLT)
Roseanne, Tacoma WA
You keep him in perfect peace who’s mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.
Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord is an everlasting Rock.
Isaiah 26:3 NKJV
James 3:13 If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom.
Rebecca C, NC: Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. I Corinthians 13:7 (KJV)
Emily, Redding, CA
“And now these three remain:faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
1 Corinthians 13:13 NIV
Sarah W, East Liberty, OH.
“You answered me when I called you; with your strength you strengthened me.”
Psalm 138:3 GNB
Ephesians 4:29 KJV
Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto hearers.
Anna McCollister
New Palestine, IN
“For while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in EVERY way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.” 1 Timothy 4:8 ESV
Pennington, Tx Proverbs 4:23. 23Â Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
Paula- Fuquay Varina, NC
Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:4 NIV
Glad to see someone else from NC.
Elsie – Scottsbluff, NE
Proverbs 16:24 ESV
Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.
Terri Lundskow, Hughesville, Maryland – Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. James 4:8 ESV
Ivey, Avon, IN
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 14:6 | NIV
Vicki Cluxton, Lenexa, KS
Psalm 36:5 ESV
Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens, Your faithfulness to the clouds.
Margaret Neil, Jackson, TN
Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. Psalm 25:4-5 NIV
Kim Eshelman Lewisburg, PA
O LORD O LORD how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. 2 Out of the month of babies and infants, you established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger.
Psalm 8:1-2
Donna from Allen, TX
2 Timothy 1:7
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”
NKJV
Sue, Iron Mountain, MI
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things.
Philippians 4:8
Lisa K, Saskatoon, SK (Canada) – Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Do not depend on your own understanding.
NIRV Proverbs 3:5
Ft Wayne, IN “Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 1:13 (NASB)
Vicky McPhail, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada. “God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?” Number 23:19, NIV
Tracy, Sidney Ohio
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV
Kathryn, Oceanside, “O Lord be gracious to us; we long for you, Be our strength every morning, our salvation in time of distress.” Isaiah 33:2 NIV
But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.
Romans 8:25 NKJV
Nancy Bradshaw
Rise in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God. I am the Lord. Leviticus 19:32 NIV
Janice Stumpff, Topeka KS
Hebrews 13:5 NIV
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.
Rachel, Salem, IN
For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love and self-discipline.
2 Timothy 1:7 NLT
God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth. John 4:24 NKJV
Shannon Porter, Gipsy, MO
37) Nay, in all things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38) For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39) Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:37-39, KJV
Linda Lorring,Reno, NV
God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. John 3:17 (Message)
Good verse, Linda. I’m five minutes behind you – comment #935 🙂
Giovana Cavarretta, Boca Raton, FL
When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you. Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day. (â€Deuteronomy‬ â€8‬:â€10-11‬ NIV)
Melody, Castle Rock, CO
Jesus has entered there on our behalf as a forerunner, because he has become a high priest forever in the order of Melchizedek,
Hebrews 6:20 (HSV)
Proverbs 31:26 “She openeth her mouth with wisdom; And in her tongue is the law of kindness.”
Liz, Round Rock TX
“He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” Ecclesiastes 3:11 NIV
Kristi S. Rogersville, TN
EPHESIANS 6:14 NASB
Stand firm therefore having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness