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.
1 John 1:9 NIV But, if we confess our sins to Him, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and cleanse us from all wickedness.
Gayla McKinney
Lee’s Summit, Missouri
It is better to live in a corner of a roof than in a house shared with a contentious woman.
Proverbs 21:9. NASB
“Be strong and courageous; don’t be terrified or afraid of them. For it is the Lord your God who goes with you; He will not leave you or forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6 ESV
Tara Condon, Madisonville, LA
This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.
Nehemiah 8:10
NIV
Allison Whitener, White Post, VA
“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
Charlotte Skadal, Houston, Texas
“Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9b
My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge. Psalm 62:7 NIV
Erin Boling- Denison, TX
Relax, everything’s going to be all right; rest, everything’s coming together; open your hearts, love is on the way!
Jude‬ â€1‬:â€2 MSG
Patty, Talbott, Tennessee
We were filled with laughter and sang for you, and the other nations said, “the Lord has done amazing things for them”. Yes, the Lord has done amazing things for us. What joy! Psalm 126:2-3 (NLT)
Pam Hendersonville NC
“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” 1 Timothy 2:5 KJV
Teach me, and I will keep quiet. Show me what I have done wrong. (â€Job‬ â€6‬:â€24‬ NLT)
Leah Reese
Austin,TX
You can pray for anything, and if you have faith, you will receive it. Matthew 21:22 (NLT)
Kelly Davis, Danville Va. For the message of the Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 1 Corinthians 1:18 NIV
Pam, Kitchener ON Canada,
“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 hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”
Jeremiah 29: 11-13 NIV
Hello, from Brockville, Pam. I love verse 11. It’s my grandson’s life verse. Today, he is 4. May God open His riches to you through it. Lynda S.
Pam I love these verses, what a promise!
-Heidi from Phoenix 🙂
Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you. Jeremiah 32:17 NIV84
Beverly, Midlothian VA
1 Peter 5:6-7 ESV
Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him because he cares for you.
Hi, Beverly,
That was my verse #1! May it be a blessing to you as well!
Linda, Bartelso, IL “No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us.” 1John 4:12 (NKJV)
Jennifer, Cypress, TX: “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.” -Romans 8:14, ESV
Trish – Clover, SC
The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; Romans 8:6 NIV
Tisha Ramsey, Columbus, MS
A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. Proverbs‬ â€17‬:â€22‬ ESV
You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways.
Psalm 139:3 ESV
Peggy, Queen Creek, AZ “Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord, is the Rock eternal.” Is. 26:4 NIV
Sue, Big Rapids, MI
The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. Ps. 19:8 NASB
Lisa Walton, Port Saint Lucie,Fl ” To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.” Colossians 1:29 NIV
Robbyn, Frisco,Texas
Romans 10:15 (NIV)
“And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: ” How beautiful are the feet of those who bring the good news!”
Marsha of Angleton TX “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.” Ephesians 4:2 NIV84
Stephanie, Tucson, AZ. “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 hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 NIV
Hello sister from Tucson. I also live in Tucson. This is my all time favorite verse and one I use to encourage both myself and many others. May it always remind you that you are part of an awesome, perfect plan; even when we can’t see the playbook.
Robin Parris Cleveland, TN
What is man,thou art mindful of him? And the son of man, that thou visited him? Psalm 8:4 KJV
Stephanie M. Smith, Indianapolis, Indiana. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” John 3:16-17 ESV
La Teisa Crockett, Bedford Hts., OH
“Observe the commands of the Lord your God walking in obedience to Him and revering Him because the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land-a land with brooks, streams and deep springs gushing into the hills and valleys”
Duet. 8:6-7 (NIV)
Pam Pruett, Clarksville, Arkansas, “to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,” Isaiah 61:2 (NIV)
Dana Nance
Blue Ridge, Tx
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Hebrews 12:2-3 NIV
I love that! I may have to borrow that. Lol
Stephanie Hilton, League City, TX
“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name He may give it to you.”
John 15:16, ESV
Barb*St Cloud MN/Fort Worth TX* …”I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.” Habakkuk 3:18b NIV
Carla Kaney, Adel, Iowa “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 (NIV)
Louise, Irvine, CA
Job 23:10 But He knows the way that I take;
when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold. (NIV)
Tanya Crouse, Floyd’s Knobs, IN,
“The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.” Deuteronomy 29:29 ESV
Elaine, Poplar Blluff, MO
“I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Rom. 15:13 NLT)
Psalm 63:2-4 NKJV
So I have looked for you in the santuary, to see Your power and Your glory. Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, My lips shall praise You. Thus I will bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in your name.
Psalm 63:2-4 NKJV
Cathy
Oviedo, FL
Psalm 19:14
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. (â€Psalm‬ â€19‬:â€14‬ ESV)
Mary Reed, Kansas City, MO
You comprehend my path and my lying down, And are acquainted with all my ways. – Psalm 139:3 NKJV
Conne K, Angel Fire,NM
“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go. I will counsel you with My loving eye upon you.” Psalm 32:8 NIV
Natalie Roe Mobile AL “Let all that you do be done in love.” 1corinthians 16:14
Jodee Walker, Mountain View, WY “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:18 ESV
From one Jodi to another Jodee 🙂 I memorized this verse in one of the other SSMT’s. I remember that being a really tough time. My heart can still be crushed by this same struggle, but know this… God is always with you. He is our Redeemer and he heals our broken places. Bless you sister and keep running the race.
Joy Bruhnke, Ft. Myers, Fl
You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. Isaiah 26.3, NIV
Bree~ Northern, VA
After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. {1 Peter 4:16} NASB
Terryl Arola, Pine City, MN. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NIV
Claudia, Durham, NC
“Answer me when I call to you, O my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; be merciful to me and hear my prayer.” Psalm 4:1. ESV
Hebrews 10:36 You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.
Marleeta McAnally, Florence, CO
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Eph. 6:12 (NASB)