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.
Desha from Owasso, OK
Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
Melissa Teakell – Wichita, KS
But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.
Matthew 9:13 NIV84
Allyson
League City TX
Psalm 86:1 ESV
“Incline Your ear, O LORD, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.”
Rachael from Marietta, GA…
Psalm 43:3: “Send Your light and Your truth; let them lead me. Let them bring me to Your holy mountain, to Your dwelling place.” (HCSB)
Kayla, Bismarck ND
Even to your old age and gray hairs I am He, I am He who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you. Isaiah 46:4
Alicia Pullen, Walton IN. Ephesians 2:8 NKJV 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God
Robin Sotomayor, Ceres, Ca
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
Beth Heneghan; Chelmsford, MA. “But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere.” James 3:17 NLT
Barbara Severns, Eagle, Idaho
Have I not written to you excellent things of counsels and knowledge, to make you know the certainty of the words of truth that you may correctly answer to him who sent you?
Proverbs 22:20 & 21 NASB
Valerie – Pflugerville, TX
And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Colossians 3:14 NIV
(A verse on Love found in verse 14 . . . perfect for Valentine’s day!)
Rebecca Sprenger, Marana AZ
11 For the LORD God is our sun and our shield. He gives us grace and glory. The LORD will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right. (â€Psalms‬ â€84‬:â€11‬ NLT)
Shelley Miller, Federal Way, Washington The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name.” Psalm 91:14 NLT
Karen from Powell, Ohio
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.
Ephesians 4:2 (NIV)
Stephanie Hartsell, Birmingham, AL
How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night.
Psalm 1:1-2
Margie, Camdenton MO: Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them. Matthew 18:19-20 ESV
from Tn.
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds
Psalm 147: 3 NIV
Joyce Partridge, Leola, Arkansas
Psalm 86:4 NIV
Bring joy to your servant, Lord, for I put my trust in you.
Brenetta Robison, Independence, MO
I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised;
So shall I be saved from my enemies.(2 Samuel 22:4)
Oops, that’s NKJV
Clara Grace Harvey, Henderson, Texas: Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His”, and “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” NKJ
Olivia Cox Lenoir, NC
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
Dawn – Hilliard, OH
“I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart. I will tell of your wonderful deeds.” Psalm 9:1 NIV
Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old.
Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43: 18-19
ESV
Dianne Piermattei, Fitzwilliam, NH
I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. John 15:1-3 (ESV)
Ann Drescher, Ventura, CA
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men…” Colossians 3:23 NIV
Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.
Hebrews 11:6 (NIV)
Stephanie Allen, Fort Worth, TX 2nd Corinthians 10:5 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.
Tessa from Nacogdoches TX
Psalm 57:2-3 NKJV
I WILL cry out to God Most High,
To God who performs all things for me.
He SHALL send from heaven and save me;
He reproaches the one who would swallow me up.
God shall send forth His mercy and His truth.
Christina Fort Worth
So it is God who decides to show mercy. We can neither choose it nor work for it.
Romans 9:16 NLT
Cindy S Walker, Clear Lake area of Houston, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:2-4 (NIV)
Kathleen Partin Saint Joseph, MI
Lamentations 3:24
I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!”
NLT
Elizabeth Mitchell, living in Haverhill, England “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
Kristin Mitchell from Dunmor, Kentucky
Psalm 4:6-8The Message (MSG)
6-7 Why is everyone hungry for more? “More, more,” they say.
“More, more.”
I have God’s more-than-enough,
More joy in one ordinary day
7-8 Than they get in all their shopping sprees.
At day’s end I’m ready for sound sleep,
For you, God, have put my life back together.
“But he knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold.”
Job 23:10
ESV
For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 2 Corinthians 10:5-6, NKJ
Hannah Huneycutt, Mt. Pleasant, NC
Psalm 18:1 NASB
“I love you, o LORD, my strength.”
Janet P, College Station, TX
Psalm 139: 23-24 (NKJV)
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me, and know my anxieties;
24 And see if there is any wicked way in me,
And lead me in the way everlasting.
Carla Fix, Greenbrier, Arkansas
I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and He turned to me and heard my cry. Psalm 40:1 NLT
Barbara Stone
Springfield, Mo.
But now,O Lord,
You are our Father:
We are the clay, and
You our potter;
And all we are the work of Your hand.
Isaiah 64:8 NKJV
“Yahweh then came and stood by, calling as he had before, ‘Samuel! Samuel!’ Samuel answered, ‘Speak, Yahweh; for your servant is listening.’ ”
1 Samuel 3:10. NJB
Donna Herndon
Ashland, KY
Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap if we do not give up
Galatians 6:8. NIV
Lindsay Newman, Prophetstown, IL. “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
Whitney Payne, LaGrange, GA
“Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.” (James 1:12 NIV84)
Know that the lord,he is God ! It is he who made us, and we are his, we are his people , and the sheep of his pasture. Psalm 100;3. Esv. Nell Brinkley chattanoog tn
jan in Fulshear,TX
Numbers 14:11
The Lord said to Moses, “How long will my people treat me with contempt? How long will they refuse to believe in me,in spite of all the miraculous signs I have performed among them?” NIV
Oil field.family. We can’t walk in fear.now. Fear is.holding God in contempt.
Ashley, Sugar Land, TX
“but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.” 1 Peter 3:15 (ESV)
Ashley Dill Johnson City, TX
10 Don’t worry—I am with you.
Don’t be afraid—I am your God.
I will make you strong and help you.
I will support you with my right hand that brings victory.
Isaiah 41:10(ERV)
Valerie Mathura in Newnan, Georgia
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. (â€Galatians‬ â€5‬:â€1‬ NIV)
El Paso, TX
“Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.”
Psalm 20:7 (ESV)
Julie Speyer
Madison, GA
For He will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.
On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.
Psalm 91:11-12 ESV a
Sarah, Montrose, CO:
Ephesians 6:14-15 (ESV)
Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.