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.
Nancy Dal Pian, Port Charlotte, FL
Ephesians 4:2 NIV
Be completely humble and gentle;
be patient, bearing with one another in love.
Dena Bibb, Stockton, CA
So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.
http://bible.com/116/rom.8.6 NLT
Kimberly Orr
Zionsville, Indiana
1 Peter 1:8 ESV
Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory,
Sarah McNeese, Brownwood, TX
Then Joshua said to the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.”
Joshua 3:5 ESV
Gina from Gadsden, AL
He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not whither; and whatever he dies shall prosper.
NKJV. Psalm 1:3
Cindy Cabaniss, Shelby, NC
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
Hebrews 11:1 NIV
Idaho Fall, ID
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13 (NASB)
Donna Indianapolis IN. ~ A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold In settings of silver. (â€Proverbs‬ â€25‬:â€11‬ NKJV)
Kristy Sanders, Madison, Ms
“Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way; say to those with fearful hearts; Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, He will come with vengeance, with divine retribution He will come to save you.”
Isaiah 35:3,4 (NIV)
Kelly Bickley from Brunswick, OH
These 2 weeks I am completed Psalm 23:
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil, for you are with me. Your rod and your staff they comfort me. You prepare a table before me amongst my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life and I shall walk in the house of the Lord forever.”
Lisa from Michigan
I have not departed from the commands of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my daily food.
HCSB
Leigh B. Miami, OK
Cast your burden on the Lord,
And He shall sustain you;
He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.
Psalm 55:22
Cindy from South Carolin . Galatians 6:9 New International Version (NIV)
9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Shannon, Kissimmee, Florida
He only is my Rock and my Salvation; He is my Defense and my Fortress. I shall not be moved. Psalm 62:6 (AMP)
Debbie Lamoreux, Wilmington, NC
My flesh and my heart may fail but
God is the strength of
My heart and
My portion forever
Psalm 73:26 NIV
Isaiah 48: 10 (Amplified)
“Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tried and chosen you in the furnace of affliction”
Debbie Pell , Rogersville MO (my verse from last week but in Spanish)
Romanos 10:13 porque: todo aquel que invoque el nombre del Señor Sera salvo.
Kem Green, Des Moines, IA
-And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. (â€1 John‬ â€4‬:â€16‬ NIV
Marilyn , Houston, TX “Hatred stirs up conflict but love covers over all wrongs. Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning.” Proverbs 10:12-13 Niv
Michele Loveland, CO
“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace.”
Ephesians 4:2-3
Rebecca Moore from Lake Mary, Florida
Isaiah 64:4 NIV
Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him.
Lynn Nickoley, Dyersburg,TN Psalms 138:8 NASB “The Lord WILL accomplish what concerns me. Thy Lovingkindness O Lord is EVERLASTING; Do Not forsake the work of Thy hands.”
Judy Pauley, Norfolk, Va.
Ps. 147:2The Lord builds up Jerusalem; He gathers the exiles of Israel.
February1,2015 4:09pm Midland,Texas
Izora Browning
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 NIV.
14 ladies from The Crossing Church in Grand Prairie, TX join SSMT today! Our beginning verse is our church’s 2015 verse!
But God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 ESV
” he will not fear evil tidings; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD.” Psalm 112:7. NASB
Amber from Perth, Western Auatralia
“Let us acknowledge the Lord; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth.” Hosea 6:3
Bethany, Magnolia, TX
“But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.”
Job 23:10 (NIV)
Miranda Oliver, Grand Lake, La
But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. (â€Matthew‬ â€6‬:â€6‬ NIV)
Candice from Dallas, Texas – Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Philippians 2:3 (NIV)
Vanessa from Victoria, TX
This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. (â€1 John‬ â€4‬:â€9‬ NIV)
Romans 8:28. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
Ingrid Johnson, Glen Allen, VA
Edelle Simmons, Long Beach, CA
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creations, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:38-39 NIV
Ashley – Walker, LA
Philippians 4:6-7 NIV
6. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Rowlett, TX
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 NIV
For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ.
Rowlett, TX
John 15:1-3
I am the true vine,and my Father is the gardner. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.
Wendy B. Oklahoma City, OK
Ephesians 4:2
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.
NIV
Mandy, Porter, TX
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. Phillipines 4:8 NIV
Marge, Chili, WI
Psalm 139:23-24
Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
NIV
Tara G.
Sherwood, AR
Set a guard over my mouth, LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips. Psalm 141:3 (NIV)
Sue-Elise, Burkesville, KY
Phillippians 4:8 HCSB “Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable – if there is any moral excellence and if there is any praise – dwell on these things.”
Becky, Springfield, MO
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things have come. 2 Corinthians 5:17 HCSB
Felicia Kellerman, Fort Pierce FL
Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life. Psalm 143:8 NIV
Deana Gordy
Cartersville, GA
“Is not My word like a fire?” says the LORD, “And like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?” Jeremiah 23:29 NKJV
DeAnne Densman says
1 Peter 3:11-12(NASB)
11
“He must turn away from evil and do good;
He must seek peace and pursue it.
12
“For the eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous,
And His ears attend to their prayer,
But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
Tammy Disch, Garland, TX
In God, whose word I praise, in God I have put my trust; I shall not be afraid. What can mere man do to me? Psalms 56:4 (NASB)
Kristin Cho; Northville, Mich
Galatians 1:10, NIV
“Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.”
Amen
Laura from Apopka, FL, “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.” Isaiah 41:10, NLT
Sarah G., Birmingham, AL
I long for You in the night; yes, my spirit within me diligently seeks You, for when Your judgments are in the land, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness. Isaiah 26:9 HCSB
February 1, 2015
Midlothian, Tx
Philippians 4:5
Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.
NIV