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.
Kelleen Little, Spokane , WA
2 Corinthians 12:9-10 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 of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. ESV
Julie B, Chesterland, OH
“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name!
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits,
who forgives all your iniquity,
who heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit,
who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”
Psalm 103:1-5 (ESV)
Janell ~ Frisco ~ Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. Galations 6:2 NLT
Laura, Minneapolis, MN.
For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.
(â€Galatians‬ â€5‬:â€1‬ ESV)
Heather Varon, Keller, TX. 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
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:3 (ESV)
Kristin, Benbrook, TX
Phyllis Slidell, LA
For you where once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of the light—-
Ephesians 5:8 HCSB
Romans 8:20 NIV For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the Will of the one who subjected it, in hope….
But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold. Job 23:10 NIV
Kelly, Concord, NC
Susan W. Simpsonville, KY
Acts 2:25 NIV
David said this about Him: I saw the Lord always before me. Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
Kim Cook, Euless, Tx That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers. (â€Psalm‬ â€1‬:â€3‬ NIV)
I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. Psalm 119:11
Glenda Jensen
Belgrade, MT
Psalm 34:4
I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. (KJV)
Elise Barnes. Fayetteville, Tennessee. “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.” Romans 15:13
Jerri Hadley, Wimberley TX, “Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings.” Psalm 17:8, NIV
“For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace”. Romans 8:6 (KJV)
Shannon Vasquez, Littleton, CO
But you, O LORD, are a shield around me; you are my glory, the one who holds my head high. ~Psalm 3:3 (NLT)
Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding
Livonia, Michigan
Beth Bell. Cartersville, Ga. “Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God.” (â€Ephesians‬ â€4‬:â€1‬ NLT)
Emma, Alaska, “I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleanliness, and from all your idols I will cleanse you.” Ezekiel 36:25 ESV
Karen Coppley, Clemmons NC Proverbs 14:13 ESV Even in laughter the heart may ache, and the end of joy may be grief.
Jayna, Searcy, AR. Philippians 3:8-9NLT
“Indeed, I count everything as loss because of cthe surpassing worth of dknowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I ehave suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having fa righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but gthat which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith”
Katy, TX, 2 Corinthians 5:14, 15, NLT
Either way, Christ’s love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life. He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them.
Hallie Klecker, Middleton, WI
“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.” Galatians 5:1 (NIV)
Paula from Maine
“The Father has delivered and drawn us to Himself out of the control and dominion of darkness and has transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of His love.” Colossians 1:13 Amplified
Jan@ Hillsboro, KS
“Rejoice always.
Pray without ceasing.
Give thanks in all circumstances.
THIS is God’s will for us in Christ Jesus.
” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV)
Stephanie, Irvine, CA:
“But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently,” (Romans 8:25, NIV)
Shelly Elston, Portland, OR
“Never let loyalty and kindness leave you! Tie them around your neck as a reminder. Write them deep within your heart.”
Proverbs 3:3 (NLT)
Anne, Athens, Greece – 1 Tim 6:11 (NLT) – But you, [Anne], are a woman of God; so run from all these evil things. Pursue righteousness & a godly life, along w/faith, love, perseverance, & gentleness.
Michelle Hunter, Grand Haven Michigam
“The LORD will fight for you while you keep silent.” Exodus 14:14 NASB
Sherie
The Woodlands, TX
As soon as I pray, you answer me;
you encourage me by giving me strength.
Psalm 138:3 NLT
Madison~ Frisco TX~ four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat. Mark 2:3~NLT
Samantha, Bentonville, AR, If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. (â€Romans‬ â€10‬:â€9-10‬ NIV)
Wendy Fenton, Centennial, CO John 16:33 NIV
” I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble, but take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Psalm 25:5 NIV
….”guide me in your paths and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.”
“You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind [both its inclination and its character] is stayed on you, because he commits himself to you, leans on you and hopes confidently in you,” Isaiah 26:3 AMP
John 15:3- (NIV) You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.
Ephesians 2:4 & 5
But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions – it is by grace you have been saved (NIV)
Holly Cox, Greenwood, SC
“And we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and the one who remains in love remains in God, and God remains in him.”
1 John 4:16 (HCSB)
Carol Rice, Deer Park, Texas
God can do anything you know — far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, His Spirit deeply and gently within us. (Ephesians 3:20 Msg)
Kim, Wadena MN “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (â€Hebrews‬ â€4‬:â€12‬ NIV)
Megan Grants Pass, OR
“Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.”
Traci Williams, Santa Clarita CA. Phil 4:6 NIV:
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Houston, TX
Philippians 2:5-6 NIV
“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,”
Laurie Colebank from Shelbyville, KY
“Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
Matthew 11:28 NIV
Monica Kuebler, Centreville, VA
A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in bus heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. Luke 6:45 NIV
Megan Delp, Barto, PA
For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. James 3:16-17 ESV
Melissa Ens, Fresno, CA
Luke 1:78-79 (NET)
Because of our God’s tender mercy the dawn will break upon us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.
Oh, that verse is so beautiful. God’s mercy is so great.
Christina Hixson, New Boston, TX. In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will. Ephesians 1:11 NIV
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