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.
Freida, Chatham, LA “You, dear children are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” I John 4:4 NIV
Melissa Seidler, Salem, OR
“So I say to you, keep asking, and it will be given to you. Keep searching, and you will find. Keep knocking, and the door will be opened to you.” Luke 11:9 (HCSB)
Mckenzie, TN
Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth. (â€John‬ â€17‬:â€17‬ NLT)
Joanne, Westerville, OH
I lift up my eyes to the hills – where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. Ps. 121: 1-2 NIV
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.
Deuteronomy 31:6
Joy Mast, Charlotte, NC
Matthew 11:11
“Truly, I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.”
ROBIN, Orange City, Iowa
JOB 23:10 NIV “But he knows the way that I take;
when He has tested me, I will come
forth as gold.”
Gwyn Tidwell of Haslet, TX
“So is My Word that goes out from my mouth. It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:11(NIV84)
Jen Dakin, Kenton, OH
“And working together with Him, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain— for He says, ‘At the acceptable time I listened to you, And on the day of salvation I helped you.’ Behold, now is ‘the acceptable time,’ behold, now is ‘the day of salvation’—” 2 Corinthians 6:1-2
Marie Franse, Albuquerque, NM: The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being, sustaining all things by His powerful Word. Hebrews 1:3 (NIV)
Janet, Bridgeport NJ
Love the Lord your God with all your heart
and with all your soul
and with all your strength.
Deuteronomy 6:5 NIV
Susie from Swampers, LA
“But He knows the way I take; When He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold. — Job 23:10 NASB
rhonda
gilmer
Philippians 1:21(NKJV)
For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
Julie, Naperville, IL
Psalm 91:1-2 (NIV) He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”
Leann Chambers, Athens, Louisiana
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1 KJV
Missy Sprinkle, Knoxville, TN: Hebrews 10:23 : “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.”
Jill Moss, North Scituate, Rhode Island “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21 NKJV
Mary Goins, Bluford, IL
Genesis 1:1
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. NIV
Sharon Bowie, st. Louis, MO
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Matthew 6:33 NKJV
Cynthia, Hackett, Arkansas
“Now that I am old and gray, do not abandon me O God. Let me proclaim your power to this new generation, your mighty miracles to all who come after me.”
Psalm 71:18 NLT
Denise Wilkin
The Woodlands, Texas
Call to Me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things which you do not know.
Jeremiah 33:3 NKJV
Kandis Nucla, Colorado
As you come to him, the living Stone – rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him – you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 2:4-5 (NIV)
April Lopez, BonneyLake,WA
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 6:12 NIV
Emmilianna Ferreria, Bonneylake, WA
But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you, may those who love your salvation say continually, Great is the Lord. Psalm 40:16 NIV
Aava Ferreria, BonneyLake,Wa
We will tell of his power and the mighty miracles he did.
Psalm 78:4 NLT
Karen Gilstrap, Deer Park, WA ” I called on your name, O LORD, from the depths of the pit; you heard my ple, ‘Do not close your ear to my cry for help but give me relief!’ You came near when I called on you; you said, ‘Do not fear!'”Lamentations 3 : 55-57
Mindy, Morgantown, IN
I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.
Romans 8:18 (NIV)
Susan Davis, Lawrenceville, GA
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe in Him so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13 HCSB
Amy T., York, PA
“You discern my going out and my lying down. You are familiar with all my ways.
Psalm 139:3, NIV
Sheri Martens
Fairview, Oklahoma
“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty”. Revelation 1:8. NIV
Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. Ephesians 1:4 NLT.
Loretta P from Colville, WA 2 Cor. 12:8-9 NIV
Three time I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 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 weakness, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
Salt Lake City, Ut. “For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will. Ephesians 1:4-5 NIV
Lenore from Bakersfield,CA
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.” Prov. 1:7 NIV
Colleen, Lyndonville, NY
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 in me. 2Cor 12:9
Tomi, Des Moines, Iowa. What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but no deeds? Can such faith save him? James 2:14 NIV
Amber Miles, Amarillo, TX
Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Proverbs 4:23 NIV
Ingrid Adam, Omemee, Ontario, Canada
The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.
Zeph. 3:17, ESV
Jessie, Epping, NH
” If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in safe country, how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan?” Jeremiah 12:5 NIV
Melissa Evans, Lexington , KY “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – His good, pleasing and perfect will.”
Angie
Albertville, AL
For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. Col 3:3 NASB
Lynne VP Des Moines, Iowa
“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 Ampified version
Cari
Alexandria, LA
“Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
Hebrews 4:16 NAB
Whitney from Russellville, TN
For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you. 2 Chronicles 20:12 b,c. ESV
Susie B. Kirkland WA. “My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth”.
Psalm 121:2 NIV
Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you. Psalm 55:22a
Karen Lebron
St. Cloud, FL
Romans 4:17
…God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did;
Christy from Holland, MI
“Shoult aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel among you.” Isaiah 12:6 NIV
Jennifer Foust, West Memphis, AR
So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. Romans‬ â€10‬:â€17‬ ESV
Denise, Gambier , Ohio; So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Galations 6:9 NLT
Megan Loscher
Quincy, IL
And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.
2 Corinthians‬ â€9‬:â€8‬ ESV
Clarette, Zurich, Switzerland
And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. (â€John‬ â€13‬:â€14‬ NLT)