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.
Lauri Bogart, Glen Rock, PA. Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. (NIV)
7 Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
10 even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
Psalm 139:7-10 NIV
In the same way, let your light shine before others that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:16 NIV
Martina Shelton
Houston, Tx
“I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13 NIV
John 8:36 if therefore the Son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed. NAS
Gwyn Cummings, Rowlett, TX
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. – Philippians 2:3 NIV
Jill Knight, Fort Ashby, WV “The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace.” Romans 8:6 (NIV)
Annette Green, Roach, MO
2 Corinthians 12:9 (HCSB) “But He said to me ”My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.’ Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me.”
Kris, Huntington, IN “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” Matthew 5:6 NIV
Melissa Briggs, Brandon, Mississippi
“No discipline seems pleasant at the time,but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it”.
Hebrews 2:11 NIV
Dawn Humphreys, Boston, MA
1 Co. 13:4 (NIV)
Love is patient…
Kim, Katy Texas
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
“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to You, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.” Psalm 19:4 HCSB
Jennifer Abercrombie Cordele, GA Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:6-7 NIV
Dawn in Monett, MO
Ezra 7:10 NIV
For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the LORD, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel.
Purvis, MS
I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. (â€Psalm‬ â€121‬:â€1-2‬ ESV)
Joann Thompson
Coos Bay, Oregon
“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given to him.” James 1:5 KJV
Angie Gates, Wiggins, Ms
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”
Phil 2:3-4 NIV
Tammy M. Hays, NC “as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.” Psalm 103:12 ESV
And let us not become weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. Galatians6:9 KJV
Carolyn Taylor, Dallas, TX
“For am I seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.” Galatians 1:10 ESV
1 Tim 1:15-`6
15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.
Linda, Longview, TX
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 NIV
Kari Shockley. Cypress, TX.
Ecclesiastes 3:1 ESV
For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.
Kim S., Ridgeland, MS —
“3 Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, 4 so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored.” Titus 2:3-5 (NASB)
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. (â€1 John‬ â€3‬:â€2‬ KJV)
Khakki Bonner Nashville, TN
I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope. Psalm 130:5 ESV
Cyndi Carriker, Blue Spring, Mo. In him we have redemption through his blood the forgiveness of sins in accordance with the riches of God’s grace. Ephesians 1:7 NIV
Allison Hughes
Yazoo City , Ms.
I will sing to the Lord all my life. I will sing praise to my God as long as I live. May my meditation be pleasing to Him as I rejoice in the Lord. Psalm 105: 33-34 NIV
Debbie Haramzian, New Port Richey, FL
“Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him. Psalm 62:5 NIV
Mandy Daniel, LaGrange,Ga. “And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” James 1:4 (NASB)
Linda Jamison from Whitesboro and Plano,TX. Hebrews 13:5
Keep your life from the love of money, and be content with what you have, for He has said, “I will never leave you or forsake you.” ESV
Judy Sommerville
Simpsonville, SC
Proverbs 25:11
A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver. (NIV)
Kathy Porter, Las Cruces, NM
“Forgetting what is behind & straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize.”
–Philippians 3:13-14 (NIV)
Dee Dee Fernandina Beach, Florida
Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.
Romans 12:9 ESV
Sierra Emery, Wyoming, Mi
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans‬ â€8‬:â€28‬ NIV
Romans 12:3. (NIV)
3For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.
Sheryl(58) Bella(7) Parker, KS
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” Colossians 3:23,24 NIV
Jackie Newell, Tupelo, MS, Jeremiah 33:6 NAS Behold, I will bring it to health and healing, and I will heal them; and I will reveal to them an abundance of peace and truth.
Nikki Weikel, Jacksonville, NC
Philippians 4:6-7
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything make your supplications known to God, and the peace that passes all understanding shall guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
2 Peter 2:19 NASB
They promise freedom, but they them selves are slaves of sin and corruption. For you are a slave to whatever controls you.
Jeannie Keller, Hanahan, SC “We can make our plans, but The Lord determines our steps.” Proverbs 16:9 (NLT)
You must make allowances for each other’s faults and forgive the person who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.
Col 3:13 NLT
Amy Hudson, Jenks, OK
Proverbs 3:4-5 (NIV)
Trust in the Lord with all you heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
Hebrews 13:5-6
Keep your lives free from the love of money & be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you”
So we say with confidence, ” The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?”
Stacey McAnulty Belton, Texas Seek ye first his kingdom and righteousness and all these things will be added unto you. -Matthew 6:33
Bethany in Jacksonville, NC
“And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men.”
Colossians 3:23
Shelby Briggs, Brandon, Mississippi
“How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them! Where I to count them, they outnumber the grains of the sand- when I awake, I am still with you.
Psalms 139:17-18 NIV
Missy, Phoenix:
“Just then I woke up and looked around–
what a pleasant and satisfying sleep!”
Jer 31:26 MSG
Allison Ashton – Houston, TX
“The Lord openeth the eyes of the blind: the Lord raiseth them that are bowed down: the Lord loveth the righteous.” Psalm 146:8 KJV