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.
Gail Peacock, Longview, Texas
“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. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus” Philippians 2:3-5 (NIV)
Emilie Eaton, IN
I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. Luke 15:7 NIV
Leanette, Atlanta
Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.
Psalm 139:23 NIV
Psalm 31:4
Be strong and courageous, all you who put your hope in the Lord.
HCSB
Janice L – Georgetown, SC
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:10 NIV
And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen. (â€Philippians‬ â€4‬:â€19-20‬ ESV)
Forgot to post “Fort Mill, SC”
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23
Angela Tourney, Fort Collins, CO
May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. (â€1 Thessalonians‬ â€5‬:â€23‬ NIV)
Hosea 11:4 I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love, I lifted the yoke from their neck and bent down to feed them. NIV
Eron Bird Athens, GA
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Psalm 76:23 ESV
Kasyn Peacock, Longview Texas
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”
Romans 3:23 (NIV)
Robyn in San Antonio, Texas
“Delight yourself in the Lord;
And He will give you the desires of your heart.”
Psalms 37:4. NASB
Connie Tyler, Texas And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. 2 Timothy 4:19 NKJ
Meg W, Raleigh NC
Matthew 11:28 God’s Word translation
“Come to me, all who are tired from carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest.
Cara Baird, Fountain, Co
Ephesians 3:20,21 NASB
Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.
Carrie Lagas, North Potomac, MD
Not to us, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness. Psalm 115:1 NIV
Stephanie, Cisco, TX. Zephaniah 3:17 KJV. The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.
Sandy, Bowie, MD
“But know that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself: The Lord will hear when I call unto him. Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed. Ps 4:3-4 KJV
Kathleen Noisette, Ottawa Canada
“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.” Matthew 11:29 NIV
Kyli Hoskins, Sarasota, FL
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21 NIV
He must increase,but I must decrease. John 3:30
Glenda, Lee’s Summit, MO – With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. Psalm 119:10-11 (ESV)
Ephesians 1:11 (ESV)
In Him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will.
Tori D. Mays
Elmer, La
I have not departed from the commandment of his lips. I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my portion of food. Job 23:12 ESV
Lesley. Steamboat Springs, CO. Ezekiel 36:26-28.(NIV) “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. Then you will live in the land I gave your ancestors; you will be my people, and I will be your God.
Laura Dvorkin, Los Angeles, California
Psalm 37:23&24 Holman Christian Standard Bible
23 A man’s steps are established by the Lord, and He takes pleasure in
his way.
24 Though he falls, he will not be overwhelmed, because the LORD holds
his hand.
Ingrid, Oldfield, MO
Psalm 103:8-9 ESV
The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever.
You turn men back to dust, saying, “Return to dust, O sons of men” For a thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night. Psalm 90:3-4 NIV
Stephanie Sharp, Thomasville, GA
Therefore since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.
Romans 5:1 NLT
Alana W., Surprise, AZ
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
before you were born I set you apart;
I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” Jeremiah 1:5 NIV
For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. Galatians 5:13 (ESV)
Jennifer Hall, Keller, TX “But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.” Hebrews 3:13 NIV
Erika Morgan, Signal Mountain, TN
‘Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trails of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.’ James 1:2-3 NIV
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourself”
Philippians 2:3 NIV
I and my maids will fast with you. If you do this, I’ll go to the king, even though it’s forbidden. If I die, I die. Esther 4:6b. (MSG)
Missy Newman, Andersonville, TN
Isaiah 49:16 ESV
Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me.
Emma LaBossiere, Pittsburgh, PA:
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you” Isaiah 43: 1-2, ESV
Teri Wymore, Millington, TN
Whatever you are doing, work at it with enthusiasm, as to the Lord and not for people
Colossians 3:23 New English Translation (NET)
Cristy,Prattville,Al Luke 6:35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. NIV
Nihla, Amarillo, TX
2 Corinthians 4:16 (NKJV)
Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.
Carmen, Summersville, WV
“For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.” -Gal 5:17 NIV
Beth Green, Arlington, Texas
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him and He will make your paths straight. (NIV)
Proverbs 3:5-6
Staci Kennedy, Garden City, KS
Psalm 25:5 “Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.” NIV
Marrie Gardner, Cullman, AL
Ephesians 4:29
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. (NIV)
Philippians 4:6 NSV
In nothing be anxious, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known unto God.
Melanie-Farmington, MO
And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”
Luke 9:23 ESV
Wahpeton, ND
1 John 1:7 ESV
But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.
Bobbi, Douglas, AZ
Isaiah 53:5 NLT
But He was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed.
Rebecca, Las Vegas, Nevada. “But he knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold.” Job 23:10 ESV
Sara Langone, Santa Fe,NM ” Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body” Proverbs 16:24 ESV