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.
“I am sure of this, that He who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:6 HCSB
Christy Hamrick, Shelby, NC- “For everything there is a season and a time for every matter under heaven.” Ecclesiastes 3:1 ESV
Irene H. White Pigeon, MI
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7 ESV
Emma Gardner, Cullman, AL
Deuteronomy 31:6
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. (NIV)
Joan Wetzel, New Orleans, Louisiana
Matthew 6:30
“But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith!” (NASB)
Ashley R., Marietta, GA
“choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve.”
Joshua 24:15 NIV
Stephanie B., Augusta, GA
You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock.
Isaiah 26:3-4 (ESV)
Teri Wray, Wake Forest, NC
“Let your conversation be always full of grace,seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”
Colossians 4:6
Heidi Cahill, DeLand, FL:
“So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another” Romans 14:19, NASB
Gloria, Freeport, FL
Ephesians 4:29 (NLT)
Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.
Pam T, Augusta, GA
1 Peter 1:15. ESV
As he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct.
Kristie Lovely, Van Alstyne, TX
“The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers.” I Peter 4:7 ESV
Acts 26:16
But get up and stand on your feet. For I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and of what i will reveal to you. (HCSB)
Psalm 18:30 NIV
” As for God, His way is perfect. The word of The Lord is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in Him.”
megan, Prattville Al
For he will command his angles concerning yo, to guard you in all your ways
psalm 91:11
Psalm 91! Love that whole chapter !
My first memory verse was 91:14
Jennifer Nash, COOKEVILLE, TN
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
Romans 8:37 | NIV
I love this verse Megan. It is so comforting. Thanks for posting it!
Kristin Kellett, West Monroe, LA. But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code. Romans 7:6 (NIV)
Sara Rogers, Murray, KY
“But He knows the way that I take; when He has tried me, I shall come out as gold.”
Job 23:10, ESV
Susie McNeely, Russellville Ar
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. (â€Jeremiah‬ â€29‬:â€13‬ NIV)
Marie Griffith, Moulton, Alabama.
If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.” Genesis 4:7 NIV
NASB
Psalm 23:1-3
The LORD is my Shepherd, I shall not want
He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters.
he restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.
Marla Strack, Hydro, OK
Every word of God is flawless, he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
Proverbs 30:5 NIV
Amy, Oneida, Tn
Isaiah 41:10 KJV
Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
Mindy Habelt, Williamson, Georgia
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.”
Pamela, Kansas City MO
You will keep him in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are FIXED on You! ~ Isaiah 26:3 (NLT)
Sherri B., Rolesville, NC
The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.
Deuteronomy 31:8 (NIV)
Mary Ann Roach
Wichita Falls, Texas
Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgements, and his paths beyond tracing out!
NIV
Proverbs 12:25 NIV
Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up.
Joanne Delanoy Leduc, AB Canada “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” 1 John 4:10 [NIV]
Penny – Oklahoma City, OK
In your anger do not sin. Do not give the devil a foothold. Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up. Eph. 4:26-29
Sherree, Lilburn, GA
Colossians 4:5-6 NKJV
“Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.”
Andrea from Birmingham
23 A wise heart instructs its mouth and increases learning with its speech. 24 Pleasant words are a honeycomb: sweet to the taste and health to the body.
Proverbs 16: 23-24 HCSB
Kira Gamble Scottsboro, AL
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. For through me your days will be many, and years will be added to your life. If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you; if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer. Proverbs 9:10-12 NIV
Sarah Cochran, Edmond, OK
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” Galatians 5:22-25 NIV
Lauren Robertson,Foxworth, MS
You did not choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. This is my command:love each other. John 16-17 (NLT)
Wendy Jones, Jonesboro, AR There is no fear in love; Instead perfect love drives out fear. We love because He first loved us.
1 John 4: 18-19 HCSB
Michelle Moultrie, Birmingham, Alabama
“But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day.” Proverbs 4:18 ESV
Melody
Myrtle Beach, SC
“You open Your hand; You satisfy the desire of every living thing.”
Psalm 145:16
Jackie Moore – Brookville, Ohio
Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Ephesians 3:20
Tammy Wells Cairo Ga…Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life. (â€Proverbs‬ â€4‬:â€23‬ NASB)
Donna Powell from Austin,TX
For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.
Deuteronomy 20:4
Tillsonburg, Ontario. For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of your self more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgement, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. Romans 12:3
Cheryl – Hillsborough, NC; Jeremiah 29:13 If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.
CeCelia O. Houston, Texas
“I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”
Philippians 4:13
Joshua 1:9 (NIV)–
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified, do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. Shira MacLennan; Americus. Georgia.
Jenny Belleville, IL I can do anything through Him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13 NIV
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 on me. 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV)
Hannah Arnold, Carrollton TX
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James‬ â€1‬:â€2-4‬ NIV
Amanda from Siloam Springs, AR
“He has paid a full ransom for his people. He has guaranteed his covenant with them forever. What a holy, awe-inspiring name he has!”(â€Psalms‬ â€111‬:â€9‬ NLT)
Connie Walker, Houston, TX.
Psalms 118:24 NLT
This is the day the LORD has made.
We will rejoice and be glad in it.
Lori Smith Little Rock Ar
We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. (â€2 Corinthians‬ â€10‬:â€5‬ NIV)
Deonne Collins-Hallsville Texas – Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us. Ephesians 3:20 NIV