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.
Kelly, Auburn AL says, With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall. Psalm 118:29 NIV
Michelle Booth, Lancaster, SC. “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly” Colossians 3:16a NKJV
Starkville, MS
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 2Peter 3:9 (NIV)
Kayla
Buckhannon, WV
“Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”
Jeremiah 29:12-13
Kelley Prattville, AL
1 Chron 4:10 HCSB Jabez called out to the God of Israel: “If only You would bless me, extend my border, let Your hand be with me, and keep me from harm, so that I will not cause any pain.” And God granted his request.
Cait McCoy, Masontown, PA. “Be imitators of Christ, therefore, as dearly loved children, and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” Ephesians 5:1-2 (NIV)
Carol, The Woodlands, TX
I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. Psalm 34:4 KJV
Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. Lam 3:23
Cindy Kelley Cleveland, TN. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. Lam 3:23
What you decide on will be done and light will shine on your ways.
Job 22:28 NIV
Lori in Chiang Mai, Thailand Phil 4:8-9 (NIV)Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
Bette, Danville, PA Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7 NIV
Kari H from Grand Rapids, Michigan
Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting you.
Show me where to walk, for I give myself to you. Psa.143:8 NLT
Rebecca Abshoff, Waterloo, ON, Canada. James 1: 2-4
2 Dear brothers and sisters,when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. (NLT)
‘But he knows the way that I take; When he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.’
Job 23:10(NIV)
Karen from Goodyear, AZ “Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Ephesians 6:7 NLT
TCobb, Texas
Exodus 14:14, NLT
The LORD himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.
Bloomington, MN Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.
Deuteronomy 6:5. (NIV)
Pamela Kimes, St. Marys, GA: “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind (thought)is stayed on Thee:
because he trusteth in Thee.” Isaiah 26:3 KJV
Jewel Corley from Florien, LA. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you,and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, He may give it you. These things I command you, that ye love one another. John 15: 15 – 17 KJV
Dorla in Lincoln:
To the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.
Eph 1:6 NASB
Kathie Bowman, Mapleton, IL. In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. James 2: 17, 18 (NIV)
Kathy, Milan TN
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.
Psalms 111:10 KJV
Missy Starn, Lewis Center, Ohio
For we walk by faith, not by sight.
2 Corinthians 5:7
Cecelia Stewart, Tustin, California. No weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of The Lord, and this is their vindication from me. Isaiah 54:17 NIV
But may the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; may they be happy and joyful. Psalm 68:3 (TNIV)
The lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Psalms 37:23
Amanda, West Monroe, La
For he will order his angels to protect you wherever you go. They will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone
Psalm 91:11-12
Debbie Ebert , Joplin, MO ” Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.” – Galatians 1:10 (NIV)
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV
Sue, Kalamazoo, MI. Do all these things, but most important, love each other. Love is what holds you all together in perfect unity. Colossians 3:15 (NCV)
Kim Vande Zande from Orange City, IA. “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2 (NIV)
Jenny Schultz, Valrico, FL. …God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end. Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NLT)
Tracy F.
Lake St. Louis, Missouri
For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities-all things were created through him and for him.
Colossians 1:16
ESV
Brenda Elser, Livermore, CA
“Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.” Phil. 4:8 NIV
Martha Blacklock
Lubbock, Texas
1Peter 3:8 (NIV) “Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble”
Erin George, Columbus, OH
Exodus 33:14 MSG
“GOD said, “My presence will go with you. I’ll see the journey to the end.””
I am heading to Cambodia on an anti-sex trafficking mission. I need this verse written on my heart.
Suzanne Hickey, Houston, TX
“When there are many words, sin is unavoidable, but the one who controls his lips is wise.” Proverbs 10:19 (HCSB)
jana, Altus, ok
Isaiah 41:10, ESV
“Fear not for I am with you; be not dismayed for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Karen Johnson, Bingham Lake, MN
We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.
2 Corinthians 10:5 (ESV)
Linda Strange, Oak Grove, Mo – In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. Ephesians 1:13-14
Patti Atkinson Oak Ridge, TN
For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.
2 Tim 1:7 NLT
Not one of the Lord’s good promises to Israel failed; everyone was fulfilled.
-Joshua 21:45 (NIV)
Joy Cravens, Whitehouse, TX: Surely God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid. Isaiah 12:2 NIV
Susan, Oneida TN
Psalms 40:3-4 (KJV)
And he hath put a new song in my mouth,
even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord.
Gwen Ziegler, Washington, IL “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.” John 16:33 NIV
Judy Vitters, Columbia, SC
But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. Psalm 13:5 NIV
Sally B – Barrington, IL Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father. Colossians 3:17 NASB
Rosa – Plano, Tx “So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building.” (1 Corinthians‬ â€3‬:â€7-9‬ ESV)
Cathy, Odessa, TX – Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2 (ESV)
Polly – New Port Richey FL- Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun. 2 Corinthians 5:17 — version unknown