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.
Debbie. Hoover, Alabama. 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 NIV)
Brooke Koehl, Montgomery, TX “A gentle answer turns away wrath,but a harsh word stirs up anger.” Proverbs 15:1 (NIV)
John 13:35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have live for one another.
Claire Veronie, Tomball, TX.
“But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it–he will be blessed in what he does.” James 1:25 NASB
Nancy fin Jayess, MS
Ephesians 3:12New International Version (NIV)
In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.
Joy~lives in Iowa~”Let the lowly sister glory in her exultation, but the rich in her humiliation because as a flower of the field, she will pass away. That’s the picture of a ‘prosperous life’. At the very moment everyone is looking on in admiration- it fades away to nothing. Anyone who meets a testing challenge head on and manages to stick to it- is mighty fortunate. For such people loyally in ♡ with God- the reward is life and more life.”- James 1: 9-12
Amy Libdan, Westminster, MD
“The Lord is righteous in all his ways and faithful in all he does.” Psalms 145:17 NIV
Sharon Doney, Massillon, Ohio
Isaiah 40:31 NIV but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles;they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Emily Kelley, Webb City, MO:
“Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens.”
Psalm 68:19, NASB
Stephanie Z., broken Arrow, Ok
You realize, don’t you, that you are the temple of God, and God himself Is present in you?
1 Corinthians 3:16 MSG
Molly-Overland Park, KS, “The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent” Exodus 14:14 ESV
Amanda, League City, TX
2 Timothy 1:7New Living Translation (NLT)
For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.
Kimyetta Hayden, Jonesboro, GA
You, LORD, brought me up from the realm of the dead; you spared me from going down to the pit. Psalm 30:3
John 15:4
4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.
kathy from leesville, la Look to the Lord and his strength:seek his face always. Psalm 105:4 NIV
Judy – Huntsville, AL : Hosea 12:6 So now, come back to your God. Act with love and justice and always depend on Him. Hosea 12:6
Brandy/ Prattville, AL For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mothers womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. psalm 139:13-14 NIV
Robyn Conners, Olathe, KS. Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love. (1 Corinthians 16:13-14 NKJV)
Stephanie from Houston, TX: “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.” Philippians 4:8 (NIV)
Susan Jasper, TN
“Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own”. Matthew 6:34 NIV
Jenny, Central Asia, Ephesians 4:31-32, ICB “Do not be bitter or angry or mad. Never shout angrily or say things to hurt others. Never do anything evil. Be kind and loving to each other. Forgive each other just as God forgave you in Christ.”
Robbin ,Maumee,Ohio
Therefore,since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith,let
Us strip off every weight that slows us down , especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And
Let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. Hebrews 12:1 NLTs
Nikki rhodes, Alexandria, LA,
“Who among the Gods is like you, O Lord?
Who is like you – majestic in holiness,
Awesome in glory, working wonders?”
Exodus 15:11 (NIV)
Carla Goetz, Shell Lake, WI. “Seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near.” Isaiah 55:6 ISV
Summerville, SC
Matt 12:40 For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
Elaine, Greenville SC
Jeremiah 32:17 NIV “O Soverign Lord! You made the heavens and earth by your strong hand and powerful arm. Nothing is too hard for you!”
Paula Hale, Brownwood, Tx
Go after a life of love as if your life depended on it-because it does. Give yourselves to the gifts God gives you. Most of all, try to proclaim His truth.
1 Corinthians 14:1 MSG
Kelly, Trussville AL
Ps 86:11 NIV. Teach me your way, Lord, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.
Kandy Hall, Huffman, TX
Psalm 71:17-18 (ESV)
O God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds.
So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come.
Rachel H
Little Rock, AR
“So I say, walk by the Spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”
Galatians 5:16 NIV
Holly Hobbs, Foreman, Arkansas
God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. John 3:17 (ESV)
Mackenzie
Hurst, tx
And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you. (Psalm 9:10 ESV)
Diane , Wilton, CT
And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God and God in him. 1 John 4:16 (NIV)
Susan, Sydney, Australia We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed but not in despair; persecuted but not abandoned; struck down but not destroyed.2 Corinthians 4:8-9 (NIV)
Deanna Koehl, Montgomery, TX “for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” 1 Cor.6:20
Dawn Thompson, Lafayette, IN
And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7 (NIV)
Kathy | Jamesville, NC | But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called “Today”, so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. Hebrews 3:13 NASB
I will be your God throughout your lifetime until your hair is white with age. I made you and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you. Isaiah 46:4
Kat, Elizabeth,CO – For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 2 Peter 1:5, ESV
Melanie, Blue Springs, MO
Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
Romans 5:4-5 NIV
Kent, WA
And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whomever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him.
Hebrews 11:6 ESV
Kelli, Cary NC
But He knows the way that I take, when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold.
Job 23:10
Lori Beal, Huntington Beach, CA, Acts 22:10 (NASB) “And I said, “What shall I do, Lord?” And the Lord said to me, “Get up and go into Damascus and there you will be told of all that had been appointed for you to do.”
Sheila. Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
God, who got you started in this spiritual adventure, shares with us the life of his Son and our Master Jesus. he will never give up on you. never forget that. 1 Corinthians 1:9 (The Message)
Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established. Proverbs 16:3 KJV
Carla, San Antonio. “Lord, may You be praised; teach me Your statutes.” Psalm 119:12, HCSB
Dana Edmisten
Psalm 91:1-2 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
Arin, Wichita Kansas
“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.”
Ephesians 4:2 NIV
Melody Faith, Knoxville, TN: John 15:4 NLT
“Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.”
Nancy Boyd from Haysi Virginia
Ephesians 4:32 NKJV
And be kind to one another,tender hearted, forgiving one another even as God in Christ forgave you.mmm