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.
Kathy Long, Van Wert, Ohio
Philippians 3:13 English Standard Version (ESV)
13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,
Beth Schairer, Lititz, PA
Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7
Jen Hackler, Monroe, LA
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28 ESV
Kezia Pigford, Shreveport, LA.
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe in Him so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Roman 15:13 (HCSB)
Julie, Gresham, OR
“If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” John 15:7 (ESV)
Becky Parrish, Lynchburg, VA
Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Col. 3:1 NLT
Sue Bishop, Roswell, New Mexico
Psalm 16:11, ESV
You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Nellie Ratliff, Fort Worth, Texas. “Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights. Habakkuk‬ â€3‬:â€17-19‬ NIV
Erin
Atlanta. Georgia
Just joining! Loved the verse Beth chose:
Job 23:8-12
8 “Behold, I go forward, but He is not there,
and backward, but I do not perceive Him;
9 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.
10 But He knows the way that I take;
when He has tried me, I shall come out as gold.
11 My foot has held fast to his steps;
I have kept his way and have not turned aside.
12 I have not departed from the commandment of his lips;
I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my portion of food.
Daura Crawley, Conway, AR Romans 11:33-34 ESV
Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom of God! How unsearchable are his judgements and how inscrutable his ways! “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?”
Susan Bostaph, Buffalo, NY
I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living.
Psalm 116:9. ESV
Heather Huhn – Fort Worth, TX
“Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversations be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” Colossians 4:5-6
Gina, Portales, NM and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Phil. 4:7 (NKJV)
Ellen K., Chester, VA
I’m with you, Beth! Thank you for sharing your heart with us!
But he knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold. (â€Job‬ â€23‬:â€10‬ ESV)
Jordan LaRoche, Kingwood, TX
Galatians 2:20 (ESV)
I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Michele,Edmond,OK.
“Know that the LORD,he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.” Ps.100:3 ESV
Madelyn Crawley, Conway, AR Romans 11:33 ESV
Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom of God! How unsearchable are his judgements and how inscrutable his ways!
Sara Wheeler, Alexandria, AL. “Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 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.” Isaiah 40: 28-31 NIV
Marsha-Jacksonville, FL
I will praise You, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will tell of all Your marvelous works. (â€Psalms‬ â€9‬:â€1‬ NKJV)
Cherie, Bluffton, SC
The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1
Melinda Pierce, Deville, LA In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. Romans 8:26 NIV
Ashley Lewis, Marshalltown, Iowa “Cease striving (“be still” in other versions) and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10 NASB
Tona Walker, Tomball, 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. Phillipians 4:8 (NIV)
Courtney, Fort Collins, CO
“whose tongue utters no slander, who does no wrong to a neighbor, and casts no slur on others” Psalm 15:3 NIV
I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His spirit in your inner being so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith..
Ephesians 5:16,17a
Kristi from Gardner,KS on vaca for my birthday (today) in Orlando: For the LORD grants wisdom! From his mouth come knowledge and understanding. (â€Proverbs‬ â€2‬:â€6‬ NLT)
Staci Hudson, Chesapeake, VA Jeremiah 29:11 “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.” NIV
Patty McAlpin, Marble Falls, TX
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:13, NIV
Leslie, Decatur, Tx
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ. Ephesians 4:32 Holman
Mary Saul
Houston, TX
Psalm 25:3 No one whose hope is in you will ever be put to shame, but they will be put to shame who are treacherous without excuse.
Jackie, Berthoud, CO
2 Timothy 1:7
For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.
(NLT)
Karri Pearson, Burnsville, MN – “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourself”
Philippians 2:3 NIV
Michelle
Winchester, VA
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
Susan, Houston, “And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.” John 1:16 ESV
Paula, Oklahoma City
So now I am giving you a new commandment: love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. John 13:34 NLT
Deb Kaufman, Somerset , PA
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.Philippians 2: 3-4, NIV
But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold. (NIV)
But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me I will come forth as gold. Job 23:10 (NIV)
Jennifer Klink, Fuquay-Varina, NC…Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord for our hope is in you alone. Psalm 33:22 NLT
Coffeyville,Ks.
1 Peter 3:15 NiV
But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be willing to give answer to everyone who asks for the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.
1 Peter 3:15 NIV
Jackie Siple Rockledge, FL
The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” (â€Exodus‬ â€14‬:â€14‬ NIV)
Jackie,
God is going to fight for you.
Praise the Lord Jesus Christ!
That’s one of my favorite part of the bible when God tells Moses he will part the red sea.
Love you, your sister Dianne
Carrie Gill, Tyler, Texas. “Even to your old age and gray hairs I am He, I am He who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.” Isaiah. 46:4 (NIV)
Leslie, Norwood Young America, Minnesota.
I Sam 3:10 (NIV)
The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!”
Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”
Leslie
Union, KY
Romans 6:14
For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under the law but under grace.
(NKJV)
Sarah Juven, Fergus Falls, MN Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? Romans 8:35 NIV
Kim, Corpus Christi, TX
Matthew 6:34 ESV
Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow wil be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Theresa C, Edmonds, WA. “I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me.” Psalm 57:2 (NIV)
Erika Powell, celebration FL
Isaiah 30:21(NIV) Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”
Ephesianes 3:20
God can do anything you know —far more than you can ever imagine, or guess or request in your wildest dreams! MSG
Sherri, Galena, OH:
Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?”
John 11:40 NIV
Susan Innes, Andover, KS. “But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold.” Job 23:10 (NIV)
Thanks, Beth, love this!