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.
Diane lukes, Rancho santa margarita, ca
“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”
Jer. 29:13(NIV)
Deb, Lancaster PA
Ephesians 4:29 NKJV
Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.
Kristin Blatz, Kettering, OH “With all my heart, I am waiting, Lord for you! I trust your promises.” Psalm 130:5 (CEV)
Shannon Potts, Cibolo, Texas. “Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.” So we can say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?” Hebrews 13:5-6 NLT
Judy C- New Braunfels, Tx. Show me your ways Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior and my hope is in you all day long. (Psalm 25:4-5 NIV)
Terri Switzer, Luray, Va
 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. – Ephesians 2:8-10 niv
“If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” Matthew 21:22 NIV
For nothing is impossible with God. Luke 1:37
Renae Blume, College Station, TX Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!” Matthew 26:41 NLT
8 But now, put off all such things as anger, rage, malice, slander, abusive language from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another since you have put off the old man with its practices 10 and have been clothed with the new man that is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of the One who created it.
Col 3:8-10 (NIV)
Thalia, Kansas
Isaiah 40:31
But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
ESV
The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knows those who trust in Him. Nahum 1:7 NKJV
Tammy, Delray Beach, Florida
For we walk by faith, not by sight.
2 Corinthians 5:7 (NKJV)
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
EPH 4.1-3 niv
“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”. Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)
Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths, guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. Psalm 25:4-5 (NIV)
Hebrews 12:14 ESV
Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.
Megan P.
Fleetwood PA
Melissa, Williston, ND
“Why spend money on what is not bread,
and your labor on what does not satisfy?
Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good,
and you will delight in the richest of fare.”
-Isaiah 55:2 NIV
Emma; Milton, WA
my house will be called a house of praryer for all nations
mark 11:17 ESV
Terri Tripp from Winchester, Virginia
“Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.”
Colossians 3:16 NIV
Jerrianne
Lakewood, CO
“Build up, build up, prepare the road, remove the obstacles out of the way of my people” Isaiah 57:14 NIV
Debbie Seese Somerset Pa., Ephesians 4:29 Do not let ant unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according it their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
Sharmila, Dubai, UAE
Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. 1 Thess 5:11 ESV
Denise, Jetmore, Kansas “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2 (NIV)
Jennifer Wilson, Brentwood CA. “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.” 2 Cor 3:18 NKIV
Deb, Sevierville Tennessee
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all He has done.
Philippians 4:6
Kathy Vandevender, Muleshoe, TX, NIV
Matthew 19:26
Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Tabitha, Fair Grove, MO
2 Timothy 2:23
“For have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels.”
Amy 7634
“Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty,
and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.”
Proverbs 16:32 (ESV)
Kristi Longino, Moira,NY Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit. Proverbs 18:21 NASB
Harriett, St. Albert, Alberta, Canada As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. Proverbs 27:17 NIV
Georgetta Stambaugh, Franklin, TN. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14 (NIV)
Christy VanHorn
Clinton,MS
Romans 12:3- for by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.
Julie McGirk, Prescott, AZ “For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things.” Psalm 107:9 ESV
Suzanne C. Nashville, TN: And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. (â€Ephesians‬ â€3‬:â€18‬ NLT)
Karen Campbell, Granite Bay, CA
My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you.
John 17:20-21a NIV
Janet, Midlothian, Texas
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
2 Timothy 1:7 KJV
Jody Taylor, Cullman, Alabama
But He knows the way that I take;when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold.
Job 23:10 NIV
Alexis, Salem OR
“So I have looked for You in the sanctuary to see Your power and Your glory.”
Psalm 63:2
NKJV
Sara McClurg, Hayden, AL “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 7:21 (NIV)
Lindsey Krauss, Hudson Valley, NY
1 Peter 1:8 New International Version (NIV)
Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy
Karin, Marble Falls, TX
“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.” Malachi 3:10 NIV
Laura Holifield, Pineville, Louisiana.
We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. – Romans 6:6 ESV
Lauri, Nashville, TN, “Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” Hebrews 12:14 (NIV)
Meagan, Woodstock, Georgia
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
1 Peter 1:3-5 ESV
Sandra Smallwood, Anchorage, Alaska. Show me the right path. O Lord; point out the road for me to follow. Psalms 25:4, NLT
Sherry, Deer Park, Texas
Psalm 19:3 NIV
There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.
Sarah B
Bonaire, GA
The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.
Romans 8:6 NIV
Kim L., Colonial Heights, VA
As for me, I will sing about Your strength; I will praise Your loyal love in the morning. For You are my refuge and my place of shelter when I face trouble.
Psalm 59:16 NET
Isabella Fenton Wichita, KS “All the nations you have made shall come and worship before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name” ESV Psalms 86:9