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;
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.
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.
Joy Wylie, College Station, Texas
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. – Hebrews 10:23
Joy, Ontario, Canada
“Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.” 2 Cor 1:9 NIV
Denise Oglesby, Katy Texas
Ephesians 3:20 (NLT)
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.
Kimberly Atkins, Garland, TX. “All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.” Matthew 10:22 (NIV)
You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock.
Isaiah 26:3-4
Brenda Ammons, Byhalia MS “Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.” Psalm 91:3-4 (KJV)
Carmen Ashford Okla, OK
Then He said to them all, “Idanyone wouldcome after me, he must denyhimself and take up his cross daily and follow me Luke 9:23
Allyson Flack, Wichita Falls, Tx
“but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,”
1 Peter 3:15 (ESV)
1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Gal 5:1 NIV
Kim Fairfax, VA Romans 15:13 NIV 84
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.
Patti, Berkeley Heights, N.J. “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns,and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” – Matthew 6:26 N.I.V.
Amy Gossen
Springfield, MO
‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’ (Jeremiah 33:3 NIV)
Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely. . .think about such things. Phil. 4:8 NIV
We live by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7 NIV
Barb Granados, Richardson, Texas. But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold. Job 23:10 NIV
Shawna, Longmont, CO
I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13 (ESV)
Ellen, Moneta VA
The King is enthralled by your beauty; honor Him, for He is your Lord. -Psalm 45:11 (NIV, 1984)
Jamie Samano, San Diego:
Psalm 37:23-24 “The Lord makes firm the stepsof the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall,for the Lord upholds him with his hand.” NIV
Jill Lynch, Mission Viejo, CA “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.” James 1:2-3
Meagan, Burke, VA
“But I will see Your face in righteousness, when I awake, I will be satisfied with Your presence.” Psalm 17:15, HCSB
Anna from LaPlata, MO
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.
2 Cor. 4:16 NIV
Karina Samayoa, Panama City Beach,FL. ” Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to words of knowledge.” Proverbs 23:12(NIV)
Amanda F. New Orleans LA
Titus 3:5 New International Version (NIV)
5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,
“Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
Matthew 11:28 NIV
Katherine, San Angelo, TX
Lord, You are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done wonderful things, things planned long ago. Isaiah 25:1 (NIV)
Ella Kelly, Farmington,NM
I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.
Ephesians 1:17 NIV
Samantha, Nappanee, IN
“Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.” Deuteronomy 31:8 NLT
Kelly, Anderson SC
“Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” – Matthew 6:26 NIV
Kathy Howe
Lexington, KY
Job 23:10
“But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.” NKJV
Scherri, Calvert City, KY
Isaiah 55:11 So is my word that goes out from my mouth; It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. NIV
Kristin, San Marcos, CA “I love the Lord, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy.” Psalm 116:1 NIV
Teri Moss, Greensboro NC- But to us, there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in Him, and One Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by Him. 1 Corinthians 8:6
Karen, Dripping Springs, TX
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Philipppians 4:6 NIV
Lori, Tremont, IL: Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him. Jeremiah 17:7 (NIV)
Kristen Gardner, NC
“Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.”
Romans 14:4 (niv)
Sing the glory of his name, make his praise glorious!
Psalm 66:2
NIV
Dana
Boerne, TX
Morrilton, AR
Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him.
Psalm 127:3
NIV
Rayelene Hernandez Port Arthur, Texas
Don’t let evil defeat you, but defeat evil with good.
Romans 12:21
Contemporary English Version
Paige Butler
Auburn, AL
Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness! (Psalm 115:1 ESV)
Judy Cole, Gainesville VA
“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.” 1 Cor. 13.1
Shannon Hoots
Greensboro, NC
“Ah, Sovereign LORD, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.” Jeremiah 32:17 (NIV84)
Beth, Colorado Springs, CO. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and compete, not lacking anything James 1:4 NIV
Eph 1:18. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people. NIV
Brandi Hunter. Memphis, TN.
The Lord is righteous in all His ways and kind in all His deeds. Psalm 145:17
Sorry forgot to leave the translation! NASB
Stacey, Wentzville, MO. “Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NLT)”
D’Anna from Kilgore, Texas
James 1:5 (NIV)
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.
Dawn, Eugene, OR
“Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine with a joyful heart, for God has already approved what you do”. Ecclesiasstes 9:7 NIV
Emily C, Tampa, FL “Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him.” Isaiah 30:18 ESV
6012 Modac Pl
Deesa Stephens eastaboga, al
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?
Psalms 27:1 KJV