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.
Michaela
Loganville, GA
“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 a hope and a future.
Jeremiah 29:11
Kerry L Durham NC
Psalm 22:22King (KJV)
22 I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.
Donna Philippi, Queen City, TX
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)
Keri Lynn, Macon, GA
“No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Joshua 1:5 NIV
Tatiana, Houston, TX. “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-5. NIV
‘But, the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.
2 Thessalonians 3:3, NIV
Kristina Davenport, Lake Jackson, TX
Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.
Ephesians 4:29 NKJV
Georgia P, North Vancouver, BC
“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power and of love, and of a sound mind.” Timothy 1:7 NKJV
Mary Wood, Fort Worth, Tx
2 Corinthians 4:17 NIV
For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.
Marie in Roselle, NJ
“But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds,” declares the Lord.
Jeremiah 30:17 NIV
Beth Evans, Jamestown, NC
You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. Modern English Version
Kara Hutton, Omaha Ne “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Philippians 4:6 (NIV)
Theresa Anderson Grove, Oklahoma
He restoreth my soul: he
leadeth me in the paths of
righteousness for his name’s sake. Psalm 23:3 KJV
Lauren Maas, Sugar Land, Texas. “But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold.” Job 23:10 NIV
Gina, Thomaston, GA
“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, or stand in the way of sinners, or sit in the seat of mockers.” Psalm 1:1 NIV
For the spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us love, power and self-discipline 2 Timothy 1:7 NIV
Taryn Crabill, Temple, TX. “And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19 NLT.
Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone. (â€Romans‬ â€12‬:â€17-18‬ NLT)
Brenda Voydatch, Meredith, NH
My salvation and my honor depend on God; He is my might rock, my refuge. Psalm 62:7 (NIV)
Amanda Hebert , Hawthorne, CA
Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
before you were born I set you apart;
I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”
Jeremiah 1:5
Kelly Stoneham – Sinking Spring, PA:
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. ~ Ephesians‬ â€6‬:â€12‬ (ESV)
Chris Floyd, Kokomo, IN
Isaiah 55:11 ESV
11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
Angie – Jacksonville, TX
Proverbs 18:10 NIV – The name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.
Michelle Green, Fort Wort, Texas: ” Now go, I willw help you speak and will teach you what to say.” Exodus 4:12 NIV
Linda Franklin, Arlington, TX. “I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being.” Eph. 3:16, NIV
Maggie, Tacoma, WA
This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24 ESV
Diane Morgan, Mesa, Arizona. Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word. 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 (ESV)
Mande Brightwell, Longview, Tx
Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained by the world. (â€James‬ â€1‬:â€27‬ HCSB)
Paula, Colorado Springs, CO
“Do not be hasty in word or impulsive in thought to bring up a matter in the presence of God. For God is in heaven and you are on the earth; therefore let your words be few.” Ecclesiastes 5:2 (NASV)
Haley,Abby & Molly Hotchkiss, Cypress,TX
“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.”
1 John 3:1-2, NIV
Kathy Harper, Farmington, NM Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. He who goes out weeping, carrying seeds to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him. Psalm 126:5-6 (NIV)
Cara Steinbring, Grand Prairie, TX. But God shows His love for us in that while we are all sinners, Christ died for us. (ESV)
Shelle spokane, wa. For he will order his angels to protect you wherever you go. Ps.91:11 nlt
Kathi Houtcooper, Phoenix, AZ, Kind words are like honey-sweet to the soul and healthy for the body. Proverbs 16:24 (NLT)
Corpus Christi, TX:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 1:1 NAB
Julie Jones, Knoxville, TN
2 Samuel 22:31
“As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him.”
Heather Sutton Boaz, Alabama
Proverbs 55:22-Give your worries to the Lord, and he will take care of you. He will never let good people down. NCV
Brittany Mabe, San Diego, CA:
The Lord works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed. He made known his ways to Moses, His acts to the people of Israel. The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always chide, nor will He keep His anger forever. Psalm 103:6-9, ESV
Jill, Spokane Valley, WA
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Ephesians 6:10 (NIV)
Tiffany, Corinth, MS
Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you” Isaiah 43: 1-2, ESV
Christy, Madras, Oregon
Psalm 91:1-2 ESV
He who dwells in the shelter of the most high will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say to the Lord, my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.
Susan, Atlanta, GA
So that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Thessalonians 1:12 ESV
Kelly, CA
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”
Colossians 3:12, NIV
Wendi, Simi Valley, CA
“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.
Ephesians 2:8,9 (NIV)
Jeremiah 29:11 ESV
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Lou Ann Smith, McAllen TX
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 ESV
Job 23:10. New century version
God knows the way that I take, and when he has tested me I will come out like gold.
Heather, Bel Air, MD. But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold. Job 23:10
Jennifer , Madisonville, KY I rise before dawn and cry for help; I have put my hope in your word. (â€Psalm‬ â€119‬:â€147‬ NIV)
Wendy, Lakewood, NY
When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.
1 Peter 2:23 (NIV)