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.
Debbi Hawney Bothell, WA
You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! Isaiah 26:3 (NLT)
Suisun City, CA For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7 (NASB)
Shelley Meyer, Katy, TX
The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
Psalms 27:1 (ESV)
Kelli McLean ~ Kalispell, MT
“But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” ~ Acts 20:24 NKJV
Johanna Trask, San Dimas, CA “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. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.” James 1:5-6 NIV
Donna, Houston, TX
“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” Psalm 46:10 ESV
Gail Lobenthal Bloomington, IN
Hebrews 13:5-6 KJV
Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
JulieAnn,Waconia MN. “And he is before all things,and in him all things hold together.”
Colossians 1:17 ESV
Kelly McCargar, Walnut Creek, CA.
“But everyone must be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger, for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.” James 1:19-20 (NASB)
Chelsea McNary, Lima, OH
The Lord bless you
and keep you;
the Lord make his face shine on you
and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face toward you
and give you peace.
Numbers 6:24-26 (NIV)
South fulton tn. Job 23:8:12. I love that. Will choose it as my own. NKJV
karen, Cheney, WA
“We will speak the truth in love,growing in every way more and more like Christ, Who is the head of His body, the church.” Ephesians 4:15 (NLT)
Melva Melendez, San Diego, CA
Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to make war against the rest of her offspring — those who obey God’s commandments and hold to the testimony of Jesus.
Philippians 2:14-15 ESV
Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,
GOD’s cell # Jeremiah 33:3 Call on me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know. Kennewick,Wa.
Amy, Seattle, “He will cover you with his feathers and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.” Psalm 91:4 NIV
Karen, Richardson, TX Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt His name together. (NKJV) Psalm 34:3
Alesha Culp, Creswell, Oregon. Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. Matthew 7:7 ESV
Ann G, Hurst, 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
Anne Chen,, Cerritos, CA “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine on you, and be gracious to you; The Lord turn His face toward you, and give you peace.” Numbers 6: 24-26 NIV
Rebekah Lozano, Sanger, CA – “Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!” – Luke 1.45 (NIV)
Kristiina Gagner Keizer Or
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,
Colossians 3:23 NIV
Patricia, Corinth, TX
Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Colossians 3:13 ESV
Gwynn Sutterby, Winter Park, FL For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, Colossians 1:9. NAS
Sarah, Christina and Esther May Marion Wenatchee, WA
“Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom.”
James 4:9 NIV
Crissy Wright
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
You rejoice in this, though now for a short time you have had to struggle in various trials so that the genuineness of your faith — more valuable than gold, which perishes though refined by fire — may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (â€1 Peter‬ â€1‬:â€6-7‬ HCSB)
Dawn Doty, Tijeras, NM The high and lofty one who lives in eternity, the Holy One, says this: “I live in the high and holy place with those whose spirits are contrite and humble. I restore the crushed spirit of the humble and revive the courage of those with repentant hearts. Isaiah 57:15 NLT
West Richland, WA
Proverbs 21:23 He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from calamity.
Tracy Pratz, Las Cruces, NM
But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret will reward you. Matthew 6:3 NIV
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure,whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Philippians 4: 8. ESV
Michele Powell. Nampa, ID Philippians 4:6 (NIV)
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Karen Ford, Stilwell, Oklahoma ~ If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. James‬ â€1‬:â€5-6‬ ESV
Laura D. San Antonio, TX “His divine power has given us everything we need to live a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.” 2 Peter 1:3 (NIV)
Sandy, Rio Rancho, NM
For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 2 Corinthians 5:21 NKJV
Emily Emberson Wichita KS
Find rest o my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
Pslam 62:5&6
Stephanie, Cypress, TX
But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold.
Job 23:10 NIV
Claire Hurn. Ottawa, ON, Canada. “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.” Isaiah 55:11 NIV.
La’Tonya Thierry, Brookshire, TX. Ask the LORD for rain in the spring, for he makes the storm clouds. And he will send showers of rain so every field becomes a lush pasture. Zechariah 10:1 (NLT)
Susan. Norfolk, VA James 2:3 and if you pay attention to the one who wears fin clothing and say,” You sit here in a good place.” while you say to the poor man,”You stand over there,” or, “sit at my feet”. ESV
Jamie, Phoenix AZ: Galatians 6:9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Shirley Hilbert, Spring Hill, TN
I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. [Psalm 121:1-4 KJV]
Lisa Zink
Chickasha, OKlahoma
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Hebrews 11:6 NIV
Andrea Pixton, Antioch, CA Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Col. 3:12 NIV
Pam Webber Mesa, AZ Ephesians 3:20 NIV
Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us.
Romans 8:28 NIV
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28
forget the former things, do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?i am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland – Isaiah 43:18-19. (NIV)
Donna, Hendersonville TN. Galatians 5:16-17 I say then, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit desires what is against the flesh; these are opposed to each other so that you don’t do what you want.
Brittney Zimprich- Ellensburg, WA
“As the rain and snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, 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.”
Isaiah 55:10-11
This verse is from the NIV.
He shall be like a tree
Planted by the rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper. Psalm 1:3 NKJV
Corinne in Chehalis, Washington
Lindy, Scott, LA
Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. Romans 4:20-21 (NIV)