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.
Theresa Villazon, Riverview, FL
Cast your burden on the Lord [releasing the weight of it] and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be moved (made to slip, fall, or fail). (â€Psalm‬ â€55‬:â€22‬ AMP)
And God is able to make all grace abound to you, that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed. 2 Corinthians 9:8 NAS Erika, Monson MA
Brown City, Michigan Job 23:12 I have not departed from the commandment of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my portion of food.
“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted; He delivers those who are discouraged.” Psalm 34:18 NET Jennifer in Canfield, OH
Felicia, Carrollton, VA
John 10:10, ESV
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life and have it abundantly.
Gay, Round Rock, Texas “say to those with fearful hearts, ‘Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, He will come with vengeance; with divine retribution He will come to save you.’ ” Isaiah 35:4 NIV
Melody, Jefferson Georgia
“…grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life He has for Christians, oh, the utter extravagance of His work in us who trust Him – endless energy, boundless strength.” Ephesians 1:19 (MSG)
Sarah S. Indian Trail, NC
“Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually.” Psalm 105:4
Katie Gunser Levittown PA But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold. Job 23:10 NIV
Valerie Finch, Warrensburg, MO
“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 3:16-17a (NIV)
Jenny, Greenwood, IN Sorry this is a day late!
“So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?” Matthew 6:28-30 NKJV
Devina varela, san Angelo, because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9, NET
Carolyn Burke, Hermitage,TN ~ “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your cares upon Him, for He cares for you.” 1 Peter 5: 6-7 NKJV
Deb Singleton, Lexington, KY Psalm 28:7 (NIV)
“The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song. “
Debbie New Carlisle John 11:35 NIV Jesus wept.
Kassi Rushing, Ridgeland, MS (â€James‬ â€1‬:â€23-24‬ NIV)
Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.
Diane Miller, Cypress, TX “Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.” Romans 12:9
Patti, Summerset, SD. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13 ESV
Andrea Hahn, Eindhoven, Netherlands.
“For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse” Romans 1:20 KJV
Patricia McNeily, Miamisburg, OH. Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Phil 4:5-7.
Micah 6:8
He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
Amy Culpepper, Whitehouse, TX
Niki Mull, Leland, NC
No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
Hebrews 12:11 (NIV)
Though I walk in the midst of my enemies, you will revive me, you will stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies, your right hand will save me. Psalms 138:7
Tammy Richards, Beaumont, Alberta, Canada. For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Hebrews 4:12, NASB
In all thy ways acknowledge him and he shall direct they paths.
Proverbs 3:6
Jessie, Chittagong, BD. “Incline my heart to your testimonies and not to selfish gain. Turn my eyes from worthless things and give me life in your ways. Confirm to your servant your promise that you may be feared.” Psalms 119:36-38 (NLT)
If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. James 1:5 NIV
Melanie Shenning, Tampa FL
Revelation 3:2 NIV
Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God.
Kaysie Hosiner, Waxahachie, TX. “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.” Galations 5:1 NIV
You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into his marvelous light;
1 Peter 2:9 nasb
Stacy Minor,, Big Lake Mn
Debbie, Fort Thomas, KY
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,
Ephesians 3:20 NIV
Heather, Hempstead, TXBut He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold. Job 23:10 NIV
Pam Gross, Southaven, MS
Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him. Psalm 34:8 (ESV)
1 Peter 4:10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. NIV
Sarah Carroll, Springfield, Ohio
1 Kings 19:12; New Living Translation (NLT)
12 And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper.
~~I chose this to help me remember to tune in to hear the whisper of God.
Gretchen Colorado Matthew 6:33 “But seek ye 1st the kingdom of God, & his righteousness; & all these things shall be added unto u.”
Philippians 1:5 (MSG)
I am so pleased that you have continued on in this with us, believing and proclaiming God’s Message, from the day you heard it right up to the present.
Lenoir City, TN
“So they said, ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household'”
Acts 16:31
Tammy Mashburn~Boiling Springs, SC
“But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold.” Job 23:10NIV
Leigh Toronto, ON they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 2:23 (ESV)
Jennifer Diaz, Fort Worth, Texas “I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” Psalm 119:11 ESV
Amy-Tampa, FL
Proverbs 4:18 NRSV
“But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day.”
Allison Rains, Benton, LA. “May the words of my mouth & the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my redeemer.” (NIV)
I am from Lanett Al.
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 3:16,17a. NIV
I think I got it right this time!
Lisa Smallwood, Rockville, VA
“…may have power together with all the saints, to grasp how wide, and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,” Ephesians 3:18 NIV
Rebecca Shingledecker, Fort Worth, Texas “I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” Psalm 119:11 ESV
Luke 6:38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
Lisa Maynard, Marion, IN
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Ephesians 4:2(NIV)
Chelle Brown; Longview, Tx – “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” Romans 12:12 NIV
Wewahitchka, FL
Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so they persecuted the prophets which were before you. Matthew 5:12 (NKJV)