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.
Susan, Little Rock, Ar
I lift my eyes to the mountains, where does my help come from? My help comes from The Lord, the maker of Heaven and earth. psalm 121:1-2 niv
Kristine Penn, Benton, Arkansas “Then the LORD said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the people to get moving!” Ex 14:15 NLT
Laura from Aurora, MO
Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23 (NAS)
from Lincolnton, NC
Jesus said, “I am the light of the world; whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” ~ John 8:12
Tammie Head, Houston, Texas. “The LORD has done great things for us; we are glad.” Psalm 126:3, NASB
Katelyn, Jackson, TN
“Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. Isaiah‬ â€43‬:â€18-19‬, ESV
“…I do not count myself to have apprehended, but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those which are ahead I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus
Phil. 3:13,14
NKJV
Jane. Denver, Colorado: “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.” Phil 4: 8 (ESV)
Sarah, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma “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.” Jeremiah 29:11 ESV
Wendy Littleton, CO “Thank God for his Son, a gift too wonderful for words!” – 2 Cor 9:15 NLT
Lena, Columbia, SC. “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interest but each of you to the interest of the others. (Philippians 2:3-4 NIV)
Kim, Louisville, KY, And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19, ESV
Katie Davila, Tomball, TX
Make me to know your ways, O LORD; teach me your paths. Psalm 25:4, ESV
Rochelle, Louisville, KY
“But if I go to the east, he is not there; if I go to the west, I do not find him. (â€Job‬ â€23‬:â€8‬ NIV)
Andersonville, TN
I am the Way, the Truth, and the Light. No one comes to the Father except through Me. John 14:6
Raleigh, NC
A song of ascents. Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion. It cannot be shaken; it remains forever. Psalm 125:1 HCSB
Denise, Colorado Springs, “and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7 NKJV
Jennifer Fishers, Indiana
She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks.
Proverbs 31:17 NIV
Gina Fernandez “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7
Lisa, Charleston, SC “Also seek at the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” Jeremiah 29:1 (NIV)
Jennifer; Houston, TX: Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Philippians 2:3
Colima Smith, Klamath Falls, OR
He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds.
Psalm 147:3 NLT
Lacy
Norman, OK
Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may recieve mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Hebrews 4:16
Cara from Houston, Texas
Do not be shaped by this world; instead be changed within by a new way of thinking. Then you will be able to decide what God wants for you; you will know what is good and pleasing to him and what is perfect. Romans 12:2 NCV
Faye from Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body. (â€1 Corinthians‬ â€6‬:â€19-20‬ NLT)
A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. Proverbs 15:1 (NIV)
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” 2 Timothy 1:17 NLT
Lora, Colorado Springs, CO “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” (John 15:12 ESV)
DeBary, FL
“I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” (Psalm 119:11 NLT)
Ashley, Stephenville, TX “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” (Psalm 23:5-6 NKJV)
“Let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” – Galatians 6:9
Emily Murphy. Petal, MS “Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.” (Proverbs 16:24)
Pennie Marshall, Lincoln, NE
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.”
Isaiah 55:8,9 NAS
Tammy, Waterford, Mi
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither demons nor angels, neither the present, nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39 NIV
Pam Harris, Murrieta, Ca
Look, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; your walls are continually before Me.
Isaiah 49:16 HCSB
Karin, Aston, PA
I didn’t have a verse in mind when I arrived, but the Lord knew I needed Job 23:10 for this week.
“But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.”
Job 23:10 (NIV)
Emily T – Kansas City, MO
“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.”
Philippians 4:8 NKJV
Patrice in ABQ
“Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s word in everything you do and everywhere you go; He’s the One who will keep you on the right track. Don’t assume you know it all. Run to God! Run from evil.”
Proverbs 3:5-7, The Message
Cindy Gandy
Hazlehurst, MS
Trust in the Lord with all your heart,and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him,and he will make straight your paths.
Proverbs 3:5-6(ESV)
Lana Caddy, Bryant, AR. “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (â€2 Corinthians‬ â€4‬:â€17-18‬ NIV)
Deidra K Vanderheiden Wichita, KS
Philippians 4:1 (NIV)
So then, my brothers, you are dearly loved and longed for – my joy and crown. In this manner stand firm in the Lord, dear friends.
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 ESV
Danielle, Glencoe, IL
A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. Proverbs 15:1 (NIV)
Jan Horne
Bossier City, LA
Isaiah 43:18-19 NIV
18) Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.
19) See I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.
Isaiah 43:18-19 NIV
Tyra Sias, Atlanta, GA
I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in His Word I put my hope.
Psalm 130:5 NIV
Maren Breitwieser, Indianapolis, IN: “Nor is it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will cross the sea for us and make us hear it, that we may observe it?” Deuteronomy 30: 13, NASV
I love you O Lord, my strength.
Psalm 18 : 1
Patricia Gandy
Hazlehurst, MS
1 Corinthians 2:9 (NIV)
However, as it is written:
What no eye has seen,
what no ear has heard,
and what no human mind has conceived
the things God has prepared for those who love him
Orange, TX “… Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.” Isaiah 43:1 ESV
Chris
Canton, NC
But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold.
Job 23:10 NIV