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.
Deena, Grants Pass, Oregon
so you should rather turn to forgive and comfort him, or he may be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. So I beg you to reaffirm your love for him. 2 Corinthians 2:7 & 8. ESV
Willa, Rock Springs, WY. “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5 ESV
Jennifer Tricarico, Fairfax, VA
Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city. Proverbs 16:32 (ESV)
For I am the Lord, your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, do not fear, I will help you.
Isaiah 41:13, NIV
Mary, Chesapeake,Va
Lisa Edeal, Beatrice, NE
“But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” Luke 6: 35-36, NASB
Debbie – Ontario Canada
Daniel 2:20-23
Daniel answered and said :
blessed be the name of God forever and ever to whom belong wisdom and might,
He changes times and seasons, he removes kings and set up kings he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding.
he reveals deep and hidden things he knows what is in the darkness and the light dwells with him.
To you O God of my fathers I give thanks and praise for you have given me wisdom and might and have now made known to me what we asked of you, for you have made known to us the kings mater.
“The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17 (KJV)
Beth, Lansing, MI
Psalm 16:8 ESV, “I have set the Lord always before me; because He is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.”
“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.” I Peter 2:23 NIV
Annette Jennings
Pearland, Texas
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€18‬ NIV)
LuAnn, Winfield, IA Galations 1:10 HCSB For am I now trying to win the favor of people, or God? Or am I striving to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a slave of Christ.
Jenn DeVille, Knox City, Texas
Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalms 37:4
“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.”
Ephesians 4:2 NIV (1984)
Mary- Columbia, PA
And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.
Romans 5:5 NLT
Beth Schreiner, Alvaton, KY
“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.”
Psalm 32:8, NIV
Lee Merrill from Gilbert, AZ
“Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living” (Romans 6:16 NLT)
Karen Hitchcox, Conway, Arkansas NAS John 15:7
If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
Christa, San Diego: For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world, and this is the victory that has overcome the world, our faith. (I John 5:4)
Kinsey, Tulsa, OK
Remember the Lord your God. He is the one who gives you power to be successful, in order to fulfill the covenant he confirmed to your ancestors with an oath.
Deuteronomy 8:18NLT
Joanne Freeman, Port Saint Joe, Florida
“Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”
Mark 11:24 NIV
February 2,2015…..Cindy Weldon. Romans 12:2 (ESV) Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (3rd verse)
I signed up for the Siesta Scripture Memory Team for 2015, I’ve had a bit of a rough start since my mother fell Christmas Eve and didn’t want to go to the hospital but by Christmas Night was becoming unresponsive so we rushed to the ER where they kept her and unfortunately never returned home. I stayed with her day and night at the hospital for two solid weeks and the 3rd week I was there most of the time but not at night. On January 20, 2015 at 3:30 am she arrived in Heaven. I am so thankful for a mother who guided me to Christ! She witnessed at the hospital and the Rehab center to all the doctors and nurses about God and how they needed to know him and how he was the one in charge and not them. I have this weekend began to write in my index cards my 3 verses to catch up…now the hard part memorizing them!
During my mothers quick illness there were days I became so weary I wasn’t sure how I would make it through the day. I tried so hard to hide it from my mother so she wouldn’t worry, I was praying and asking God to give me the strength for each new day. So my 3rd scripture, which is one of my favorites, is what I have chosen but I have expanded it from the 31st verse to verses 28-31 of Isaiah 40. Through my weariness God has given me strength to keep on keeping on! Blessings to everyone!
Oops…Sorry I forgot to put where I’m at.. I’m from Mentor, OH
Oh Kathy, I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your dear mom. So grateful to know she loved the Lord and was sharing her faith until the very end. Our faith is the goal!! Welcome to SSMT, and I pray the verses you select go deep to your core, and quickly. 🙂 Welcome to SSMT!
Julia, Whidbey Island, WA: “Once you lived in the dark, but now the Lord has filled you with light. Live as children who have light.” Ephesians 5:8 GW
Beth Stoffregen, Laguna Hills, CA
For God is working in you, giving you the desires and the power to do what pleases Him. Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. Philippians 2:13-15 (NLT)
You did not choose me but I choose you, and appointed your to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last. John 15:16
Mary, Fort Worth, TX
“Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!”
Psalm 100:4 ESV
Jodi Alley, Humble, TX “When you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed in Him, you were also sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.” Ephesians 1:13 HCSB
Falyn Hall, LaGrange, GA
Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need. (Matthew 6:33NLT)
The blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving,
The honor and power and strength,
To our God forever and ever and ever!
Oh, Yes! (Revelation 7:12 The Message)
Jamie Wagner, Billings MT
“If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” (Colossians 3:1-3, NKJV)
Mary Fadel
Preston, MD
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28 (ESV)
Brooke, Wixom, MI
“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 NIV
Cindy Webster, San Diego, CA
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9, NIV
Psalm 37:4 ESV
Delight yourself on the LORD and He will give you the desires of your heart.
Jessica from Chesapeake, VA
1 Timothy 6:7-8 NIV
For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.
Courtney Wellmann
College Station, Texas
“She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.”
Proverbs 31:25 NIV
Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you. He rises to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him. Isaiah 30:18
Jamie Read, Hastings, NE
Romans 8:26-28 ESV ” Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. “
Jenn Nahrstadt, Scripture memory FIEND, Cumming, GA:
You see, God has not given us a cowardly spirit, but a powerful, loving, and disciplined spirit.
2 Timothy 1:7 The Voice
Maebeth Gildenpfennig Berkley, Michigan
But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold. â€Job‬ â€23‬:â€10‬ NIV
Heidi B, Cheyenne WY: “Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help
and shield.” -Psalm 33:20 NSRV
Freddia Sullivent, Alma, AR
Even in you old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you an I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you. Isaiah 46:4 NIV
Lisa Graves , Brandon FL Colossians 3:5(NIV)
5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.
Barbara, Fisherville, KY: “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” Proverbs 27:17 NIV.
Alexa S, Port Orchard, Wa
“Call to me & I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” Jer. 33:3, NIV.
Deneen, Sterlington, LA
By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. John 13:35, ESV
Makoto Houck, Carlsbad, CA
“Finally sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- think about such things.” Philippians 4:8 NIV
Susan W, Carthage MO I therefore, the prisoner of The Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love. Eph 4:1-2 KJV
danae | lafayette, in
“get rid of your sins
and leave all iniquity behind you.
then you’ll be able to face the world unashamed.
you will stand firm & without fear.
you will forget your misery;
it will be like water flowing away.
life will be brighter than noonday,
and darkness will become like morning.
you will be confident because there is hope.
— job 11:14-18 [nlt/msg/niv/esv mashup]
Patti Egbert, Brush Prairie, WA
“But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold.” Job 23:10 NIV