Summer brings new intentionality with my kids in taking in scripture. Each day we are setting aside time to review old verses and work on a new one. Each kid has their own personal goal in how many verses they want to learn. Their minds are so fresh and ready, so the words practically stick like glue. I love it.
Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thankfulness.
See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of this world, and not according to Christ.
Yes! This is exactly what I want for my kids. And for myself. And for you. And for the church.
Without being too whiny, it is still very difficult to remember new things...names, songs, schedules, and verses. People ask me regularly how I'm doing. Honestly, I feel better and better. However, this is an area that I can still notice my brain was changed. It's ok though. Don't fret. Little by little, better and better.
I'm still working to take in new verses, but as I patiently wait for it to stick, I've been focusing on old passages I've memorized. With Chad teaching through 1 and 2 Peter, I've thoroughly enjoyed remembering and reflecting on verses that have been written on my heart for awhile. Right now I'm playing 2 Peter 1:3-10 over and over in my heart and mind.
His divine nature has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness.
Skipping to verse five Peter tells us to "make every effort to add to your faith goodness, and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kinds, love."
A life marked by these characteristics is a life that is effective and productive in knowing Jesus and making Him known. Yes, please. I want that. I re-play this list over and over in my heart and mind. It's the meditation piece of memorizing that we should work towards.
Friends, I hope you are sticking with this discipline. I know you've heard me say at least a thousand times how beneficial it is.
What are you memorizing? What review verses are especially meaningful to you right now?
8 important comments so far. What are your thoughts?
I've dropped the ball on memorizing the past 2 months (wow! time flies when you don't pay attention). But yesterday I started missing it and actually brought my memory pack to work with me (where I am now).
The past couple weeks I've been truly meditating on part of Psalm 16:11 -- In your presence there is fullness of joy. It stuck with me because at work my joy is so easily robbed. I need a reminder to lift up my eyes.
I'm going to decide on a new verse tonight :)
I've been struggling with an old sin that has come back to try me again, emotional over eating. My verse that I plan to say to myself when I feel like eating is proverbs 23:19-21 "Listen my son and be wise and keep your heart on the right path do not join those who drink to much wine or gorge themselves on meat for drunkards and gluttons become poor and drowsiness clothes them in rags"
There are a couple verses that have been with me recently. I have been wrestling with many resurgences of past feelings of sorrow, woe, and lostness as I begin to pull out some more disorganized drawers from my story. But God reminds me that He gives me the strength to go to those places and be brave through that journey.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation and uphold me with a willing spirit.
(Psalm 51:12)
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
(Philippians 4:13)
I have been struggling with a lot of fear, especially because my family is going through a rough season. I've been worried about their salvation and have been mentally playing through 1,000 different scenarios, all ending tragically. He has already shown His incredible faithfulness, but these verses have been good for me to set my mind on.
"You whom I took from the ends of the earth, and called from its farthest corners, saying to you, "You are my servant, I have chosen you and not cast you off; Fear not, for I am with you, be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
Isaiah 41:9-10
I have missed several months as well. I am working on 2 Timothy 2:24 And the Lord's servant[a] must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil
This is a good reminder as things have been difficult at work.
This month I'm going to start Ephesians 6:10-20. I hope to get through 4 verses this month, but since the passage is pretty wordy and we'll be on vacation, that might be an ambitious goal. :)
Ephesians 6:10-13
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
The last month has been a hard one for me and I've had to rely a lot on the truth that is found in Scripture. Verses I've memorized over the years have been what I cling to in this time. I'll continue to revisit these verses this month, as well as add the one below.
Psalm 119:169-170
Let my cry come before you, O Lord; give me understanding according to your word! Let my plea come before you; deliver me according to your word.
I also have been MIA from scripture memory the past few months, but I've been feeling a deeper draw toward simply meditating on scripture lately. I've experienced a deeper desire for God's word just by reading and reading. At the beginning of this month I reviewed some old verses and new verses that I've memorized. In lieu of Chad's messages on 2 Peter 2 and being focused on the worldly vs. the godly, I've been memorizing Romans 12:1 and reviewing Romans 12:2. I've been feeling extremely unsettled with being "comfortable." I want to experience life with a sense of anticipation and urgency to reach out to others, so that it forces me to be "uncomfortable" in order to rely solely on God each and every day. I feel like I'm on the edge of my chair ready to jump off, but I'm not sure where God wants me to jump off to. I'm not sure how to serve if I don't know who or where to serve.
Romans 12: 1-2
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 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.
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