Scripture Memory

As a little girl I remember memorizing scriptures at church camp to earn points for our team. The more you memorized; the more points you got. I wasn't very good at sports and wasn't much help there, but I could memorize. 30+ years later I still know some of those verses.

Last year I signed up on Beth Moore's blog to memorize 2 new scriptures a month for a year. It was wonderful. The accountability of having to sign-in and list your scripture on the 15th and 30th of every month caused me to pay attention to whether I was actually memorizing or slacking. I have to confess it was fun to sit in church, hear a verse and immediately think "I know that one!". Made me want to learn more.

While there are a lot of reasons to memorize the Word and apply it, something really cool happened last year that has been part of my inspiration to keep pushing on. One night my sweet husband said or did something that upset me. My verse that week was 1 Thessalonians 5:15: "Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else." My flesh wanted to respond by paying back wrong for wrong. My heart and mind went to the scripture and my tongue stayed quiet. I immediately kept repeating that verse over and over and over in my head. It wasn't too long until my feelings of being wronged were gone. I honestly cannot tell you what it was that upset me, but I can tell you what stopped it. If I had answered in the flesh, I most likely would be able to remember what happened. God tells us that he will purify us with his word.

Although that group is not doing the same scripture memory idea this year, I have decided to keep it going in my own life. I could just do it and not post it on here. But I know my flesh too well, and after awhile it would be a verse here and there instead of at least two a month. I wanted to stay with the 15th and 30th because it is easy to remember and I am already in the habit of that. So although it is almost the 30th, I am actually posting my verse from this week and will start another on Saturday.

James 1:22 Do not merely listen to the word and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. (NIV)

I need to remember that hearing the word and memorizing the word are not the same as doing what it says. This will undoubtedly be a great foundation for the rest of the scriptures this year. I am so excited to see what God has in store.

Feel free to join me if you like. Just list your verse, the reference and translation and your name.