Friday, December 18, 2009

final scripture memory of the year

"One thing I have asked from the LORD, that I shall seek; That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD and to meditate in His temple."
Psalm 27:4




In January of this year, I took Beth Moore up on her Scripture Memory Challenge. I chose 2 verses (or passages) per month and memorized them. I wrote the verses on spiral bound 3x5 cards. Keeping them all together like that I have been able to review them and keep them all fresh in my mind. I committed to memorize a new verse on the first and fifteenth of each month.
It was such a good experience. Looking back at the verses is almost like reading a journal for me. I remember what was going on when I chose each verse. Verses earlier in the year that reminded me that "the Lord gives wisdom and from His mouth come knowledge and understanding". Verses that reminded me that God would "go ahead of me and make the rough places smooth", that God would "make my steps firm", verses reminding me not "to fear or be dismayed". When I felt like everything around me was changing I found a verse that said that "Even to your old age I WILL BE THE SAME" and when I felt things were in a whirlwind I was encouraged by the verse that told me that God would be "the stability of our times". One time I just needed the verse that said "You made me bold". Some were verses of conviction reminding me of what I need to do "in order to be sincere and blameless" or how I need to behave as a wife. There were times when I was in absolute awe of God's provision and had to memorize verses like the one that says, "I still declare Your wondrous deeds!" and "I will sing praise to my God while I have my being". During some difficult times of sickness I needed to remember that "My God will hear me".
It's hard to believe that now it's over! I'm working on my last verse of the year. And it's one that speaks of a desire that I truly want to be my own desire. Although I am memorizing it from the NAS, I love the way the Amplified Bible says it:
One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek, inquire for, and [insistently] require: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord [in His presence] all the days of my life, to behold and gaze upon the beauty [the sweet attractiveness and the delightful loveliness] of the Lord and to meditate, consider, and inquire in His temple.

...the sweet attractiveness and the delightful loveliness of the Lord... I want to know that and I want to become sweet, attractive and lovely myself because of all the time I have spent in His presence.

I love Jesus and I love His Word!


1 comment:

melanie said...

i loved reading this! so awesome to be able to look back and see Gods hand in your life. and to be able to see different verses He gave you during a specific time, to actually help you and get you through that time!!

awesome. keep growing! :)
i love you!