New Year, New Discipline: Memorizing Scripture in 2009

Foray: to invade or make one's way, as for profit or adventure

My friend Amy issued a challenge to memorize larger chunks of material, not necessarily scripture, but certainly that's the most eternally profitable literature in all of life. I mean, can you top God's living Word?

I have wiggled and squirmed every time the Lord has prompted me to make a concerted effort to memorize more than a verse here and there in my adult life. I was really good at memorizing scripture as a kid, and am so thankful for all the VBS challenges, Christian school requirements in Bible class, the Bible quiz team that demanded a minimum of 50 verses learned in order to compete intrascholastically.

Then came college. Marriage. Kids. Excuses. I am 43, and though still married and mothering, I am out of college and excuses. The Lord put His finger on the discipline I need most for my growth in Him right now. Having heard His voice through many human voices on this topic, I can't squirm any more. Thanks, Amy, for being the most recent, most motivational voice.

I decided there was no right or wrong place to start. I do know I need to grow in humility, so I chose Philippians 2. I am committing to memorizing verses 1-11. I started on the first two this morning. Making pictures and patterns in my mind comes fairly easily, and that's what I am doing to tackle this bucket o' Bible verses.

Phil. 2: 1-11

1So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love,
any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2
complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love,
being in full accord and of one mind. 3Do nothing from
rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than
yourselves. 4Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also
to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is
yours in Christ Jesus 6 who,
though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a
thing to be grasped, 7but made himself nothing, taking the form of a
servant being
born in the likeness of men. 8And being found in human form, he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to the point of death,
even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him
and bestowed on him the
name that is above every name, 10so that at the name of Jesus every knee should
bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11and every tongue confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.