Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Join me?

The place where most of my problems, issues and struggles take place is in my thought life. 

Worry.  Anxiety.  Expectations.  Unforgiveness.  Judgement.  Fear.

All of these play out most prominently in my mind.  I know what God says about each area but I find that I continually default to my old habits: 
  • Working out solutions on my own. 
  • Wondering how this or that will end up. 
  • Making up conversations in my head over relational issues.
  • Rehashing scenarios that can't be changed.
The mind of sinful man is death but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace!  Romans 8:6

I want life and peace.  So how do I get a mind that's controlled not by my old self but by the Spirit?

God's Word is the answer. 
My thoughts aren't reliable, aren't always true, aren't even consistent.
God's Word is all of those things.  It gives LIFE because it is alive - living and active.

So to meditate on His Word, to read it, to pray it and to hear it is crucial.
But one of the very best ways to change my thought life is to memorize it.

At the end of 2008, Beth Moore issued a challenge that I took to heart - to memorize two verses a month.  To write these verses in a little spiral notecard notebook and carry it with you in your purse so you can pull it out when you have five minutes of wait time at the dentist or while picking up your kids from soccer practice.  She encouraged us to do this with someone else - a good friend, a prayer partner or your small group bible study.  (I didn't do this part but I think it's a really excellent idea!)

Here is what Beth said about how memorizing the Word will affect how you pray...

Watch your prayer life change. Check out John 15:7-8. The more God’s Word abides in us, the more the mind of Christ is developed in us. The end result will be that we will pray more and more of God’s will and get more and more of what we’ve asked. Do not think for a moment that praying in the will of God narrows your requests. It blows them wide open! Ask Him in this Jesus-year to explode your effectiveness in prayer then watch it happen.


So, would anyone like to join me in 2011 in memorizing God's Word?  Here are some helpful directions if you'd like to be a part of the Siesta Scripture Memory Team over at Beth's blog:  LPM Blog

Get yourself a spiral of notecards - here's the one I used last time:




You can also order a 'fancy' one from Beth here:
 
I started asking God to give me the verses He knew I needed to have burned into my thinking and He gave me exactly the ones I needed.  It was a wonderful, wonderful experience that I wouldn't trade for anything!
 
This year, I am going to memorize Romans 8 - something I started several times over the last few years (some of you know this is true) but never finished.  Ugh.  So I'm excited that this is the year to get it done!  I can't wait.
 
Please leave a comment to let me know if you'd like to do this with me.  We can encourage each other and share in some victories over a few of those things I listed at the top of this post.
 
You will not regret it! 

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi Becky:) Count me in! I started memorizing Ephesians last Spring and never finished. I am very excited about this challenge:)

Natalie

BeckyB said...

Awesome, Nat - I'm so excited to do this together!

Live Aloha said...

I would LOVE to! I recently read on Beth's blog about her new note cards.. Too cute! So do we start January first?

Renee said...

I love a challenge and answered prayer! It's a win win :)
Thanks for the encouragement!
love ya,
renee

BeckyB said...

Yes, January 1st!
Renee, I'm so glad to do this with you! We can meet at Subway to recite our verses to each other. It will be GREAT!

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...