No More Excuses

I have made every excuse known to man when it comes to memorizing scripture!

"I don't have a good memory."
"I'm getting old."
"It was so much easier when I was younger."
"My children are better at this than me."
"I can usually summarize the passage, but can't memorize it word for word."
"Writing it down doesn't help me."

Blah, blah, blah. Excuse after excuse after excuse after excuse!

My friends challenge me to memorize scripture. Joanne does it over here. Leah does it over here. Beth is always doing it over here.

And still I make excuses.

But not today.

Today is the day!

My mind has got to be renewed. In any given day, I have doubts arise, burdens that weigh me down, fears that threaten to overtake me, and choices to follow God or follow man. I know of no other way to make it through a day like that than to put the Words of God into my life by reading them, meditating on them and memorizing them. I need to constantly be reminded of Who God is, who I am in Him, what He thinks of me, what His plans are for me, and what He has promised to do with one who will look for Him with all their heart.

So I've got my spiral ready today and I'm filling that thing up! I'm writing scriptures on my fridge. Every white board in my home is going to have scripture on it. I have little inexpensive plastic frames that are going to be holding 4 x 6 index cards with scripture. Post-it notes sitting in the desk drawers are going to be put to good use today! Screensavers - check!

I love the translation of Romans 12:1-2 by Phillips:

"With eyes wide open to the mercies of God, I beg you, my brothers, as an act of intelligent worship, to give him your bodies, as a living sacrifice, consecrated to him and acceptable by him. Don't let the world around you squeeze you into its own mold, but let God remold your minds from within, so that you may prove in practice that the plan of God for you is good, meets all his demands and moves towards the goal of true maturity."

"With eyes wide open to the mercies of God..." I want to see what He wants me to see. I want to feel what He wants me to feel. I want to walk where He wants me to walk. If I don't fill up my mind with His Word, then I'm going to be tempted to go my own way, see only what I want to see and will be ruled and reigned by a whole slate of improper motives and emotions. I want to break that mold and let Him remold me as only He can!

I need my mind reshaped by God from within doing exactly what Psalm 119 says -- hiding His Word in every corner and crevice of my heart so that when the temptations come, when doubts arise and when life's questions seem to have no answers I can recall what He says -- His final Word over every situation!

I'm starting with Psalm 145. There are a couple of reasons for this.

One is that this Psalm reminds me over and over of God's sovereignty, His supremacy, and His goodness.

Two is that it is 21 verses. I've heard it said that a habit is formed when you repeatedly do the same thing everyday for 21 days. So I'm taking this Psalm a verse at a time, a day at a time. At the end of the 21 days I will not only have hidden 21 verses of scripture in my heart, soul and mind, but I will also have formed a habit of memorizing God's Word.

Join me if you want! And if you are, let me hear from you. (I laugh when I say that because the only person I really ever hear from is Leah! Love her!)

Here is Psalm 145 in the NIV version. I have intentionally left the verse by verse scripture notations so we can see it broken down in 21 easy to swallow bites. Even if you are not going to memorize it with me, take a moment to slowly read this! You will be blessed.

Psalm 145
A Psalm of Praise. Of David.

I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever. (Psalm 145:1)

Every day I will praise you and extol your name for ever and ever. (Psalm 145:2)

Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom. (Psalm 145:3)

One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts. (Psalm 145:4)

They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty, and I will meditate on your wonderful works. (Psalm 145:5)

They will tell of the power of your awesome works, and I will proclaim your great deeds. (Psalm 145:6)

They will celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness. (Psalm 145:7)

The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. (Psalm 145:8)

The LORD is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made. (Psalm 145:9)

All you have made will praise you, O LORD; your saints will extol you. (Psalm 145:10)

They will tell of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might, (Psalm 145:11)

so that all men may know of your mighty acts and the glorious splendor of your kingdom. (Psalm 145:12)

Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. The LORD is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made. (Psalm 145:13)

The LORD upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down. (Psalm 145:14)

The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time. (Psalm 145:15)

You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing. (Psalm 145:16)

The LORD is righteous in all his ways and loving toward all he has made. (Psalm 145:17)

The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. (Psalm 145:18)

He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them. (Psalm 145:19)

The LORD watches over all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy. (Psalm 145:20)

My mouth will speak in praise of the LORD. Let every creature praise his holy name for ever and ever. (Psalm 145:21)

Blessings,
Dori