Psalm 23:1 is our new memory verse for the week. Have any of you been doing these with me? What do you think about this challenge in addition to our daily readings?
"The Lord is my shepherd I shall not be in want".
I like a good uplifting Bible verse to memorize. Something I can use in the day to day anything and everything. This one...well, this one makes me think of funerals. I can't think of a time, other than that, when I've heard this and felt it's meaning. I mean...how can you not when you hear in verse 4 "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death..."
But reading through the book (The Joshua Code), brought about a new perspective on this verse/chapter. This is neither written for things that happened in the past, nor is it in preparation for the future. It is most definitely written in the present tense..."The Lord IS my shepherd". NOW Not some future date when I'm hopefully old and gray, wrinkles on my face and hands, breathing my last. I don't need to know this verse for then. I need it now!!
To get past this mental block, I started thinking about this verse and the ones following in my own words. God is my guide, He'll provide for my needs. When I follow his lead, he shows me beauty in the world, quenches my thirst, and refreshes my spirit. He leads me to walk in His wisdom and I glorify His name. As I live in this world, I will trust in Him and not the evil that surrounds me, because God is with me. His correction and discipline give me comfort because I know who is in control. The Lord blesses me daily, even though daily there are troubles. When I let myself be filled with His love, how can it not pour over onto others? This life isn't perfect, but the life that follows will be...when I have eternity with my God.
Yes I am doing these weekly verses, but where are you getting them are they listed on the youversion?
ReplyDeleteI'll copy the info from my Dec. 31st post that explains the book. It's separate from our reading plan. I really like it -
ReplyDelete"The other portion of our reading plan this year is going to focus on Scripture memorization. I got a really cool book called The Joshua Code that I'll be using for this.
"This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous , and then you will have good success."
Joshua 1:8
The introduction to the book explains that "Many consistent Bible readers today seem to think it is the volume of Scripture they can devour daily that is most important". However, when we memorize it, and meditate on it "it is incarnated within and becomes a living part of our very being......It enables us to receive the Word with our hearts, retain it in our minds, and recite it with our mouths that we might speak it with power".
I'll be posting more on the blog, and will post the weekly verses to memorize. If you want, you can get the Kindle version, or the hard cover book online. It's a pretty cool book that goes through 52 verses every believer should know. So we're talking one verse a week, and with two days off of reading, I think it should be pretty do-able...not to mention how it may impact your personally in your relationship with God. "