Several years ago, my friend Susan opened her home to our neighborhood Bible study so that we could hear Janet Pope recite Scripture. Janet’s recitation was amazing, but as I sat quietly listening I told myself that I just didn’t have the time or ability to do that kind of memorizing. I am 57 years old and not at the peak of my memorization skills. My husband and I homeschool two boys and practice law out of our home. I do all the normal household activities and the only time that I really consider “free” is the time I take three times a week to jog. I just didn’t know where I could find time to memorize Scripture.
Then Susan recited for our group Luke 1 and 2 from memory. I cried at the beauty of hearing a story that I had heard so many times in a new and wonderful way. I was struck by God’s awesome love in sending His Son. I walked home from Susan’s house and told my husband “I want to do that!” and I started working on the Christmas story in Luke 2.
After memorizing the Christmas story I asked God what I should do next. I believe He wanted me to just keep working on Luke. I didn’t feel intimidated by the length of the book because I realized that I would be taking one verse at a time wherever I was in the Bible.
I became involved in a Bible memory group and a friend in that group, Nan, encouraged me to memorize Scripture when I jog. My free time is now even more special. I look forward to walking out the door with my printed passage rolled up, and I’m amazed at the things God is showing me in the passages I am memorizing. I’m now on Luke chapter 10.
I’ve been struck by the wonderful blessing it is to ponder and meditate on Jesus’ life and teaching in a way that I would never have thought possible. I was excited to learn recently that 586 of the 1150 verses in Luke are quotations of Jesus.
I realize now that when I am ordering my day, I am making choices and that I will be richly blessed if I make memorizing or reviewing my chapters in Luke a priority. Memorizing and meditating on Scripture has been one of the greatest blessings in my life.
Lise, you are an inspiration to me with your humble, joyful and authentic spirit!
Thanks Lise for sharing your beautiful testimony in hiding God’s Word in your heart and encouraging us all! Sure is a blessing to know you my friend! God bless for His glory, Chris
Lise,
Thank you for sharing how God has blessed you in His Word and multiplied your time to enable you to honor Him. Thanks also for bringing Janet to church to encourage us in memorizing His Word.
Patty
Lise,
Your words, your heart and God’s story winding it’s way through you are just so refreshing. Thank you for choosing to hide God’s word in your heart. You have blessed me.
Lise, your story is such a blessing to read! And not only your story blesses, but your life does. I thank the Lord that He used you reciting what you had hidden in your heart–to spur me to memorize. You have a love for Jesus and His Word that shines through. Blessings to you, sister in Christ!
Isn’t it awesome when you have the desire, God provides the way and the results? God bless you for your obedience and thank you for sharing your story.
Ladies,thank you for your sweet encouragement. I am daily encouraged by you and your love of our Lord! I am so thankful too for Janet’s ministry and her gentle reminders that this is all about knowing Jesus better and not about memorizing.
Hi Lise, I love our Scripture memory group so much. Every time you recite I know it is real in your life because of the way you say the words. Your heart spills over every time. Even when you recite a genealogy you end with tears.
Beautiful! Reading your story I am reminded once again at the incredible power of God’s word to change lives, and especially when it is recited out loud. Thank you Lise.
I love you, my sweet friend, Lise. God has woven our lives together for a reason and I am very blessed to have you in my life. You have such a humble authentic heart and every time I am with you I am encouraged by your tenderness toward Christ and your desire to know Him more. Thank you for sharing your story.
Lise, I love hearing you recite God’s Word for the same reasons everyone else has mentioned. Your love for God and His Word is
also evident in the way you are so encouraging and supportive
when others are reciting. Thank you for that and for sharing
your story!
Lise, you make me want to memorize the book of Luke! Thank you so much for sharing what scripture memorization means to you. This post is a blessing.
Holly,if you are looking for a great book, I would highly recommend Luke. It has been a huge blessing to me to spend so much time learning about Jesus, what He did, where He was, what He said, and how people responded to Him.