...for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of Life has set YOU free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law weakened by the flesh COULD NOT DO. By sending HIS OWN SON in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be met in us who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For to live according to the flesh is to set your mind on the flesh, but to live according to the Spirit is to set your mind on the Spirit. To set your mind on the flesh is DEATH, but to set your mind on the Spirit is LIFE AND PEACE." Romans 8:1-5
I think I got it all.
This is PART OF the most recent passage Jared and I have decided to memorize together. And this is as much as I have gotten in 2 days. (We are hoping to memorize ALL OF ROMANS 8!) We have memorized several passages of scripture together, but hadn't recently and he mentioned the other day that it would be good to memorize another one. After praying about different promises, etc. that would be good for both of us to meditate upon as we memorize a passage, the Lord immediately took me to Romans 8. Just in repeating this section over and over this evening, the life-changing reality of the Gospel and what God has given us in Christ became so deep and real and penetrating and victory-giving.
As a Mom of a young child with another COMING SOON!, as much as I'd love to pour through the theological books I did at other points in life, the reality of time and what my mind attaches best to as a Mom brings me more and more to Scripture. I want to remember great Promises of old (Lamentations 3:22-23; Matthew 11:28-30; Phil. 3:7-11; II Corinthians 4:16-18) that have met me in the darkest times of my life and focus myself upon "hiding in my heart" anew or more fully passages like Romans 8. Just beginning with this passage, I can already know I will be feasting in the time to come as I work through memorizing it. I will be able to recite the amazing progression of this chapter and I just need to repeat it when I think of it and add a little more each day...
I was partially inspired to memorize this passage remembering listening to a John Piper Sermon on memorizing scripture. "If My Words Abide in You" (download here) where he recites (I believe) the entire chapter of Romans 8 and it was so powerful to hear all together and then his personal testimony of how the Lord has used Scripture memorization in his life.
I hope you are encouraged...as a mom it's very simple and something that you can "SET YOUR MIND UPON" whether it's one simple verse for a month or a longer passage. I do want to encourage you in this...I am so blessed to have both been raised in a home where the Scriptures were brought to me at a young age and I began to memorize at church, and also I have a mind that can memorize pretty easily, but I know that the true blessing over the years in my life has been "calling to mind and therefore having hope..." (Lam. 3:21b) and this is the only foundation that I dare walk ahead in in my life. The Scriptures are our sword and in the uncertainty of what a day can bring, I don't want my heart to anchor itself on anything less.
May this meet you in a particular way in your journey...Keep the Faith!
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Crazy for Christ
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4 comments:
one of my current favorite verses are romans 8:38-39. i should try to memorize it ~ never been very vigilant about that.
btw....to answer your question, i did live w/bethany junior year...
Thanks Abby for the encouragement! This is an area where I need to grow in.
What wonderful verses to memorize.
Wow 2 days...nice! It is amazing when you start memorizing how quickly it sinks in! I definitely want to see you guys when you're here...do you want to try to set something up or I can be totally flexible too if you want - just stopping by some afternoon or something - you're welcome here or I can come to you. Just let me know! Hope to see you soon!!!
I love this. It is SO important! I think the most important thing that I've really had to hold to with less time on my hands is to actually really, truly memorize scripture in my heart...not just with my mouth. To truly meditate on every word. Sometimes memorizing anything can become head knowledge and can be taken for granted. How many times have I heard a familiar tune on the radio belonging to a song from a long time ago and interestingly enough...I know ALL the words so I sing along. It just came out from my memory...but many times, the more I think about the song...it is flooded with good times and memories of what I was doing when I used to listen to those songs. So, it is with God's word. When we know it and memorize it and meditate on it rather than just "singing along"...he will bring to our rememberance all that he has done for us. He will allow us to be moved by his words. He will bring us realness, truth and acknowledgement of who he really is.
Thank you for posting this. It's amazing that the more we read and study something...the more we remember and the more we have in our hearts. It's even more amazing when you are in a situation or in a conversation and if we have taken the time to meditate and put God's word in our hearts that he's been able to use his very words to breathe comfort, encouragement and sometimes life to those in our paths. And he uses the same words in our hearts to be of comfort and encouragement to my own heart as well. :-)
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