In the World, not of It

“My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.”

John 17:15-17

On Jesus’ last night as a man on earth, He prayed fervently for His disciples and for all who would believe in Him through their message. He did not pray for us to be taken from the world to a safe place. Instead, He prayed for the Father’s protection for us from the evil one. He prayed for us to not be of the world, just like He was not of it.

We are not to blend in with the world. Part of our identity in Christ is to be peculiar. We are not to participate in the gossip at our workplace. I remember when my friend Paige was a teenager. In regard to her stand against the peer pressure to watch certain movies, she said, “How can I possibly watch that movie and serve God?”

We must guard our minds against the world. We are to be in the world but not of the world. We can’t silo ourselves from the world. Remember our God “so loved the WORLD that He gave His only Son” to it. He loves these people so we must love them, too. He hates the sin. He hates cultures where lawlessness abounds, violence invades, and immorality proliferates. If we don’t guard ourselves, we will become just like them. The world will lure us and ensnare us.

I will never forget the first time I realized how many of the world’s lies that I had bought. In my years of drifting far from God, I had bought everything that the world had to sell. My clothing, my lifestyle, my activities, and my attitudes toward relationships were all the world’s opinions. When I learned I was pregnant with my first daughter, I returned to God realizing my desperate need for Him and longing to raise my child to know Him. I stopped watching all TV because I was barely surviving each day. My daughter kept me up all night with feedings, and I worked outside the home. However, I had been feeding on the Word of God, listening to every Christian preacher on the radio as I drove, participating in Bible study (not doing my homework completely but getting there!), and listening attentively to my preacher at church. After my daughter was about eight months old, I finally had settled into the mom role. Then I watched my favorite TV program, the number one show of that day. Within the first five minutes of the show, the Holy Spirit inside of me was grieved. I looked at the clothes the girls wore. I saw their callous attitudes toward sex. I was so saddened that I stood up, pointed my finger at the TV set, and said aloud, “That’s a LIE!” I shook as I realized I had bought their entire way of life. I was very upset that I had been deceived to think they were so cute and so hip. I had bought into their beliefs that this was how a woman was to live.

This moment changed me. Now, I assess whatever I put in front of me. You and I must be alert to what we watch on television, listen to on the radio, read in magazines, and surf on the internet. We should ask ourselves, “Is this beneficial for me? Will this please God? Where will this lead me? Will this build me up and make me whom I desire to be in Christ? Can I share this with my Bible study friends?”

Beloved, can you describe a time when you blended in with the world or made a choice to be “peculiar?” Are you living like Jesus commanded us to live “in” the world and not “of” the world? I ask for both of us to allow the Holy Spirit access to even the most restricted places of our hearts and minds so He can reveal to us the areas of our lives where we need to make choices that clearly show we are not blended in but “peculiar” people who are set apart for God.

Pray with me: Oh, God, You are our God! We worship You and exalt Your Name. You are magnificent. You are the sweetest thing that we have ever known. Give us, Lord, the passion we need to be in the world but not of the world. Strengthen us. Make us courageous and unyielding to temptation. May we protect our eyes from the worldly things that we see. Make we cover our ears from ungodly things that we might hear. It’s in the Name above all names, in Jesus’ Name, Yeshua’s Name, I pray. Amen.

Excerpt from the Jesus Lives Bible study

Perfect Peace

“You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast because he trusts in you.”

Isaiah 26:3

Do you know what it is like to live without peace? Every now and then, I get a taste of life without peace, and it makes me cling closer to our God. The lack of peace is crushing and oppressive. I don’t want to live that way.

God’s Word tells us that there is a way to experience perfect peace. Actually the Hebrew says, “He will keep them in peace peace.” The Hebrew word for peace is shalom which means “completeness, safety, soundness, peace, health, prosperity.” Many times in the Hebrew a word is repeated twice for emphasis. In the English language, we may use the word “very.” In this case the word “perfect” is used to tell us that God keeps the one who trusts in Him in complete peace.

Even though we may walk through a valley, we can experience a peace that surpasses all human understanding. Even though tears may stream down our faces, we can know that God never asks us to experience a valley that will not bring a kingdom harvest one day.

Now who keeps us in perfect peace? God does. The Hebrew word for peace is nasar which means “to guard, protect, keep, to guard from dangers, to blockade, to guard with fidelity, watchman.” As intelligent and mature Christians that we think we are, we don’t have the ability to keep ourselves in perfect peace. We need someone stronger. God is our watchman who guards us with fidelity and blocks us from dangers. In heaven, I believe we will see how many dangers God blockaded from happening to us. Praise You, God, for Your protection.

Lastly, the Hebrew word for mind is yester which means “frame, pattern, imagination, purpose, device, intellectual framework.” This word is talking about how our minds put a picture frame around every incident, situation, temptation, trial, and crisis. We see every circumstance from our perspective. I can’t tell you how many times I have prayed for God to give me His throne room viewpoint in general and about specific situations. I don’t want to view things from my own limited context and wrap my own frame around it. I want to see it through His picture frame.

So God will guard the mind and the frame of the person whose mind is steadfast and trusts in Him. A steadfast mind is one that leans on God. It is someone who lays herself before God and lays her hands on His Word. To trust Him is to attach oneself to Him and not let Him go.

The key to this perfect peace is simply to trust God. Can you? Can you trust Him? You’ve trusted Him with your eternal destination. Now it’s time to take your trust of Him to a new level on planet earth. Trust your watchman! Carry this verse with you wherever you go this week – be it written on an index card, recorded on your smartphone, or imprinted in your heart. Study it, pulverize it, and memorize it!

Memorization Reminders:

Please join me in memorizing these verses and implanting God’s thoughts into our minds. I’m expecting for God to radically change our lives if we do this. Redeem your time to make room for memorizing God’s Word. Take this verse with you wherever you go. Meditate on it, and pulverize it.

We are blessed to live in a time where we can have the Bible at our fingertips even through the internet or an actual Bible in our hands. Yet, this blessing can become a curse if we do not treat the Bible with such honor to savor every word of it as those through the centuries who have longed to have His Word so much. They had to memorize every Scripture they had ever been given because their own copy of the Scripture was not possible.

Most of us probably don’t memorize Scripture because we think that we do not have the time. However, our minds have a lot of wasted space that can be given to God. We have to redeem the time. For women, we can use the time while putting on our make-up or blow drying our hair. For men, use the time while shaving. For both genders, we can use the time while we shower, stop at red lights, do the laundry, wash the dishes, and mow the lawn. Let’s face it: our minds are thinking about something during this time. Instead of being focused on our obsessions, worries, cares, to-do’s, and problems, give this time to God.

Take your verse(s) with you wherever you go. You can type your verse out and put it on beautiful sheets of your choice. You can write it out on index cards. Many people prefer index cards spiral bound to keep them together. For iphone users, I’m sure there is an app. You can write it on your iphone notepad or record your voice speaking it and replay it throughout the day.

Now that we have the verse and we have found the time, let’s focus on the method. We don’t just memorize it by saying it over and over; we meditate on it. We spend time thinking about what each word means and what it doesn’t mean.

Then one of my favorite techniques as taught by Waylon Moore is to pulverize the verse. Say the verse over and over each time focusing on a different word in the verse to emphasize. For example, say Isaiah 26:3 (today’s verse) aloud and say with more umph the underlined and bolded word:

“You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast because he trusts in you.”

Isaiah 26:3

“You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast because he trusts in you.”

Isaiah 26:3

“You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast because he trusts in you.”

Isaiah 26:3

Repeat this process until each word in the verse has been emphasized.

After meditating and pulverizing the verse continuously for a week, the seed planted in our hearts will begin to germinate. You and I will no longer be merely short-term memorizing, but the Word will dwell within us. When God’s Word dwells within us, something miraculous happens. Our minds are renewed and transformed into the mind of Christ. We worry and fret less. We are armed for the attacks of the enemy. Our lips will be full of praise for our God. My friend, I’m ready for that kind of transformation!

Headed for Trouble

“I call to you, O God, for you will answer me; give ear to me and hear my prayer.  Show the wonder of your great love, you who save by your right hand those who take refuge in you from their foes.”

Psalm 17:6-7

I couldn’t stop it!  I was caught and being pulled up somewhere that I should not be going.  I didn’t mean for this to happen!  The forces of fluid dynamics were working against me.  I tried to remember what my scuba instructor told me to do in such situations, but I couldn’t think fast enough or act fast enough. 

Deep under water, there are no sounds.  So I couldn’t cry out.  My scuba instructor was too far away for me to grab.  I tried to make motion so he might see something, but I couldn’t get his attention. 

Slowly, my body drifted to the surface of Agana Bay, Guam.  Slowly, I knew I was headed to a surface where there were jet skiers, kayakers, and boaters all out for their Saturday fun on the water.  I didn’t know what would meet me at the surface.  I was caught by the natural laws of buoyancy and couldn’t remember how to work my scuba gear to protect myself.

I’ve never forgotten those moments of feeling like I was out of control and headed for trouble.  While being stationed with the Navy on the Pacific Island of Guam, I learned how to scuba dive.  Within my first week of being on the island, many of the other military officers told me that I must learn to scuba dive.  Guam was known for its excellent dive spots with amazing coral reefs and sunken ships from previous wars.  I had come there for adventure and to learn new things so I was game to try it.  In fact, I did more than try.  I purchased all the scuba gear before my first lesson.  I had the wet suit, goggles, and the BCD (buoyancy control device) with my favorite colors – purple and yellow.

My first lesson was a group lesson where we only went 15 feet down.  It was a test of our gear and how well we followed the instructor’s words.  Knowing I needed more, I asked my instructor for a private lesson so he took me to Agana Bay.  He reviewed the basics and underwater we went.  If you have never been scuba diving, then let me tell you the underwater world is further proof of God’s creative design.  The colors are breath-taking and the order of the ecosystem is perfect.  After we swam a while, my instructor turned his back on me.  That’s when I did something to my BCD that caused air to get into it, and I headed against my will to the surface.  At first, I couldn’t remember what to do.  Then when I remembered to press the air out, I couldn’t do it.  My poor instructor was horrified when he came to the surface and found me.  He never took his eye off me again.

Have you ever felt like you were on a path that you couldn’t leave?  Maybe it is that unsatisfying job that you are thankful that you have, but you know it is not God’s plan for you.  Maybe it is that addiction that you don’t know how to stop.  Maybe it is that man that you know that you should not be dating much less marrying.  Maybe it’s your mouth that you never learned to tame that causes so much strife in your relationships.  How do we stop being sucked into something that is less than God’s plan for us or possibly even dangerous for us?  How?

Unlike my scuba instructor who couldn’t hear me, our God hears.  Many Scriptures in the Bible describe people calling out to gods who cannot hear.  They have no ability to hear cries for help.  Not only are they deaf, they are powerless to save.  If we cry out to God, He will hear us.  When He hears, He acts on our behalf.  Sometimes He literally saves us from the clutches of the immediate danger.  Always, He seeks a long-term spiritual rescue.  Because God is more concerned about our holiness than our happiness, He prioritizes our spiritual needs over earthly needs.

Do you need help getting off the wrong path and onto the right path?  God is one sincere cry for help away.  Believe Him that He will hear.  Believe Him that He will come to your aid.  Believe Him that He will work in your life.  Ask and believe!

Pray with me:  Oh, God, we cry out to You!  Father, some of us are on the wrong path.  We have either stayed on the right path too long and not been willing to leave it when You were leading us in a new direction, or we were on a path that we never should have taken.  We need You!  Hear us when we cry!  When You hear, You act.  Take us down Your paths of righteousness.  It is in Jesus’ Name, the Name above all names that we pray, Amen.

Copyright ©2011 Christ Compels Ministry

Divine Power

Every Tuesday, we get our verse of the week to meditate and memorize.  I want to encourage you to keep trying to focus on just one verse for the week.  If you stay determined, the Word will take root in your heart.  If you have failed with some of the previous verses, don’t get discouraged and quit, but continue to press on.  This spiritual discipline is worth pressing through our failure!  So free yourself of guilt and let’s go! 

Divine Power

By Shirley Mitchell

“His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.”

2 Peter 1:3

I have heard my husband Doug quote this verse many times.  He uses this verse to remind people, including himself, that we have everything that we need.  We have been equipped.  God’s divine power has provided all things to us.  We lack nothing.

I think we sometimes forget that because we have been saved, we now have the Holy Spirit indwelling us.  We forget about the Spirit-filled life.  We forget that this divine power lives within us and provides for us.  God has supplied us with everything we need to live a godly life.  We don’t have to walk in defeat.  We don’t have to think that we will never change.  This is not the life that we have to live! 

Through knowing Him, we begin to exercise more of this power.  Through understanding Him and walking by the Spirit and not our own sight or power, we begin to operate in the divine realm.  He called us by His own glory and goodness.  He called us to this life.  He wants us to have it.

My friend, are you tired of living on what you alone can do?  Have you exhausted your own ability and need an infusion of a supply of all power?  Do you want to be equipped?  Choose the Spirit-filled life, and seek to know Him every day and in every way.  Carry this verse with you wherever you go this week – be it written on an index card, recorded on your smartphone, or imprinted in your heart.  Study it, pulverize it, and memorize it!

Memorization Reminders:

Please join me in memorizing these verses and implanting God’s thoughts into our minds.  I’m expecting for God to radically change our lives if we do this.  Redeem your time to make room for memorizing God’s Word.  Take this verse with you wherever you go.  Meditate on it, and pulverize it.

We are blessed to live in a time where we can have the Bible at our fingertips even through the internet or an actual Bible in our hands.  Yet, this blessing can become a curse if we do not treat the Bible with such honor to savor every word of it as those through the centuries who have longed to have His Word so much. They had to memorize every Scripture they had ever been given because their own copy of the Scripture was not possible.

Most of us probably don’t memorize Scripture because we think that we do not have the time.  However, our minds have a lot of wasted space that can be given to God.  We have to redeem the time.  For women, we can use the time while putting on our make-up or blow drying our hair.  For men, use the time while shaving.  For both genders, we can use the time while we shower, stop at red lights, do the laundry, wash the dishes, and mow the lawn.  Let’s face it:  our minds are thinking about something during this time.  Instead of being focused on our obsessions, worries, cares, to-do’s, and problems, give this time to God.

Take your verse(s) with you wherever you go.  You can type your verse out and put it on beautiful sheets of your choice.  You can write it out on index cards.  Many people prefer index cards spiral bound to keep them together.  For iphone users, I’m sure there is an app.  You can write it on your iphone notepad or record your voice speaking it and replay it throughout the day.

Now that we have the verse and we have found the time, let’s focus on the method.  We don’t just memorize it by saying it over and over; we meditate on it.  We spend time thinking about what each word means and what it doesn’t mean. 

Then one of my favorite techniques as taught by Waylon Moore is to pulverize the verse.  Say the verse over and over each time focusing on a different word in the verse to emphasize.  For example, say 2 Peter 1:3 (today’s verse) aloud and say with more umph the underlined and bolded word:

“His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.”

2 Peter 1:3

“His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.”

2 Peter 1:3

“His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.”

2 Peter 1:3

Repeat this process until each word in the verse has been emphasized.

After meditating and pulverizing the verse continuously for a week, the seed planted in our hearts will begin to germinate.  You and I will no longer be merely short-term memorizing, but the Word will dwell within us.  When God’s Word dwells within us, something miraculous happens.  Our minds are renewed and transformed into the mind of Christ.  We worry and fret less.  We are armed for the attacks of the enemy.  Our lips will be full of praise for our God.  My friend, I’m ready for that kind of transformation!

Strategic Planning

“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”

Psalm 90:12

Have you thought about 2012 yet?  Most businesses are planning for their next year and the following years right now.  Most of the key leadership within my company does not take vacation the last months of the summer.  They spend the summer strategizing and then in the early fall they final next year’s plan.

Yes, we should focus on finishing the year strong.  Yes, we should reflect over what we thought 2011 would be and the goals that we have set.  Yes, this is important.

But frankly, I’ve got somewhere I want to go with God.  I’ve got dreams that need to become reality.  I believe He can do so much in my life, and I need to take some actions so He can move in it.  If we don’t live intentional, then we get caught in the trap of going through the motions of life, taking the paths of least resistance, and just existing.  The last thing I want to do is exist.  I want to live!  Jesus promised that He came to give life and life more abundantly.  Life is supposed to be abundant.  This doesn’t mean prosperity of the world, but prosperity of spiritual things and experiencing God!

Some of us merely react to life’s circumstances instead of preparing and being proactive.  Honestly, I think more of us plan for Christmas, shopping lists, presents, and parties than we plan for our lives.  We don’t put any thought into it.  Why don’t we?  I think it is because we don’t believe God.  We don’t think He will actually speak to us and tell us our next action or His direction.  We don’t believe He can use us because we think He just works in the lives of some people who are more gifted than us. 

God has a purpose for each one of our lives.  We are meant to be a people of purpose.  We are meant to live intentionally.  This means that we treasure each day and don’t squander it.  This means we need to take the time to reflect, pray, and ponder over where God is leading us.   We ask.  We seek.  We knock.  We press into Him and cling to Him, taking our daily steps.  Then we give Him room to operate.  Through obedience and trust, we see His activity and obstacles removed and ways made clear.

So let me ask you some questions:

• What do you want 2012 to look like?
• Is there something that you have always wanted to do with God?
• What is the most important thing that you accomplish next year?
• What steps do you need to take this year to best position yourself to follow God next year?

Now I want you to spend some time praying.  Pray about how you want to finish this year and use the last two months of this year wisely.  Then pray for God to reveal to you His plans next year.  Then commit to Him that you will live intentionally and not get caught in the trappings of living without a purpose.

If you feel comfortable, let me know what action you are going to take because of this.  I can’t tell you how many times that I have actually followed through with something because I told someone that I was going to do something.  Just reply to this email.  I’m crazy about you, and so is our God!

Pray with me:  Oh, God, teach me to number my days.  Teach me to live intentionally and to make the most of every moment.  Teach me what is most important in my life. Show me Your plan for me.  I don’t want to make my plans and ask You to rubber stamp them.  I want Your best for my life.  It is in Jesus’ Name, the Name above all names that I pray, Amen.

Copyright ©2011 Christ Compels Ministry

Hope of Glory

^“I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness— the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints.  To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

Colossians 1:25-27

“And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’  Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

2 Corinthians 12:9 (NKJV)

 
Colossians 1:25-27 tells about a mystery that has been hidden for ages but is now disclosed to the saints.  There are glorious riches in this mystery.  This mystery is Christ in us, the hope of glory.

This isn’t the only Scripture that talks about what resides in you and me.  Second Corinthians 12:9 is another amazing verse.  We’ll have to go through a language lesson and match it with other verses in the Bible to grasp the fullness of its meaning.  The Greek word for “rest” in the phrase “the power of Christ may rest upon me” is episkenoo which means “to dwell, to abide in, to tabernacle.”  Part of this word is used in John 1:14, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.  We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”   The Greek word for “dwelling” is skenoo which means “to tent, or encamp, to occupy or to reside, to tabernacle.”  John was using a play on words to say that the glory of God seen in the Exodus tabernacle and Solomon’s temple had come back to dwell in Israel.  God sent the fullness of His glory once again.  Only this time instead of being enfolded in a cloud or a pillar of fire, the glory was draped by flesh and bone on Jesus. 

Therefore, in 2 Corinthians 12:9, Paul was saying that the power of Christ tabernacled in him.  In fact, the power of Christ tabernacles in all believers.  It is covered by your flesh and my flesh, but it’s in there.  The Greek word for “power” is dunamis which means “to be able, achieving power.”  This power is different from other words for power because this power is active, working, and achieving.  It is not just possessing the ability.  It is working power!  The English word “dynamite” is derived from dunamis.  Inside you and me is the very power of God!  We have dynamite in us that is all accomplishing!  Oh, my!  Oh, yes!  In you.  And in me.  Hallelujah!

Jesus was the Shekinah Glory of the Old Testament returned in the cloak of human flesh to dwell among us.  The Shekinah Glory had come back to Israel.  God’s glory had walked on the shores of Galilee, had taught in Judea, and had entered the temple during the annual feasts.  The glory that the old men longed for in their restored temple was back in Israel.  The disciples, the women, the crowds, and even the religious leaders had seen this glory for which others had wished.

Because the nation rejected Jesus as its Messiah, Immanuel left the temple for the final time in the history of mankind.  Just as the Shekinah Glory left the temple, ascended to heaven from the Mount of Olives, and has not returned, so did the Son of God…Two thousand years of history without the perfect presence of the glory of the LORD. 

However, the glory of God still resides here on earth.  When the Holy Spirit came, the glory of God came back in secret once again.  Only those with eyes that discern the things of the Spirit understand it.  In you and me is the Hope of Glory.  Christ in us, the Hope of Glory!  Jesus Christ lives in us!  Jesus lives in you and me!  Believers are covenant partners with Him, and we have ingested Him into our entire being.  Jesus Christ, the Jewish Messiah, now lives in us.

This is just another dimension of how I know that Jesus lives.  I know that He lives because He lives in me.  I am being made new every day and being conformed into the image of God’s precious Son.  The old sinful Shirley is dying, and the righteous Shirley with Jesus in her is blooming.  It is the most alive, beautiful, and wonderful that I have ever felt.  So I say, “Keep living in me, Jesus.  Keep living in me.”

Pray with me:  Oh, God, how amazing is it that Christ dwells in us!  This mystery that was hidden through the ages was revealed to those who accepted Jesus.  The mystery is that the Hope of Glory is in us.  Jesus lives in us!  We have dunamis power, accomplishing power.  Keep living in us, Jesus.  It’s in Your Name, Yeshua’s Name, we pray.  Amen.

Excerpt from the Jesus Lives Bible study

No Weapon Prevails

Every Tuesday, we get our verse of the week to meditate and memorize.  I want to encourage you to keep trying to focus on just one verse for the week.  If you stay determined, the Word will take root in your heart.  If you have failed with some of the previous verses, don’t get discouraged and quit, but continue to press on.  This spiritual discipline is worth pressing through our failure!  So free yourself of guilt and let’s go!

“ ‘No weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you.  This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and this is their vindication from me,’ declares the LORD.”

Isaiah 54:17

This is one of those verses that reminds me that victory is mine!  I can win.  I don’t have to live defeated and crushed down.  There is no weapon, no instrument that has been forged and made with the intent of harming you and me that will prevail.  It cannot succeed or beat us unless we depart from God.  The enemy may try to forge something that he thinks will get to us and launch some well-thought-out attack that may get to us.  However, in the end, I will stand victorious because I have chosen God above all others.

Next this verse tells us that we will refute every tongue that accuses us.  Oh, has that treacherous enemy thrown many fiery arrows intending to pierce my heart to get me to believe that I am useless and incapable.  I’ve been outwitted many times.  But now, my mind has been soaked in the truth of God’s Word.  When he hurls the insult, I refute it with God’s truth.  I know who I am in Christ.  Do you know who you are?  Have you discovered your identity in Christ?

The third part of this verse tells us this is our heritage.  Our heritage is our inheritance or our property.  This means we have every right to possess this promise.  Our heritage is to be able to know truth, speak truth, and refute the lies of the kingdom of darkness.  There is no weapon of the evil one that has the right to beat you and me.  It’s our inheritance to prevail.  I plan on taking what God has given me and acting on it.  Will you?  Carry this verse with you wherever you go this week – be it written on an index card, recorded on your smartphone, or imprinted in your heart.  Study it, pulverize it, and memorize it!

Memorization Reminders:

Please join me in memorizing these verses and implanting God’s thoughts into our minds.  I’m expecting for God to radically change our lives if we do this.  Redeem your time to make room for memorizing God’s Word.  Take this verse with you wherever you go.  Meditate on it, and pulverize it.

We are blessed to live in a time where we can have the Bible at our fingertips even through the internet or an actual Bible in our hands.  Yet, this blessing can become a curse if we do not treat the Bible with such honor to savor every word of it as those through the centuries who have longed to have His Word so much. They had to memorize every Scripture they had ever been given because their own copy of the Scripture was not possible.

Most of us probably don’t memorize Scripture because we think that we do not have the time.  However, our minds have a lot of wasted space that can be given to God.  We have to redeem the time.  For women, we can use the time while putting on our make-up or blow drying our hair.  For men, use the time while shaving.  For both genders, we can use the time while we shower, stop at red lights, do the laundry, wash the dishes, and mow the lawn.  Let’s face it:  our minds are thinking about something during this time.  Instead of being focused on our obsessions, worries, cares, to-do’s, and problems, give this time to God.

Take your verse(s) with you wherever you go.  You can type your verse out and put it on beautiful sheets of your choice.  You can write it out on index cards.  Many people prefer index cards spiral bound to keep them together.  For iphone users, I’m sure there is an app.  You can write it on your iphone notepad or record your voice speaking it and replay it throughout the day.

Now that we have the verse and we have found the time, let’s focus on the method.  We don’t just memorize it by saying it over and over; we meditate on it.  We spend time thinking about what each word means and what it doesn’t mean. 

Then one of my favorite techniques as taught by Waylon Moore is to pulverize the verse.  Say the verse over and over each time focusing on a different word in the verse to emphasize.  For example, say Isaiah 54:17 (today’s verse) aloud and say with more umph the underlined and bolded word:

“ ‘No weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you.  This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and this is their vindication from me,’ declares the LORD.”

Isaiah 54:17

“ ‘No weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you.  This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and this is their vindication from me,’ declares the LORD.”

Isaiah 54:17

“ ‘No weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you.  This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and this is their vindication from me,’ declares the LORD.”

Isaiah 54:17

“ ‘No weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you.  This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and this is their vindication from me,’ declares the LORD.”

Isaiah 54:17

“ ‘No weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you.  This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and this is their vindication from me,’ declares the LORD.”

Isaiah 54:17

Repeat this process until each word in the verse has been emphasized.

After meditating and pulverizing the verse continuously for a week, the seed planted in our hearts will begin to germinate.  You and I will no longer be merely short-term memorizing, but the Word will dwell within us.  When God’s Word dwells within us, something miraculous happens.  Our minds are renewed and transformed into the mind of Christ.  We worry and fret less.  We are armed for the attacks of the enemy.  Our lips will be full of praise for our God.  My friend, I’m ready for that kind of transformation!