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Remember when I told you I was going to memorize the book of Colossians? I’m happy to report that I’m still going strong. And Derek is too. I think everything is more fun if we do it together. This included. Especially since there have been days when I wasn’t in the mood and he pushed me to memorize the day’s verse…and vice versa.
We are just a few verses shy of having memorized the first chapter. I was going to hold off on telling you about it until I’d gotten through the first chapter, but I am simply too excited to wait. I am so thoroughly enjoying this process I don’t know if I’ll ever quit. Here’s a quick list of why I’ve loved memorizing such a big chunk of Scripture all at once.
1. Every word counts. I know I kind of said this before I started, but now that I’m knee deep in this memorization game I’m really getting it. Repeating the words day after day has really forced me to realize how significant every single word is. Every word choice, it’s placement, the structure of the sentence….it all holds a deep meaning. Meaning that I have never realized before when I simply read through a chapter at a time.
2. I’m constantly meditating on the Word. No matter how much quiet time or Bible study I’ve done in the past, nothing has helped me stay focused on God’s words for us as much as this bout of memorization. Because I don’t want to forget the verses I’ve learned, throughout the day I find myself thinking about yesterday’s verse, reciting the whole passage, and mulling over the meaning in the verses I know. Since I add more each day there is always something fresh in my mind to meditate on. And in the meditation has caused me to…..
3. Gain a deeper understanding of the Lord. I feel closer to Him, even though lately I’ve been struggling with bad attitudes and small bouts of the down-and-outs. I feel like I’m gleaning an understanding of Christ’s nature with every verse I tack on.
4. I’ve learned new prayers. Paul writes this letter to folks in Colossians, even though he has never met them. Now, if you are familiar with Paul, you might have noticed that his introductions and opening statements can be somewhat lengthy. In the past I’ve tended to skip over these parts, which I considered frilly filler {tsk, tsk.} But now that I’m memorizing, I have been forced to look deeply at the meaning tucked inside the intro.
Paul is a great intercessor and a spectacular prayer warrior. He offers a real teaching moment in the beginning of this letter by telling the Colossians how he prays for them, what he says in those prayers and why. I have basically started to copy his words verbatim when praying for fellow believers. {Especially the sweet teenage girls I have the privilege of mentoring.} Where I used to get stuck and tongue tied, not knowing what exactly to ask or say–now I use Paul’s very powerful template for intercession.
“We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience.”
5. I’m banking money verses. What’s a money verse, you ask. A “money verse” is a key verse, one that defends your believe or is extremely usable in conversation, teaching, etc with the world. Colossians is jam packed with money verses and I’m learning them word-for-word and finding them really easy to interject into regular conversations.
I’m also tucking them away for days when my beliefs may be challenged. Then I’ll be able to pull out things like: Christ is the image of the invisible God…; by Him all things were created…all things were created by Him and for Him; God was pleased for all of His fullness to dwell in Him {Christ}–as in Christ was fully God in mortal form.
6. Scripture is coming up in conversations. Since I’m comitted to memorizing the whole book of Colossians it’s really easy to throw it into a conversation–even with a nonbeliever. When someone asks, “What have you been up to lately?” It’s the perfect opportunity to chat them up about how amazing the Word of God is and all the things I’m learning.
7. I’m on pace with the commentary. If you know me at all, you know I l-o-v-e reading commentary on Scripture. I like knowing the original Greek, I like knowing the cultural state and the political climate of the times. The New Testament has so much commentary it’s a huge undertaking to read it alongside a whole chapter at a time…since there may be several pages dedicated to two or three verses alone. Taking Colossians slowly, one verse a day, has made reading the commentary doable. Not overwhelming.
That’s my quick list. I’ll give you another update in a month or so. But really, you should start memorizing. It’s so worth it. Stop waiting and just start. The first day is really easy. Pinky swear. You won’t regret it.
Amy
