SSMT #4

Who's memorizing Scripture with Beth? Here's mine for these next two weeks:

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing, and perfect will.” Romans 12:1-2 NIV

Our pastor began a series on Romans and the title is ALL IN. You can vew the bumper video here. As a church, our pastor is encouraging us to memorize Romans 12:1-2 so I decided it would be a perfect verse for my next SSMT.

This verse is so convicting for me. God wants us to offer our bodies as living sacrifices. That means DAILY laying aside my own desires to follow Him. It means putting all my energy at his disposal and trust Him to guide me. And the second verse calls us to be transformed by the renewing of our mind. It has to be a choice that we make in both our heart and in our head. We see worldly things around us all the time. Unhealthy food, laziness, immoral values, materialism. Our flesh desires these things. But remember, we have to lay aside our desires and sacrifice our selfishness and be transformed by the renewing of our mind. I'm thankful for God's mercy. I'm a naturally selfish person, wife, mom, sister, and friend. It's a constant struggle for me. So this verse will be a constant reminder for me to lay aside my desires in my relationship with the Lord, but also in my relationship with people.

I know this verse and have read it a million times and could probably almost say it from memory, but I don't know it verbatim, which is what Kirt (our pastor) encouraged us to do. Memorize it VERBATIM. So here we go. Honestly, I'm thankful I chose this one that I know partially because, well, I have a confession. The last SSMT I didn't work on at all. It's terrible, I know. So these next two weeks, I've got two to work on. Here's my last one (SSMT #3):

"But now, this is what the Lord says - he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: 'Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass throught he waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.'" Isaiah 43:1-3a

It's long, but is SO encouraging. And the Lords says "When you pass," or "When you walk," not if. In life there will be fire and raging waters and storms. And He promises that WHEN we go through these blazes or storms or raging waters, He will be with us. We won't be swallowed up in the river or burned by the fire.

So what Scripture are you memorizing? Post it in the comments.