It’s interesting how one’s view of a verse of Scripture can change over time. I’ve loved this verse from the first time I read it:
“This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.” Joshua 1:8
Reading it years ago, I focused on those words, “prosperous” and “success”. And I somehow thought that if I meditated on the word of God, and by God’s grace, walked in obedience, things would go well. Not only go well, but prosper. I would “have success.” I don’t know what I thought that would actually look like, but I certainly didn’t picture difficult trials in the mix.
It wasn’t until I was preparing for this video that I realized how much I’ve meditated on the word through Scripture memory, since about 2003. And through Scripture memory, as I’ve meditated, I’ve grown in my understanding of the word, and hopefully grown in obedience. (Did you notice Joshua 1:8 says to meditate day and night so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it? Is it not awesome that meditating on the word leads to obedience to the word?) But in the past two or three years, there seems to have been one trial after another, in the midst of which I could have been hard-pressed to believe I was prospering or having success.
And yet, I was. Being in the Word consistently helped me to focus on the Lord in times of trial. It gave me a wellspring of knowledge about Him and His attributes, and an eternal perspective. It didn’t mean there weren’t hard days or anxious days. But I was able to draw upon Scripture that helped me to trust, believe, and endure.
And that means I was prospering, and having success.
I am amazed at the ways in which the word of God builds us up and causes our souls to prosper. This particular post is about memorization, which I know isn’t for everyone. Being in the Word consistently is what’s key. But hey, maybe the video will persuade one or two of you to give it a try! 🙂
So what do you do to stay consistently in the Word? And are you memorizing anything right now? If so, what? And if you’re persuaded to try memorization after watching the video, please let me know!
http://www.kimcashtate.com
Wow Kim! I love your story and video! Especially the parts about how how even though the earlier chapters I’ve memorized may drop from memory as far as “word for word” I have not ” lost” them. They have and are still accomplishing His will for my life because of the time spent memorizing them in the first place. Also would like to say, to go back and pick them up again is not hard and I have been prompted to do that and God has used them again to teach me something new that I may not have needed the first time through that passage. My heart rejoiced with yours as you described how The Word can just stop you as He connects you to other parts of passages to show you His consistent truths. Thank you Janet, for your obedience in writing your book, so Kim would read it and be lead to tools that helped her to be able to share her story! So blessed to know that a community exists that loves His Word and agrees that this is the best way to know Him!
Love the video you made. One thing that encouraged me was hearing you say you set it aside for a while when your life got super busy, but then you went back to it. That is important for people to hear. If life gets too busy take a break. You always have those verses you have already memorized in your heart you can practice on. You do not always have to be learning a new one. It is important to keep hold of the ones you know and add to them as you can. There is no, “but I have to….”, only “because my heart yearns to”. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for giving us Kim Cash Tate’s story and video. Inspiring and encouraging. Shirl
Thank you so much, Kim, for your words of encouragement and very delightful and informative video! Many useful ideas shared; oh, I am so thankful and blessed by your video!
God bless you Kim
Thank you so very much for this encouragment! Loved the video!!! This is just what I need–a plan! I found it interesting that you mentioned how before, you wanted to memorize but were not too successful because you didn’t have a plan. Boy can I relate to THAT! I have since been blessed by Janet’s book, and it has helped me but I have not been implimenting ALL of her suggestions–I am going to change that! Going to get me some spiral index cards and work on writing out my memory project!
Kim, We’re so thrilled to have you engaging with our community.
So glad you shared today, Kim!! Loved reading your story.
Many thanks to you, Kim, for your encouraging video. I especially like your tip #4 – saying it with feeling. I haven’t been doing that but I’m going to start now. I totally “get” the colored pens thing. 🙂 I am the same way. Loved your story.
So many great tips here. Thanks for the video. I’m going to share it with our Facebook group of memorizers at Hide His Word. We’re about to start memorizing James 1 this Monday, so this will be an encouragement and help to many.
Hi Everyone, Kim has so appreciated all of your comments. There’s some sort of glitch here and she can’t get through, but we’ll keep trying.
Kim. What a great way to share what memorization is all about and how it is absolutely possible for EVERYONE.
I finished the book of Ephesians on New years Eve 2014. It is one of my all time favorites to review. I have also utilized the method of putting feeling or emphasis into the verses, and once I find a cadence for the verse I say it that same way every single time, which is why we all know the words to so many songs—we always sing it the exact same way.
My ADD brain makes an index spiral impossible for me, but whatever method works is the important thing. If I used an index spiral, I would wonder where I put it, —head upstairs to look, and then forget why I was upstairs in the first place.
NOT KIDDING!
I hope you will stay involved with our like-minded community of mega memorizers and be encouraged as you have massively encouraged all of us today. Thank you so much Kim!
Enjoyed your video so much Kim…will be sharing with my Bible study group I will be doing with Janet’s book starting April 12th!
Kim,
Thank you for your encouraging words. It is not about the process of memorizing, but about the richness of what we learn about God. I love how you “inhabit the Word!” That does make it come alive. I appreciate your sharing your journey.
Hi Kim, I enjoyed your testimony and video! The point I gleaned the most from was ” Say it with expression”. Excellent! Personally, I can’t think of a better way to remember and internalize the memorized portions. Thanks for sharing! 😀