December 30, 2024 -- Philippians 1:3-4 -- Memorizing for growth in obedience and holiness

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I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy…
Philippians 1:3-4 ESV
 
Paul is praying for the Philippians with great, persistent enthusiasm whenever he thinks of them. They made themselves a fixture in his life. They sent financial support to him. They sent Epaphroditus to him to encourage him. Paul called Epaphroditus their messenger and minister to his needs. No wonder Paul kept them in his prayers. Reading this chapter and memorizing it would be a great way of expanding your own prayer life. It is instruction on how to pray, what to pray. Praying as you are instructed in the Word and directed by the Spirit of God Who inspired the Word for the edification of all believers which brings holiness to fruition in their lives.
 
Cue cards are a great way to memorize. Use recipe cards. They are a great size to write out a few verses of scripture. You can keep them in your pocket and through-out the day use them for memorization. When you are in line at Tim Horton’s, review those memory cards. When you are at the check out at a store, review the cards. Before you watch a movie, commit to reviewing the cards a few times. When you are at the gym lifting weights, put in your earbuds and listen to the whole chapter of the Bible so that you’ll hear the context of these verses and learn them. Hearing the whole in context prepares you to memorize the next verses and to do so as one already more familiar with them.
 
James urged believers “For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like” James 1:23-24 ESV. How many of us want to be blessed by God, but do not bother to obey Him. We look into the mirror of His Word and promptly forget all we’ve seen. Dear friends, in 2025, what you read in the Bible put it into practice. Memorize the Word.
 
Glorious Lord of Life and Source of Strength, You have brought us safely through the watches of the night. Thank You. Now, as the day breaks and responsibilities are set before us, govern us by Your Spirit through the Word so that our will and our work conform to Jesus—the Captain of Salvation and our Pattern of Righteousness. Amen.
 
https://youtu.be/ZxFz27IVTSg?si=WhZA3xGqxt2M9uyX Rushing Wind + Make My Life a Prayer to You
 

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