Scripture Memory Printable Cards – Summer Edition

Thank you for joining us for Memory Verse Monday, Summer in the Secret Place edition. I have made some more scripture memory cards for us to memorize this summer. Some of these verses are from the book of 1 John, which we will be studying on Word Study Wednesdays.

As I was praying to the Lord, yesterday, He gave me the verse we are going to memorize this week. I will tell you the story of my prayer session, because the Lord really does have a sense of humor. Sometimes, He will reveal His sense of humor when you pray. Yesterday, I was wrestling with the Lord in prayer. What does that mean you might ask? I was praying like Jacob in the book of Genesis, when he was wrestling with the angel. He was not willing to let go until he received a blessing (see Gen. 32:24-32). Wrestling prayer is persistent prayer (in my case begging and pleading) until you receive an answer.

Before I begin the story I will give you some background information about myself. Twelve years ago I received an injury to my neck, which has never healed properly due to degenerative discs. As a result, I have suffered neck pain on and off for the past 12 years, with most of this time spent in pain. About two years ago, I suddenly started to have pain in my lower back also due to degenerative discs (thanks Grammy). Even though I always know I have back and neck trouble, the pain has been very manageable over the past year because of some new therapy I received. However, about a month ago, I developed a new type of pain in my lower back, which has caused pain when sitting in hard chairs, driving or sitting for too long. Usually when I have pain in my lower back, I receive relief when sitting, so this has not been fun. I have been concerned about this, because I love to teach, which I do sitting down because of the back pain. How am I going to teach if I can neither stand nor sit? I certainly am not going to teach laying down or will I?

As I prayed, yesterday, I was aggravated with the Lord because He has the power to heal me. Sometimes I get envious of those who can bend over, dance, run or freely move. I guess these thoughts got the best of me and I was having a pitty-party. ( I need to remember to take every thought captive and concentrate on the lovely things (2 Cor. 10:5; Phil. 4:8)). During my prayer time, I was begging the Lord to heal at least my lower back. Even if He didn’t heal me totally, I was praying for relief in the lower back so I can at least sit down pain free. This is exactly what I told Him, “If I am going to have to suffer back pain, then I have to at least be able to sit down. You have the power to heal me and I don’t understand why You will not. I have to sit down to teach because standing is too painful. I will not lay down when I teach. Everyone will think that I am crazy.” Can you believe that I would talk to the Lord in that way? You have to understand that I have prayed for healing many, many times over the past 12 years. The Bible says that we are to come boldly to the throne of grace so I take this verse literally. We might as well tell the Lord how we really feel, because He already knows. He was not surprised when I prayed that prayer. The Lord actually gave me an answer from a verse in John, which is repeated in 1 John.

He said, “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends” John 15:13 (NKJV).

I had to laugh, because God does have a sense of humor. All of a sudden I was not angry anymore. I asked the Lord to forgive me for my selfishness, while also telling Him I would lay down and teach if He wanted me to. Soon after, I could sit down with no pain and I can still sit with no pain. My back is not totally healed, but at least I can sit. I will continue to pray for total healing. I hope you will learn to persevere in prayer and to tell the Lord how you really feel from this story. You will not shock Him, because He already knows. I don’t recommend talking this way to the Lord, because it is disrespectful, but like any kind parent, God answered me in my distress. Thank you, Lord!

Memory Verse

” Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends” John 15:13 (NKJV).

Click here for free download of Scripture Memory Cards 2

You can always find these Memory Cards underneath the “Free Downloads” tab at the top of any page on my blog.