Secret To Finding Strength When You’re Tired of Being Tired: Be Filled
I’m entering 2015 hopeful but soul weary. Tired deep in my bones. You, too? Then join me in memorizing Scripture.
Now let me begin by saying I’m a terrible memorizer. Actually I’m quick on the initial memorizing but can’t retain much of anything long term. (Really, just ask my children—now what are their names?)
Yet, I’ve decided to memorize Scripture, specifically to memorize Psalm 27, a powerful “song” of truth and comfort in the midst of struggles, beginning today. After arguing with myself that I don’t have time to do this, “to-do” won out for several reasons:
- If I want to grow nearer God, to be filled with Him, I need to know Him. One of the best ways to know God is by reading His Word.
- The Bible points to Jesus Christ, the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
- Even if I don’t memorize the entire Psalm or only remember bits and pieces of it after 2 months, at least it’s more than I would know if I didn’t memorize at all.
- Life is not easy. My days can hold drudgery, heartache, physical pain, and difficult assignments. God’s Word brings me a sense of peace, fills me with the truth of my purpose, injects strength into my weary soul, and imparts wisdom and, yes, words of life.
- None of my excuses hold water. Because how can I say I want to know God if I won’t take time to know His Word?
- Really, I don’t have time not to do this.
Find Strength
I tried to do this life in my own strength. I’ve tried to live as a Sunday Christian, calling on God only on Sundays, holidays, and when my strength failed me.
But I’m tired of living tired.
Are you feeling it too? Soul weary? Worn out? Even fearful? Tired of trying harder and ending up in the same spot?
Let’s allow the Lord to be our strength. Let’s reap the full joy and peace He offers. Let’s fill up our hearts and souls, not with more of what this world has to offer, but with more of God.
Let's fill up our hearts and souls, not with more of what this world has to offer, but with more of God. Share on X
Let’s abide with and in the Lord. Let’s begin now.
My Plan
So, my plan is one verse a day, with an understanding that life happens. So Psalm 27 (14 verses) by the end of January or thereabouts. No pressure, if I need more time I’ll take it. But I know myself, if I give myself room to procrastinate, I will.
Then when Psalm 27 resides in my heart, I’ll choose another passage of Scripture.
I plan on writing each verse on a note card (writing helps to memorize) and join them together with a key ring. (The notecard, key ring thing I learned from joining Ann Voskamp’s The Roman Project in 2013).
Join me?
I’d love to have you embrace this adventure with me!
I’ll update you periodically on my progress here and on my social media sites.
Let’s fill ourselves with the words of life, and let’s encourage each other through the comments on my posts or here on my Facebook page.
Reading and memorizing Scripture won’t guarantee an easy, carefree life, one without pain and struggles; but it will provide wisdom for the journey, a light for our path, and a reminder of the victory over it all we have in Christ Jesus.
And in that truth, we will find our strength, joy, and peace for this life.
“With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you….Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light to my path.” Psalm 119:10-11, 105
This season of memorizing Scripture was indeed a blessing, filling me up in many ways. Today I continue to memorize in different ways, mostly through dedicated Bible study and daily time in the Word. Not quite so much with memorization as the end goal but soul nourishing just the same.
Reflections: What benefits have you found from Scripture memorization? What Scripture passage would you recommend I memorize next?
Psalm 27, HCSB version
The Lord is my light and my salvation—
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life—
of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When the wicked advance against me
to devour[a] me,
it is my enemies and my foes
who will stumble and fall.
3 Though an army besiege me,
my heart will not fear;
though war break out against me,
even then I will be confident.
4 One thing I ask from the Lord,
this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
to gaze on the beauty of the Lord
and to seek him in his temple.
5 For in the day of trouble
he will keep me safe in his dwelling;
he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent
and set me high upon a rock.
6 Then my head will be exalted
above the enemies who surround me;
at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make music to the Lord.
7 Hear my voice when I call, Lord;
be merciful to me and answer me.
8 My heart says of you, “Seek his face!”
Your face, Lord, I will seek.
9 Do not hide your face from me,
do not turn your servant away in anger;
you have been my helper.
Do not reject me or forsake me,
God my Savior.
10 Though my father and mother forsake me,
the Lord will receive me.
11 Teach me your way, Lord;
lead me in a straight path
because of my oppressors.
12 Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes,
for false witnesses rise up against me,
spouting malicious accusations.
13 I remain confident of this:
I will see the goodness of the Lord
in the land of the living.
14 Wait for the Lord;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the Lord.
I’m happy to link up with Suzie Eller for #livefree Thursday for this weeks prompt: Filled. So, my friends, be filled with encouragement; click on the image below.
By His Grace,
Julie
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Hello, I'm Julie, an imperfect wife and mother of four. Life in this broken world is not always easy. Yet, joy can be found in each day through the grace and mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ.
I find it's easy for our day's blessings to get lost in its happenings. But God's "mercies never end" (Lamentations 3:22) and His "grace is sufficient" (2 Corinthians 12:9).
May the posts and pages on this site offer you a measure of peace and encouragement.
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love this. I remember slowly memorizing Romans 8 when I lived in Nepal was such a powerful encouragement to me.. just chewing and chewing on those verses. I also love love psalms 27. Enjoy the journey and you inspired me to do some more memorizing. Thanks.
Praise God for His faithfulness in working in and through His Word. Grateful you found this post encouraging, Jenn. It’s a blessing to hear all God is doing in each of our lives.
I willjoin you in trying to memorize scripture. I need to keep my mind active and free from thoughts that bring me down.
Wonderful, Cecelia. May the Lord speak to our hearts as we immerse ourselves in His Word.
A couple of years ago I found myself tired of being tired. I’m so grateful that God filled me. . . love this.
Many others are grateful that God filled you too, Suzie, as we are receiving the overflow. 🙂
What a beautiful post of how God fills us. Tired of living tired. So many can relate, including me. Thank you for the truth you shared in memorizing God’s Word. Following you at Suzie’s.
What a blessing it is to encourage each other. Suzie provides a great launch site for doing just that. So grateful you stopped by and blessed me with your comments, Julie.
[…] So I did the only thing I could think of as I lingered in the quiet of the steamy shower: I began to rehearse Psalm 27, the Scripture passage I was committing to memory. (Read why I decided to start this exercise by clicking here.) […]