A Spiritual Exercise for 2016 – Memorize Matthew 6
If you’re looking for a spiritual and mental challenge in 2016, here’s one to consider:
Sign up to memorize Matthew 6 with us at Do Not Depart, #HideHisWord.
We’ll learn 1-2 verses a week (schedule here), beginning January 18. You’ll recognize many of the verses already. (Read Matthew 6 in its entirety here.) It’s the middle chapter of what we call The Sermon on the Mount.
Or if you’re not into memorizing, you can still sign up to receive the weekly emails and just read along with us.
It’ll be slow.
But if you’ve ever spent repetitive time with a section of scripture, you know how valuable that slow setting can be. It gives us space to ponder, to reflect, to reframe. And to be transformed.
Matthew 6 is all red letters. All Jesus. Everything we’ll be reading is from him.
And we’ll be listening as if it’s to us. Because it is to us.
The Word became flesh not just for 1st century Jews. But also for those of us living and breathing here in 2016.
I need to hear the Word still speaking to me.
Here are a few favorite verses I’m looking forward to hearing in a fresh and personal way from Matthew 6:
But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
Matthew 6:3-4
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Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”
Matthew 6:9-10
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But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Matthew 6:20-21
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Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?
Matthew 6:25-26
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But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Matthew 6:33-34
Get more details at Do Not Depart and sign up for the email list.
Connect with #HideHisWord in these places:
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Do you have a favorite scripture in Matthew 6? So many good ones to choose from! Please share in the comments.
Related:
- Tools to Memorize a Bible Chapter {31 Days Series}
- Tips and Resources for Memorizing Bible Verses
- 10 Tips to Memorize a Bible Chapter
- Do you welcome it or resist it? One Word 2016
- Are you a digital packrat? Need to digitally declutter?
Only chapter 6? Why not 5 & 7? LOL. Excited for you Lisa. NO better way to learn the Bible than to hide it in the heart.
Why not 5 & 7? Because I tried already a few years back and it was too much. ha. So I’m going for the middle of the sandwich only this time. 🙂 Thanks for your encouragement, Bill. I definitely feel more connected to these passages and the Lord’s heart when I sit with them for so long.
Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
10
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
11
Give us this day our daily bread.
12
And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
13
And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.[c]
14 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
So many riches in this section of scripture! It’s one of my favorites too.
I don’t know if I am going to join the memorizing but today I needed to hear the part on anxiety! Thank you friend. Sorry have been MIA. No computer until this last weekend for a year, only a tablet makes it hard to leave comments.
I’m glad those scriptures were helpful to you today, Katie. I always need those reminders that God is watching and caring about me through every little thing. Glad you have a computer again; welcome back! I’ve missed you.
Wow! What a beautiful way to honor God and dig into His word. I cannot wait to see all that God will say and do through this process. As one who has tried memorizing verses in the past without too much success, this seems daunting.
I will be praying for all of you as you begin this amazing process. Blessings!
It still seems daunting to me too, Mary. ha. Thankfully with this chapter, though, many of the verses will already be familiar. I’m not the greatest at memorizing either so I appreciate your prayers for those of us who are undertaking this. I’m looking forward to what God will do through it too!
Lisa,
Wow…so many favorites from Matthew 6. What a gift and a great way to start the year. Timothy Keller did a sermon podcast on the phrase “Hallowed Be Thy Name” which is so powerful. I’ve already listened to it twice. So rich. I will never say those words without thinking about what he said…Praying richest blessings on you as your read and hide God’s Word in your heart 🙂
Thanks for the tip, Dolly. I just looked up that podcast and found it and downloaded on my phone! Next is to listen. 🙂 Sometimes technology works just like it’s supposed to and I love it. ha. Blessings to you in this new year!
I’ll be following along. I actually have a head start on this one!
Yes, there are so many great verses in this chapter that we’re already familiar with, so hopefully that will make it easier. Glad you’ll be following along, Floyd. Should be an interesting ride. 🙂
Oh Lisa, this is a wonderful way to start the new year! I’m definitely joining in with you on this. Thank you so much for sharing, Love! Happy New Year and GOD bless you, beautiful friend! 🙂
Yay! So glad you signed up to join us, Tai. I know this chapter will bring blessings to any and all who dive into it this year with Jesus. Happy that we’ll be in it together.
I’ve dug out my flash cards and have started carrying them with me when I walk the dog. It’s coming back to me! I’ve been wanting to buckle down and get this chapter more solidly in my head and heart. So thankful that it’s going to happen in 2016 and with this great community!
I’m so glad you are part of this great community, Michele! Your presence is definitely felt and is an encouraging light to us. I’m looking forward to digging deeper into this chapter too.
Such a wonderful idea, Lisa! My head is so full of miscellaneous words that need to be written and need to be spoken and need to be sung—I need to have JESUS’ words on my heart and on the tip of my tongue 🙂 I am a horrendous memorizer, but you know what? I’m going to give this a whirl! Thanks for sharing and encouraging… it’s always appreciated!
I’m so glad this struck a chord with you, Laura! So glad to know you’ll be learning these words alongside me. Words, words, everywhere. Might as well make them great ones, right? 🙂 Blessings to you in 2016! (…and there’s your word again.)
I have started reading the New Testament and had read Matthew 6 the day you announced that it was the next chapter to memorize, so I shall have a go.
Yay!!! Glad to hear this, Beverley. I keep noticing Matthew 6 everywhere now. God is always at work.