2023 Memory Verses

Click here to download a printable copy of the Memory Verses for 2023.

The first 24 days of December probably pass either very quickly or very slowly for most people. For those who are not “ready” for Christmas, they probably pass very quickly. Maybe they are very busy and just can’t find the time to prepare themselves. Maybe they are just good at procrastination. In either case, the time passes too fast because they just aren’t ready for Christmas. For those who are ready for Christmas, the time passes too slowly. They are anxiously anticipating a day for which they are very prepared, and it just can’t get here soon enough.

The proper preparation for Christmas is to realize that you are a sinner and that you need someone to pay the price for your sin, because you can’t possibly pay it yourself. Then you need to realize that the baby born in the manger on Christmas Day, was sent to pay that price, and, as the sinless Son of God, He is the only one who could pay that price for you. To truly be prepared for Christmas, you need to accept the free gift of salvation that was paid for by Jesus Christ on the Cross of Calvary. If you haven’t done that, I would urge you to do it today.

Our 2 memory verses for December of 2023 teach about the birth of the Savior, Jesus Christ. Be prepared for Christmas 2023. Accept the gift that He is freely offering you.

Isaiah 9:6 - For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Matthew 2:6 - And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule My people Israel.

November, of course, is the month in which we celebrate Thanksgiving. This one day each year is a reminder of the need for thankfulness. 2023 has been a very rough year. There are multiple wars going on in the world, and the risk of those wars expanding and other wars starting is very high. There have been natural disasters, perhaps the worst of which was the wildfire on the island of Maui in Hawaii. In spite of these horrific events, Christians are called to be thankful each and every day, not just on Thanksgiving. How can that be? As a believer, we are to focus on eternal things, not on temporal things. The greatest need of each person is to have their sin forgiven and be freely given eternity in Heaven with the Lord. All true believers have accepted that free gift. That alone is a reason to praise God and be thankful each day.

Both memory verses for November 2023 express that truth.

2 Corinthians 2:14 - Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.

Colossians 3:15 - And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

Our memory verses for October of 2023 both have to do with putting the “good” of others above our own good. As Christians, we have been given liberty. That liberty allows a Christian to make their own decision about doing things that are not expressly called sinful in Scripture, or obviously not in opposition to Biblical principles. That liberty should be used very carefully. Things might be lawful for a believer, but they might not be expedient. Those lawful actions might not edify or build up others. In those situations, the believer should refrain from taking those actions in order to benefit other Christians.

1 Corinthians 10:23 - All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.

We also need to show love “one to another”, “preferring one another” instead of always doing something because you believe it will be “good” for you.

Romans 12:10 - Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another.

It can be very difficult to keep up with the financial needs of life. So many people have multiple jobs trying to make enough money to live the kind of life that they want to live. A lot of people don’t have a job at all, perhaps not even a home. Either of these situations can cause a lot of stress in life. We all need some money to get by in life. However, if you are working multiple jobs trying to meet your everyday needs, and this schedule has you exhausted, remember that true “rest” comes from God. Our first memory verse for September of 2023 stresses that important truth.

Matthew 11:28 - Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

I believe that God does want those of us that are able to have a job, to do so. Our trust, however, should not be in the money we make, but in the God that created us, gives us the strength to live, and provides for our eternal life through the perfect sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ. Trust Him. Serve Him. Wait on Him.

Isaiah 40:31 - But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Our memory verses for August 2023 talk about something we should do and something we should realize.

I hope that we all realize that the only thing that we can “do” to be saved is to accept the free gift of salvation, paid for by our substitute, Jesus Christ, through His death on the cross. When we do that, God, through His grace, promises us eternal life in His presence, something we can not possibly earn on our own. After salvation, God wants us to show others that changes have been made in our lives, and the best way for us to do that is to show “goodness” and “kindness” to others, so that they see Christ through us. These efforts in “well doing” need to be frequent, in fact continuous in our life. Our first memory verse tells us that.

Galatians 6:9 - And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

Our second memory verse reminds us that love (“charity”) is the best way that we can show our faith and hope.

1 Corinthians 13:13 - And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

Our 2 memory verses for July 2023 both deal with the fact that Christians are called to serve God and others.

Galatians 5:13 is great verse for the 4th of July as it talks about liberty. It describes the real purpose of liberty. Liberty is not getting what we want here on Earth, but liberty should compel us to serve one another in love. As you read and memorize this verse, think about the difference it would make if ALL Christians would live that way.

Galatians 5:13 - For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

Even Christ had the purpose of service (ministry) in His life. As God, He could well have demanded that people minister to (serve) Him. Instead, He served others. His greatest service was to give His life to pay the debt for sin that no one could possibly pay for themselves.

Matthew 20:28 - Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

No one has a perfect life. Everyone sins. Everyone has problems. We all have things that bother us, that give us some degree of anxiety. What can we do? If you are a believer, our first memory verse for June of 2023 tells you.

1 Peter 5:7 - Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

God knows what is going on in your life and wants you to rely on Him. Sometimes you may not think that God hears your prayer because He doesn't do what you want when you want it. Turn it all over to God and trust Him to do what He knows is best.

Our second memory verse for June of 2023 uses the word "propitiation." Propitiation, in this use, means that Jesus Christ became our substitute, taking the weight of our sin upon Himself, and paid in full the penalty that we owed for our sins. He is the only one who could do that. We can not possibly pay the price for our own sin. Only Jesus can. This verse tells us that.

1 John 2:2 - And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

A lot of people think that the Book of Revelation is very difficult to understand. Yet the Book of Revelation contains a verse that promises a blessing to those that “read”, “hear”, and “keep” the things that are written in this Book, and a verse that promises NOT to seal the “sayings” of this book. In other words, if you study (read and hear) the Book of Revelation, and obey (keep) the truths that you read and hear, you will be blessed. Another book of the Bible, Daniel, was “sealed” so that readers and hearers could not understand its prophecy (Dan 12:4). That is not the case with the prophecies of the Book of Revelation. The prophecies of Revelation are not sealed. They CAN be understood. How could you be blessed by reading something that you could not understand?

Our memory verses for May of 2023 are these two verses from the Book of Revelation.

Revelation 1:3 - Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

Revelation 22:10 - And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.

This year, Easter falls on April 9th. Easter commemorates the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, who suffered and died on the cross of Calvary just 3 days earlier, shedding His blood to pay the price for our sins, a price that none of us can possibly pay for ourselves. On Easter Sunday, Jesus rose from the dead and left the tomb, appearing at least 8 times to apostles, disciples and others over the next 40 days. Then He ascended back to Heaven. I hope that most of you agree that the days from Good Friday to Easter Sunday were the most important days in the history of mankind on this Earth.

Our 2 memory verses for April 2023 both speak about the events, and the results of the events of these 3 days.

Philippians 2:8 - And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

1 Corinthians 1:18 - For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

There has been a lot of buzz the last few weeks about a “revival” going on at a college in Kentucky. I don’t know enough about it to have an opinion, but I know that the Holy Spirit can really convict hearts and great things happen when people follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. When I think of a “revival”, I think of many people coming to Christ for salvation. Coming to Christ requires, first of all, a realization that you are a sinner and that you can’t possibly “do” any works that will save you.

I am not sure how often the first memory verse for March 2023 is used for this purpose, but the general principle of the verse does apply to salvation.

Mark 8:36 - For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

Once you realize your sinfulness, and accept the price paid by Christ on the cross as your only means of salvation, you are saved. From that point on, you need to grow. Our second memory verse tells us how to grow in our relationship with Christ. Read your Bible!

1 Peter 2:2 - As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.

Each year, in February, we celebrate Valentine’s Day. Restaurants are full of couples eating out and Florists scramble to have enough roses available so that couples can celebrate their love for each other. Love started with God and His Word, the Bible has a lot to say about love.

Our 2 memory verses for February 2023 show the importance of love and how to best show love.

1 Corinthians 13:13 - And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity. (Charity = Love in this verse and many others in Scripture)

John 14:15 - If ye love me, keep my commandments.

Happy New Year! If you are searching for a New Year’s resolution, our memory verses for January 2023 are great verses on which you could base wonderful, Biblical resolutions for 2023!

Philippians 3:13-14 - Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:8 - Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things