Woman of the Word: A Memorizing Scripture Experience

By Ruth Coghill

In a culture of handheld devices and Internet access, the need to memorize God’s Word may seem like an outdated exercise. Many who have incorporated this ancient discipline into their daily lives, however, have been delighted at the supernatural strength and blessing that comes from it.

Woman of the Word provides a step-by-step process to corporately memorize Psalm 8 in four weeks, a ‘body of Christ’ exercise. Participants will be pleasantly surprised to discover that what might be difficult on their own is a joy when they join others on the journey of hiding God’s Word in their hearts.

Included in this second book in the WOW series are inspiring stories of God’s presence and power revealed as we recite the living and active Word of God.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Word Alive Press
• Release date: Dec 15, 2015
• ISBN: 9781486610280

Book preview

series

Foreword

Physical health and well-being has become something of an obsession in our society, as evidenced by the cover of every woman’s magazine on the stands. While it is important to take care of our bodies, it is far more important to ensure that we are mentally and spiritually fit.

This latest study book in the WOW series, Woman of the Word—A Memorizing Scripture Experience, by Ruth Coghill continues to reveal her passion for what women feed into their minds and spirits. Ruth’s vision for women to be spiritually healthy and growing toward maturity is evident on every page. For women who want to move from where they are to where they would like to be spiritually this book will be a valuable tool to assist them in achieving that goal. Ruth has a wonderful ability to weave together real-life stories, her own teaching, relevant Scriptures, inductive study, Scriptural exposition, and practical memorization tips. Her clear and powerful approach will enable everyone who studies and uses this book to learn how to hide God’s Word in their hearts.

The memorization of key passages of God’s Word will equip women to deal with the challenges of life and relationships in a new and fresh way.

Ruth has a long, and growing, track record of helping countless women develop deeper, more powerful spiritual lives through the memorization of Scripture. Her materials have been translated into other languages, enabling the message that God’s Word is living and active and life-transforming to spread across Canada and around the world.

John Edwards

Senior Pastor Central Pentecostal Church, Elora, Ontario

Introduction

Welcome to Book Two of the WOW series! I am so excited that you have started on this memorizing adventure with me. You will be enriched in ways that will surprise you as you are drawn into a deeper relationship with God, through Christ. Enjoy the joint effort of co-operative memorizing, remembering that all who have accepted Jesus are part of one body. What we cannot do alone, we can do together!

Each lesson will include the following:

1. The STORY — highlights the lessons theme

2. The STUDY — Psalm 8 observations and points to ponder

3. The EXPERIENCE — step-by-step process of memorizing Psalm 8

4. The PRAYER — praying the Word

5. The POWER of the Word — displayed through a personal story

To get the full benefit of this course, you will need the following items, available in many dollar stores.

• pen

• coloured pencils

• small ruler

• one 4 x 6" photo album, soft plastic cover with 36 pages

• one package 4 x 6" white index cards

• one package of 4 x 6" yellow index cards (or any light colour will work if yellow is not available)

You will only need one coloured and three white cards for this study; however, it will be helpful to have extras ready to use in order to apply the concepts learned here to another passage. If you prefer, you may share the index cards in the group.

Woman of the Word is designed to encourage a fuller and more meaningful engagement with scripture through memorizing Psalm 8.

Although this is a four-lesson study and can be completed in four weeks, some of you will take longer. The objective is to have Psalm 8 (New International Version) memorized as a group. As a participant, you will be given certain verses to memorize each lesson, and you will rehearse them each time your group gathers together.

When the four lessons are completed, you will know the text and be able to apply the memorizing principles you have learned to another verse or passage.

It is so much fun to do this with others and share the joy of everyone learning their verse(s). By the fourth lesson, you will celebrate as each group recites its part.

Enjoy the journey as you take another step in becoming a Woman of the Word. WOW!

A Note From Ruth

I can barely contain myself this morning. I counted five bright red cardinals a few feet beyond our patio doors. Chickadees and sparrows joined in the morning routine, sending little bursts of freshly fallen snow into the air. A blanket of white covered the forest of pines just behind our property. Stunning!

It all appeared so effortless and enjoyable. Each feathered friend landed on the overflowing feeder or flitted along the ground, grasping a scattered seed in its beak and darting back and forth from feeder to trees. I wondered if that exercise was to invite more to the banquet.

My husband Bob carefully chooses just the right mixture of nuts and seeds to satisfy each appetite. As soon as the level goes down, he dons his big, felt-lined boots, grabs the huge bag and refills the plastic containers.

He delights in providing these beautiful creatures their daily sustenance and then standing back to watch them enjoy his provision. Some might argue that this generosity on Bob’s part ruins the natural instinct of the birds to find their own food, but without the seeds he provides, the birds would suffer during the long, cold Canadian winter.

God too, has chosen just the right seeds to satisfy us. He simply delights when we approach his table of delicacies and taste each one.

Some say we should be able to live life on our own. But when we struggle to make it without the sustenance freely offered by our Heavenly Father, suffering and hardship are the inevitable results. We are created to be in relationship with God, to subsist on the banquet of His presence, His strength, and the power of His Word. Once you have tasted of this feast, no other offering could ever hope to satisfy the longings within.

Psalm 34:8

Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.

As we memorize Psalm 8 together, we will be tasting the delights of the feast God has set before us.

I can’t wait to get started!

Enjoy the journey,

Ruth

Lesson One

Memorizing the Word…

Puts it in your head

The memorization of scripture through the Holy Spirit’s empowerment is the most important tool for spiritual growth that I have ever implemented.

Frank Minirth

¹

The Story:

The sharp ring of the alarm pierced the morning stillness. I rolled over and squinted at the glowing, green numbers on the digital clock staring back at me: 5:00 a.m. I jumped out of bed and began my preparations for the day’s events. An hour later, I lifted my overnight bag into the trunk of the car and placed my Bible and notes on the