Have you ever memorized Scripture? I know that there are some people that have whole books of the Bible kept in their memory. Oftentimes in Sunday School or Bible Camps, children will memorize a verse each week, or something similar. From time to time in my life, I have committed sections of Scripture to memory, but I haven't kept up with it, so I don't have forgotten many passages. As I was reading some things and thinking about them a few weeks ago, I was impressed with the thought that Scripture memorization is very important. Consider the verse with which I've opened today: Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You. I want to have God's Word in my heart! Just think of the many times when you are in a certain situation or you have to make a decision, and you choose the wrong thing or you don't handle it in the best way. Now imagine if you had God's Word hidden in your heart! It would be like carrying around your Bible all of the time. Scripture is God's words to His people. It is His message for you! I think that it is very important to not only read God's messages to me, but also to remember them! If I put God's Word in my memory, I will remember His words when I need them most! I will not forget what God has said to me. My life and my decisions will be based on God's Word, because it will be in my heart and always there to guide me and remind me of God's will for my life!
I remember several years ago, I taught a series of lessons that focused on certain books of the Bible. We started with Jude and then also worked through 1, 2, and 3 John. I think that we also covered James and the two letters from Peter. Not only did we learn many things through these lessons, as we do with topical lessons, but I also noticed another side benefit. Since I was working through specific books, I began to remember where particular messages were in the Bible. In future lessons, even many months later, I found myself referencing a thought from one of those books. You see, even though I did not have entire books of the Bible memorized, many of the verses and specific thoughts were still kept in my memory, and I also remembered where they were. That is a great advantage in life, to be able to live each day with God's Word kept in your heart, ready to come to mind anytime you may have a doubt or question about something. Anytime you need to make a decision or share something with a friend, God's Word is readily available. You have probably heard of people in persecuted countries who, finding themselves locked in solitary confinement without a Bible or Christian fellowship, still meditate on the Word of God as they remember the Word of God that is hidden in your heart. Perhaps I won't be in prison like that any time soon, but I still need God's Word in so many other times and situations. I firmly believe that it is best for the Christian to know God's Word!
Read through passages of the Bible often. The more you read it, the more you will be familiar with it. Try to memorize a few verses. If that goes well, expand to whole passages. If you can't memorize whole passages, work on a few key verses. If there is something specific that you struggle with in your life, find a passage in the Bible that gives you guidance in that area and commit it to your memory. When you are tempted, bring it to mind and tell it to yourself a few times. You'll find that the Scriptures that are hidden in your heart will give you direction when you need it. Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.
Psalm 119:12, 26, 33, 64, 68, 124, 135 – Teach me your statutes...
Psalm 119:105 – Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
Ask God to teach you His Word. Ask for understanding, that you may grasp it. Read the Word; keep it in your memory; hide it in your heart.
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