When I got up this morning, I asked God, as I do every morning, when I go into my office and open up my Bible and have my prayer notebook open: “What do You want to say to me?”
How do we hear or know God is talking to us? By memorizing His word and storing it up in our hearts and minds. Psalm 119:11 declares: “I have stored up your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” God’s word gives us power in our life against sin. It is the power that keeps us from temptations, from stumbling and falling.
If a verse leaps up at you, off the printed page, it is the Lord, speaking to you. God’s word will comfort, counsel, guide, and keep our conscience sharp.
When a verse pops out on the page, I then record that verse on a card and have a stack of them on my desk to read through to remember and review verses that have made a powerful impact on my mind. I also write down the date on the card and in my Bible next to the verse.
It is God’s responsibility to direct and guide us by His word. But we must be listening. We must be aware. That is our job. That is how God primarily speaks to us.
In Psalm 119:11, the ESV uses the phrase “stored up your word in my heart,” the HCSB uses the word “treasured,” the KJV and NLT both use the word “hidden.” The MSG says: “I’ve banked your promises in the vault of my heart so I won’t sin myself bankrupt.”
Psalm 119:11 was a verse that I remember memorizing as a very young child. It has stayed with me just as Psalm 23 and Romans 12:1-2 have as well. These scripture verses were stored in my heart before I was in Junior High. These particular verses come to my mind from childhood.
I remember a particular verse my Grandma Helmers would recite to me on various occasions as I was growing up: “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” 1 Corinthians 10:12 KJV. That verse has reminded me time and time again the importance of humility, and when I judge someone, I look at myself first, because it could have been me. No one is exempt from temptations. Steadfastness and self-control must be exercised.
I wonder what verses come up from memory in our daughter’s and son’s lives that they learned in their grade school years? Which verses does the Holy Spirit bring up to them as they are now both married and have children of their own, and living what I call “real life?”
I am becoming more fully aware of the importance of memorizing God’s word. When I was having my MRI of my back this week, reciting a particular passage from 2 Peter, was a help in keeping me relaxed through this procedure. I was given instruction to be very still and not to move. Reciting from memory the six verses I have been working on was helpful and helped pass the time quickly.
God’s Word gives us wisdom in helping us to make decisions in life that will be in harmony with His will for our lives. We will more fully recognize what that is, by committing scripture to memory.
I continue to enjoy using the Scripture Typer Bible Memory ap on my iPhone. It gives me a message on the front of my iPhone when it is time to review a verse that I have entered in “MY VERSES.” It keeps me currently reviewing verses by typing them, memorizing them, and then mastering each verse. This tool makes Bible memory much easier. It has a calendar schedule of its own, so it will remind you to review a particular verse over a regular period. Once you have mastered a verse it will automatically be entered into the Scripture typer review system. It also gives you the option of memorizing verses with a common topic, such as wisdom.
God’s word gives true fulfillment, from delighting in His word.
Psalm 119:1-2 in the HCSB states: “How happy are those whose way are blameless, who live according to the LORD’s instruction. Happy are those who keep His decrees and seek Him with all their heart.”
Being a student of the word of God never stops. It is a lifetime requirement and commitment. It gives us access to God’s heart and mind as Psalm 119 102b states: “. . . for you have taught me.”
I was caught locked out of our house one evening this week. Frustration and lack of patience set in as I was trying to figure out what to do without having to call my husband for help since he was still at work. I was exasperated and highly annoyed. As I was trying to use my phone as a flashlight, trying to find my solution, all at once my Bible ap started to read out loud from Psalm 120! That was where I had left off reading in the morning! All at once I heard the reader say something about peace and war! I started laughing so hard I almost had tears in my eyes! Then it continued to recite Psalm 121:1-2: “I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.” This was quite fitting. I did get back into our house and was still laughing about this episode when my husband arrived.
Have you set apart a time each day to seek the Lord from His word? Are you focusing on a verse or chapter in the Bible and working on gleaning the importance of it in your life? That is a requirement in having God speak to you. Next spend time in prayer. Talk to God one on one. Thank Him for His goodness, confess anything that needs confessing. Then commit over to Him any desires and needs on your heart. This doesn’t have to take a long portion of time.
After I have my own personal devotional and prayer time, I like to listen to a Christian song from my Music Library play list on my iPhone or on Pandora, to finish my time with the Lord in songs. I often do this as I put on my make-up, in order to keep my mind focused on praising the Lord through music, before my day opens up into chaos.
The Bible is our spiritual operations procedures manual for life. It is relevant.
My prayer for today: “Oh God, open my eyes. Open up my heart to your word. Speak to me through it and guide me with your instruction for today. I need to understand your complete knowledge and wisdom entirely. As Psalm 119:18 says: “Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law!”
Listen to the Newsboys anthem “Committed.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0Tn_r-XYWw