Hiding God’s Word in Your Heart
“Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O Lord God of hosts.” ~Jeremiah 15:16
As I look back over my life, one thing that stands out to me is the important place Scripture memory has had. I never realized until recently how important this discipline was that was passed on to me. When I attended a Christian high school, we were assigned a chapter to memorize each month. If we completed it, we received special privileges the next month. I wanted those privileges, so I memorized. When I went to a Christian university, we had to memorize verses for quizzes and tests. Without my realizing what was happening, this became an important part of my walk with the Lord.
After college graduation, when I would face a crisis or I had a hard time with my thought processes, I would memorize a verse to help me. It wasn’t something I was forced to do. I realize now that the only way I have ever found to control my thinking was through Scripture memory. Because of this, I have a passion for memorizing Scripture. I have not done this perfectly. I have not been as consistent as I would have liked to have been over the years. I have struggled with reviewing and retaining what I have memorized, but I am a firm believer that something is better than nothing.
Maybe you think that you don’t have time to hide God’s Word in your heart. It may be true that you and I don’t have the time to sit down and dedicate ourselves to Scripture memory, but what about those little minutes that we have throughout the day? What are you thinking about when you are showering or fixing your hair and makeup? What about when you are in the kitchen? What are you thinking about when you are vacuuming? Sorting laundry? Cleaning out the garage?
It used to be that when I was showering, I was working up a good mental stew over all I had to do that day. Now I review passages that I have already memorized. When I exit the shower, I am refreshed in body and soul. When I am fixing my hair and putting on makeup, I prop up my 3 x 5 cards and work on the verses that I am in the process of memorizing. When I need to put my feet up for a few minutes, I work on a new verse. I prop the cards on a window sill when I am in the kitchen and run a few verses through my mind. I take my cards with me for a morning walk or when I have an appointment that I will probably sit in a waiting room for. This helps me to be patient when I would otherwise be not so patient.
I cannot begin to describe the difference that these simple acts have had in my life. It is true that when our minds are stayed on God, we have peace. One example of this is when my children were much younger. During one year of our deputation journey, I worked full-time at a special needs Christian school while my children attended a different Christian school. We had to leave the house at 7:00 AM in order for me to be able to drop the kids off at their school and be on time for my job. This made for some stressful mornings, especially when my husband was out of town. One morning was particularly stressful. By the time we were all in the car, my daughter and I were in tears, son #1 was sullen, and son #2 was feeling frantic. To say that I was fried was an understatement. As I backed out of the driveway, my heart was crying out to the Lord for help. The kids and I had been memorizing several verses from Proverbs 3together. The Lord prompted me to use that morning commute to review those verses. We spent the next 15 minutes reciting those verses together. By the time we arrived at their school, calm was restored, and everyone had a smile on their face. God’s Word had brought peace to each of our hearts and we proceeded on with our day.
Recently, I made a trip to the states to be with my daughter who was having surgery. International travel during a pandemic can be daunting. There were a lot of extra requirements to meet, not to mention those tearful goodbyes wondering if that might be the last time I was able to hug my loved ones. It was all very nerve-racking, and I must confess that there were times that I was feeling quite anxious about it all.
It was in those anxious moments that the Lord would flood my mind with Scriptures that I had memorized in the past. Verses about His presence, His love and His power. Verses that reminded me that if I had to do my quarantine in a hotel in Tokyo alone instead of at home, He was still in control. I would not be alone. He would be with me.
One particular passage that was helpful to me during this time was Psalm 91. I memorized it last year when the pandemic began. The Lord brought those verses to my mind during one of my more anxious moments as I was preparing for my return trip. I decided to pull out the card with the verses on it and review it everyday until my departure. I also reviewed it on the plane when I was on my way. I can’t tell you the peace that those verses brought to my heart and mind. It was a peace that passes all understanding.
Only God and His Word can give us the stability and peace that we crave. If hiding God’s Word in your heart has not been a part of your life, I would like to encourage you to begin now. You will not be disappointed. God will honor any effort, no matter how small.