Memorizing God’s Word
I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. (Psalm 119:11)
When I was in the fifth grade, I will never forget going to Vacation Bible School (VBS). The teacher challenged us as fifth graders to do something really amazing. She started by telling us a story about some prisoners of war in World War II. They were trying to put the Bible together to read to each other. In the Japanese prison camp where they were being held, they had no Bibles. Collectively, they started writing down Bible verses that they had memorized as children. Slowly, they began to piece together some Bible pages.
Our VBS teacher said, “I want you to do the very same thing. I want you to put together a Bible, as much as you can remember.” This was our task for the week. Each one of us wrote a verse that we remembered. We began to piece together the only Bible we had.
I don't know how much Bible you have in your heart, but if you want to keep your fire of faith alive, you need more than you have right now. If you lean upon the Word of God, it will keep you from leaning on people. If you lean upon the Word of God, it will keep you from leaning on your circumstances. When you lean upon the Word of God, you will find yourself leaning upon the Lord and no one else.
How much of the Word of God do you know? If there was a time when you were separated from your Bible and you don’t have access to the Internet, could you write down verses that God has placed in your heart? Do you have that catalog of the Word of God in your heart and in your mind? With that catalog and the Holy Spirit, you can recall the words when you need them. If you want to keep the fire alive in your heart, you need to get into the Word and memorize it.
When I was in the fifth grade, I will never forget going to Vacation Bible School (VBS). The teacher challenged us as fifth graders to do something really amazing. She started by telling us a story about some prisoners of war in World War II. They were trying to put the Bible together to read to each other. In the Japanese prison camp where they were being held, they had no Bibles. Collectively, they started writing down Bible verses that they had memorized as children. Slowly, they began to piece together some Bible pages.
Our VBS teacher said, “I want you to do the very same thing. I want you to put together a Bible, as much as you can remember.” This was our task for the week. Each one of us wrote a verse that we remembered. We began to piece together the only Bible we had.
I don't know how much Bible you have in your heart, but if you want to keep your fire of faith alive, you need more than you have right now. If you lean upon the Word of God, it will keep you from leaning on people. If you lean upon the Word of God, it will keep you from leaning on your circumstances. When you lean upon the Word of God, you will find yourself leaning upon the Lord and no one else.
How much of the Word of God do you know? If there was a time when you were separated from your Bible and you don’t have access to the Internet, could you write down verses that God has placed in your heart? Do you have that catalog of the Word of God in your heart and in your mind? With that catalog and the Holy Spirit, you can recall the words when you need them. If you want to keep the fire alive in your heart, you need to get into the Word and memorize it.
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6 Comments
Love this idea!!
I will start memorizing more Bible verses. That sounds interesting to put together verses that I have memorized. And ask my friends to quote some and see how much of the Bible we can put together â¤
I will try to remember more verses. I know a few and they help me make it through each day.
God has Given Me a hunger for reading scripture. Now I need to better remember the scriptures GOD has provided. With God's Help, I am getting better. Thank YOU FATHER !
Thank you, Dr. Dodd! That is a great idea. I read my Bible every chance I get and have been for a while now. I appreciate your encouragement through these devotionals more than you'll ever know!
Amen and amen. When I first committed to God when I was 18 (now 87), I found the words: "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength" a daily boost. They still do.