As
you read this article I want you to remember this statement: “Yes you can!”
What
am I talking about? Simple. I want you to make a decision for the New Year to
begin by committing to memory Bible verses each week. I can hear you now: “I
can’t do it. I’m no good at memorizing.”
Yes
you can!
Each
of you has learned to memorize your phone number, mailing address for home and
work, dates of importance, the names of friends, neighbors and co-workers,
certain channels of your favorite TV shows, etc. Yes you can!
Why go
to the bother of memorizing Bible verses? The first and best reason is because
it honors God. That’s a wonderful way to begin 2013, don’t you agree? In fact,
the first verse you may want to work on is Psalm 119:11. “Your word have I treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against
you.” God’s Word is an invaluable gift to us. Commit it by heart to your
heart.
Another
reason to memorize is it helps you to think the way Jesus thinks. One of the
difficulties in living for the Lord is that we don’t know how to quite get past
thinking from a godless, worldly perspective. Such thought patterns are
usually well ingrained, and we have become accustomed to justifying such
thoughts because it’s too hard to change. Remember! Yes you can! In Isaiah 55:8-11,
God says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither
are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the
earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
As the rain and the snow come
down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making
it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the
eater, so is my word that
goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what
I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”
Still
another reason to make the effort to learn God’s Word by heart is the door it
opens for you when you pray. When you know Bible verses by heart, the Lord will
bring those verses to your mind when you are praying. It gives you something to
focus on. For instance, you may be concerned about a single mom on your block
with three kids and she’s working two jobs. “Lord, is there something I can do
for her?” you pray. And then the Lord brings to your memory a verse from James
1:27. “Religion that God our Father accepts
as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their
distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” God is directing you as his agent to take action. Either
personally to provide something for this family, or to arrange for others to
help out.
Yes
you can!
Another
reason is when you have the Word memorized you are often able to offer a word
of encouragement to someone. Perhaps a friend or family member has just been
laid off and they are feeling discouraged. You could share this word of promise
from God’s Word from Proverbs 3:5-6. “Trust
in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge
him, and
he will make your paths straight.”
Most
importantly, God’s Word is described as being “living and active.” These are
not merely words written on a piece of paper. Anyone can do that! But God has
gone to extraordinary lengths to insure that you and I have his Word. It gives
life to our very soul! In Hebrews 4:12-13, we read, “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any
double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and
marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
Nothing
in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid
bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”
I
live right down the street from Blue Diamond Almond Company. Their slogan is,
“A can a week is all we ask.” So as you look into 2013, decide right now that
you will begin committing to memory God’s Word. “A verse a week is all God asks.”
Try it, you’ll like it!
Yes
you can!
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