Your Word I Have Hidden in My Heart

My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words. Don’t lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart. Proverbs 4:20-21 (NLT)

Memorising Scripture is one of the habits we, as followers of Jesus Christ, should see as a most natural part of our devotion to God. We cannot have a deep devotion to God if we don’t know His character. God doesn’t leave us in the dark about who He is. He has given us His revealed Word as an expression of who He is.

In previous devotionals, we spoke about Dimitri, who was imprisoned during the Soviet era. Dimitri filled every scrap of paper he could find with Bible verses and pasted them on a pillar in his cell. He did this at great cost to his physical and emotional well-being. Dimitri did not have a Bible with him as this was, of course, strictly forbidden. The Bible verses he wrote down were verses he had previously memorised. The Bible verses empowered him. It gave him the strength to stand in the dark place he found himself in. It gave him hope.

When we find ourselves in places of despair. Places that are bleak and dark, we need hope and peace. We need to know that God cares about us and what we are going through. When we have Scripture memorised and we declare it over our lives, the peace and hope of Christ will guard our hearts and minds (Philippians 4:7).

His Word Will Not Return Empty

But we also need to be aware that there is a battle for our minds. C.S. Lewis, in his satirical novel The Screwtape Letters, offers some insight into this. The Screwtape Letters are letters written by a demon called Screwtape to his nephew, Wormwood. In one of his letters to Wormwood, Screwtape says,

“It is funny how mortals always picture us as putting things into their minds: in reality, our best work is done by keeping things out.”

Satan does not want us to have the Word embedded in our hearts and minds. Satan's afraid of the Word of God because he knows it is true and has the power to speak life and healing to our embattled souls. He also knows that he cannot snatch the Word we have hidden in our hearts from us. He knows that the Word we have memorised will silence the lies he whispers in our hearts. Every Word from Scripture that we memorise and declare over our lives, even in a whisper, is powerful. They come from the heart of our compassionate and loving God, who speaks comfort, peace, and hope to our weary souls.

So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. Isaiah 55:11 (ESV)

Reflection:

Will you be intentional about taking time to memorise Scripture? They will be hidden in your heart when you need them.

Prayer:

Thank You, Lord, for Your powerful Word. Help me make time to memorise Scripture. Help me listen to the powerful truth of Your word and not Satan’s lies. In Jesus’ name, amen