Do you want to know God more? Do you desire to know His plan for your life? Do you long to rest in Him, turning over your doubts, fears, weaknesses, addictions, and pain?
God says, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13
To seek God with all of your heart, you have to seek His heart. His heart-His words-are found in the Bible.
Several years back I set a goal to memorize a chapter of the Bible. This required me to study the words quite often in order to commit them to memory. Once I memorized the chapter, I began memorizing another.
Then, I decided I would try to memorize the gospel of Mark. Not a verse. Not a chapter. The whole book of Mark. 16 chapters, or exactly 678 verses.
I made this decision several years ago, and while I have memorized a lot of scripture, I’ve not accomplished this goal yet.
But what I have accomplished is being dedicated to reading and studying the Word. When I can’t read the Word, I listen to it. I make time to focus on God’s Word when I’m driving, cooking, on my lunch break, cleaning (o.k…not the best cleaner so probably not a lot of time in this category) but I make time. I make it a priority. And while I haven’t memorized all 16 chapters, over the years, I’ve memorized a lot.
You don’t memorize scripture to make yourself look good.
You memorize it so that when you face hard times, those verses are already in your heart.
When someone is going through a struggle, you already have encouragement stored up to help.
You memorize them to get wisdom.
You memorize them to learn how to love others.
You memorize them to increase your faith, which in turn, will bring answered prayers.
You memorize them to get direction and encouragement for your life.
Yes, you can just read the Bible. But when you memorize scripture, you have a motivation to continually be reading and studying. When you memorize scripture, you will find that He will give you specific verses when you need them. You don’t have to physically have your Bible, when you hide His words in your heart.
Friends, let me encourage you today. If you aren’t memorizing the Word of God, start today. Start with one verse. Then another. God will help you.
Proverbs 3 was the first chapter I memorized besides the 23rd Psalm which I learned as a kid. It’s no coincidence that the first two verses are this:
“My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity.”
Seek Him friends. And all that you’re longing for, He will reveal to you.
“Delight yourselves in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4
