Memorizing God's Word

           I have mentioned before that when I have difficulty going to sleep, I begin to quote Scripture by memory while laying there in the bed. I began to notice that my verse list was getting to be shorter over the years. I usually go through the Romans Road and a few other verses but overall, I seem to have forgotten some of the verses that I used to know. I then received an email from the Navigators advertising the Topical Memory System. I recall going through that system in 1959 to 1960, but have forgotten many of the verses. I saw an advertisement for the system and decided to purchase it again. The TMS for short, comes now in eight different translations, some of which I have no use for, but they still have the KJV and that's what I will use again. The program promotes two verses a week which doesn't sound like much but when they begin to add up, it does take some time to review and learn new verses. Psalm 119:9-11 says, “ Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”

           Psalm 119, as you may already know, has the Word as its theme all the way through the 176 verses with the exception of just 5 verses. The passage for today shows the importance of memorizing Scripture. It help keep your life clean from sin. It is amazing how the passages from God's Word come to mind when you are tempted to do something that is contrary to God's instruction. The passage begins with a question, “How can a person cleanse his way?” It then goes on to speak of hiding God's Word in your heart. To learn something by “heart” is to memorize it. We use to use that expression in school when it came time to recite a poem in front of the class. You had to know it by heart and that meant that you had to have it memorized. Cleansing your life is not the only benefit of know God's Word by heart. It is also beneficial in your praise to God as you recite back His Word to Him. As I have already mentioned, it is also good to put to sleep at night, not that the Bible is boring, but that it is soothing to meditate upon as you are laying in the bed. Your mind gets focused on God and His Word and you will soon find that within moments it is morning and you have been refreshed. Now, the TMS is not the only Scripture Memory program. I also recall going through the three AWANA packs as I walked the mall in Parkersburg, West Virginia. Whatever method you decide upon will be valuable to your Christian growth. If you want to answer the question of verse 9 in today's passage, you will have to recognize that it is Scripture Memory that will cleanse your way. Notice also the words, “...by taking heed to thy Word.” Quoting Scripture will not be the only thing but taking heed to it and by obeying what it says. I might know “Mary Had a little lamb” by heart, but it will not change my life but John 3:16 will, as well as 1 Corinthians 10:13, or Romans 8:1 or First John 5:11-13. You perhaps have heard it said, “I am too old to start memorizing Bible verses.” I think that is just an excuse. Take the time and begin memorizing a verse every week. Say that verse every day and at the end of the year, you will have 52 verses memorized which will probably be a lot more than if you put it off with just another excuse. Praise God for His Word. Now begin hiding it in your heart.