The Alarm
Psalm 119:11- 13 "I have hidden your word in my
heart that I might not sin against you. Praise to you, O Lord; teach me your
decrees. With my lips I recount all the laws that come from your mouth."
NIV
As I lay awake savouring the quiet cloak of darkness, listening to the beauty of
silence, my eye was drawn to the luminous numbers of my alarm clock. I had set
it earlier knowing if I was to arise and be on time for my early morning shift I
could depend on it to do its' job.
Likewise when we set God's word in our hearts, we can also count on it to go off
in our minds when we most need it. We can depend on it to do its' job.
"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for
teaching rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of
God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." 2
Timothy 3:15-17NIV
The psalmist in Psalm 119: 24,35,98,103 & 105, states that God's word in his
heart kept him from sin, counseled him, made him wise and victorious over his
enemies, brought him delight and directed him throughout life.
Now-a-days we don't tend to
memorize much of anything, not even Scripture as we have so many other tools
available to remind us of the things we need and want to know. Though this is
convenient in many ways, it may not always be wise. Food on the shelf is not the
same as food in the stomach, just as Scripture on the page is not the same as
Scripture in the heart.
When God's word is recorded in our hearts it becomes part of us, always there
for the Holy Spirit to be able to access and bring to our mind when it is most
needed. Memorization though is not always easy and retaining what we have
learned is usually even harder. With God's help however digging in to the sweet
delight of his word through the discipline of memorization is a meal well worth
chewing and digesting for as the psalmist's words attest it can be counted on
day by day to sustain us eternally.
Prayer: Father God thank you for the availability of your word. Encourage us
amidst our reading to commit portions to memory bit by bit, day by day that we
may be sustained eternally by your truth.
In Christ's name we ask. Amen.
Lynne Phipps
lynnephipps@hotmail.com
Atlin, B.C.