I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You. Praise be to You, Lord; teach me Your decrees. With my lips I recount all the laws that come from Your mouth. Psalm 119:11–13 (NIV)
My young children have recently joined a program where they are encouraged to memorize Scriptures. It’s so adorable for them to work so hard to memorize the words. Maybe they’re doing it because they remember that they’ll get a sticker or a piece of candy for each one they know.
Maybe they work so hard because they see the smile on my face and the joy in my eyes as they try. Recently, I found my six-year-old daughter trying to teach her brother John 3:16, “For God so love the princesses that He gave His only begotten Son.”
I corrected her, but I had to smile. Yes, Jesus died for the princesses too. I know that my children are working hard for immediate rewards, but I also know that they will receive other, more long-range rewards too. How do I know?
Like them, when I was little I memorized Scripture verses so that I could pick out pink plastic rings and miniature chocolate bars from Miss Margo’s treasury box. Those treats were soon broken, lost, or eaten, but the words remained, and in my teen years when I was living far from Jesus, those words returned to me, and they brought me back to Him. Psalm 37:31 (NIV) says, “The law of their God is in their hearts; their feet do not slip.”
There are many things of this world that will cause us to tumble, but the words of Jesus will be like stepping stones on a slippery path. It’s a wonderful thing for us to hide God’s Word in our heart. And if we get a sticker, it’s a bonus. But we are never too young—or too old—to work to plant His Words deep.
Faith Step: Choose a verse to memorize this week. Psalm 119:11 is a great one to start with!
