Several years ago I picked up an all-weather jacket at a local thrift shop. The coat was in great condition. Before washing it, however, I went through all the pockets to make certain the previous owner hadn’t left anything behind. The search yielded a five-dollar bill tucked away in an inside zippered pocket. Since I had only paid two dollars for the jacket, my thrift-shop purchase had netted a 150 percent profit.
Like the money tucked into the pocket of my jacket, God’s Word hidden in your heart can net an enormous return on investment. But how exactly do you hide his Word? One way is through simple memorization. If you’re like me, however, you might find that a challenge. I recall how amazed I was to learn that a friend had committed entire books of the Bible to memory while I struggled to memorize one short psalm. Once, I made the mistake of remarking to an elderly woman that I was too old to memorize Scripture. “Nonsense!” she shot back. “I didn’t start memorizing Bible passages until I was sixty-five!” Since she knew an awful lot of them by heart, my handy excuse was quickly demolished.
Surely, even the least mnemonically gifted among us (that’s me) can memorize a few Scripture passages. Here are a couple from Psalms to get you started. Think of them as little bullet prayers to put in your arsenal. Commit them to memory, and then start shooting them whenever you feel assailed by anxious, doubting thoughts.
The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. (28:7)
RecommendedMany sorrows come to the wicked, but unfailing love surrounds those who trust the Lord. (32:10)
If you stock your heart with the Word of God, you will find yourself netting great dividends, both now and in the future, helping you to experience more of his peace.
