I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.

Psalm 119:11 The Living Bible

I have thought much about your words and stored them in my heart so that they would hold me back from sin.

Psalm 119:11 NIV

Today we will explore several ways in which we can ‘hide God’s word in our hearts.’

 Find what works for you and try them. Do it at a pace that works for you.

1.       Journal a verse.

From your Bible reading for the day or from an article/study you read, choose 1 verse to carry in your heart. Write it down in your journal. Use different fonts or colors to write it. This will help you learn the verse.

Today my verse is:

 Philippians 1:21a For me, to live is Christ.

As it has just 6 words, I wrote out the words after tracing out my hands; one word on each finger!

Here are some of my favorites: Jeremiah 29:11, Psalm 91:11, Psalm 34:1 and Exodus 14:14

 

2.       Memorizing Scripture.

Write each word of the verse on a card/piece of paper. Now, assemble the verse by laying the words in the correct order. You can even hang your verse on a clothesline using clothespins! Do not forget to include the reference for the verse. Children can do this as a word puzzle.

Try these verses: Psalm 23:5, Zephaniah 3:17, 1 John 4:8 and 2 Corinthians 12:10

 

3.       Share the verse.

Throughout the day, share the verse with friends, colleagues, and your family. Say it, text it, type it! When you meet friends for coffee, share your verse of the week and how you have hidden it in your heart.

This morning I texted Psalm 32:8 to Ruth, who shared the happy news that Haydn, her son, was accepted into medical school in London. As a mother, I knew she was very happy for her son, but was also worried how he would cope without her. This verse has helped me and I knew it would be a strength to her.

I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go.

I will counsel you and watch over you.

Psalm 32:8 NIV

 

4.       My kitchen, my cathedral.

If you spend a lot of time in the kitchen preparing meals, serving, and baking each day, you may want to put the verse on your backsplash, on the fridge, or like my friend Prissy, place it on the window sill to look at as you wash dishes. My sister in law, Bella, writes her verse on a small black board and keeps it in a place she can see it often.

 

5.       Draw it.

This is a fun way to learn verses. A friend of mine, Cathy, drew out a whole chapter using this method! You can read how to do this here.

6.       Sing it.

Set your verse to a familiar tune and sing it as you do your chores or as you walk, or if you are musically inclined, create your own tune and use the verse as lyrics

 

7.       Visualize it.

Use a pot of honey to remember Psalm 19:10, which compares the Bible to the sweetness of honey.

Use a box of tissues to learn 2 Corinthians 1:4, which talks of God comforting us.

Use a rag to learn Isaiah 64:6, which says that all our righteous acts are like filthy rags.

Keep a corner of your table or kitchen counter for this.

 

8.       Photograph it/ Paint it/Scrapbook it.

Recently, I was learning Hebrews 4:1 and the ‘promise of rest’ stood out to me. I looked through old magazines for pictures which remind me of ‘resting in Christ’. An anchored boat, a flickering candle, a cup of tea, a window seat overlooking the sea, and a rainbow were some of the images I found. I have them saved on my phone. I also shared them with friends and family.

 

9.       Pair it.

Learning 1 verse by clumping it with a similar verse is a good way to hold a verse in your heart.

John 3:16 and 1 John 3:16 both speak of God’s love.

Acts 17:28 and Philippians 1:21 talk of living for Christ.

 

10.   First or last.

The last verse of the Bible is a beautiful blessing.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

Revelation 22:21 The Living Bible

 

In the first verse of Psalm 27, David says, “The Lord is my light.”

What techniques have you found helpful to hide God’s Word in your heart? Let us know in the comments below!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

‘Blessed beyond measure’ and ‘Saved to serve’ are phrases which describe Shoba best. She loves sharing her experiences of growing up in a stable Christian home in India, working with God in mothering her now adult sons, moving countries in her 40s, yielding to God’s will even when it is hard and writing and leading Women’s Bible studies. She truly believes 2 Corinthians 9:8 that God’s grace abounds and because of that we can, as His children, abound in good works. Shoba enjoys coffee, long walks, time with friends and family and 2nd hand book shops (and handmade cards). Shoba lives with husband Ranjit in Auckland, New Zealand.