Prov 2:1-5
My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, 2 turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, 3 and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, 4 and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, 5 then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.
If You:
- Accept and store the Word of God in your heart
- Listen to wisdom and apply it to living your life
- Seek godly insight and understanding with zealousness like searching for treasure
Then you will comprehend the magnitude of God's grace and grow in spirit according to His ways.
As I began memorizing Scripture some years ago, it felt a little like high school when I memorized dates and facts, names and information, numbers and formulas. "What's the point?" I'd often say. "Why do I need to know all this stuff?"
From the moment I became a Christian I hungered to know all I could know about God, about Jesus, the relationship of the trinity, and how it all worked in my life. It didn't thrill me to memorize Scripture but I did it because my mentors told me to, never questioning how, when or even if I would ever use it in my life.
Then I hurt my back. The first time I recalled any of that memorized Scripture was laying in an MRI tube for what seemed like hours (it was probably all of 15 minutes) in terror with searing pain shooting down my legs. As tears ran down the sides of my face, I began to pray the 23rd Psalm, over and over. Then suddenly the machine clunked for the last time and I was gliding out into the bright room again. I had remained motionless as instructed and survived the grueling scans.
The next time I recalled Scripture was after a ten hour back surgery when I awoke in agony, unable to move my right ankle and left thigh. At first I could think of nothing but spending the rest of my life in a wheelchair. Again I found myself in the grip of fear. Out of my darkness, I heard a soft voice inside my head utter familiar phrases, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things. Be still and know that I am God. For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your good, to give you hope and a future. He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it. He will never leave nor forsake you."
There have been many other times when the word of God flooded my mind and heart when in pain or fearful, or praying and encouraging someone else.
The beginning of wisdom is fear of the Lord. The next step is to get to know His word, store it in our hearts and live according to His precepts. Not only does God's word guide us in paths of righteousness, Scripture comforts, strengthens and encourages us.
As we live our lives steeped in God's word, we begin to truly worship Him in awe because now we see how magnificent He really is, what power He has, how deep is His love, and how infinite His mercy.
Holy Father, we stand in awe of how perfect Your plans, Your attention to every detail. How foolish we've been to try to function without You, to think we could know what we're doing without the playbook. Thank You for showing us the way, for forgiving us our blunders and for steering us back onto the path when we fall short. May we delve deep into Your Word, store it in our hearts and minds, and call it into play in the hour of need. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.
