Hiding the Word: Paths

Along with regular Bible study “how-to” posts, like the one I wrote last week, I’m planning on each month posting a Hiding the Word writing. These posts will contain four Scriptures that we can memorize together during the month.

​When I was in high school, I participated in Bible quizzing, and would memorize many verses of Scripture. There were even a couple years when I memorized the entire book we were studying. Yes, the WHOLE BOOK. Word for word. Verse for verse. And I did well in competition.

Now, I lead an Awana club at my church. And each week I help five first and second graders learn Bible stories and memorize verses as they progress through their handbooks. The kids are always eager to memorize as many verses as they can, and earn a sticker for their name tag each time they complete a section.

Having grown up in the church, and helping with children’s ministry as an adult, I’ve seen firsthand the emphasis put on committing Scripture to memory. And I’m sure any of you who grew up going to church probably memorized a verse or two (or ten) as a kid.

But somewhere along the line of becoming an adult, the habit of memorizing Scripture gets laid aside. In the midst of all the business and responsibilities and “adulting”, the importance of and desire to commit verses of God’s Word to memory gets lost.

Lately, God has been convicting me that this importance and desire needs to once again be found, and the habit needs to once again be taken up as a priority. Because their is a reward much greater than trophies or stickers.

There is knowing God and His will. There is the abundant life of  living in relationship with Him and following His will. 

Psalm 119:9-16 says, “How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to Your Word. I seek You with all my heart; do not let me stray from Your commands. 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. I rejoice in following Your statutes as one rejoices in great riches. I meditate on Your precepts and consider Your ways. I delight in Your decrees; I will not neglect Your Word.”

Having God’s Word in our hearts and minds keeps us on the path of purity, the path of God’s will, following His way. And it is on this path that their is rejoicing and delight, like that brought by great riches. For God’s Word is the greatest treasure. (Psalm 19:10)

In these Hiding the Word posts, there will be four Scriptures, all on a certain theme or topic. There will be a Scripture of prayer, a precept (command or instructions on how to live), a promise, and a praise. 

Below are the Scriptures for the month of May. Spend time memorizing and meditating on these verses, letting their truth be hidden in your heart, so it may overflow in your life.

​Prayer:

​Precept:

​Promise:

​Praise:

Each of the images above can be downloaded and printed out, or saved as phone or desktop screens, so you can see them, learn them and be reminded of God’s truth in them.

​As you hide God's Word in your heart, may you be encouraged and come to know Him more.

The post Hiding the Word: Paths first appeared on The Overflowing
All Scriptures taken from the NIV, copyright 2011