Your Daily Devotional for May 6, 2007

 

May 6,  2007

 

 

Hiding His Word in Our Hearts

by Dr. Paul Chappell

 

 

"Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.  With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes."

 

Psalm 119:9-12

 

 

As we have seen over the past few days, God desires for us to have joyful hearts that praise Him. We can develop hearts of true praise by spending time in God's Word. God wishes for us to not only read His Word, but to memorize it and hide it in our hearts. As we spend time memorizing and meditating on His Word, He will begin to work in our lives.

 

First, God will cleanse us as we hide His Word in our hearts. Sin hinders us from fully living for God, but God's Word shows us the sin in our lives so we may forsake it. James 4:8 says, "Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded." As we draw nigh unto God by hiding His Word in our hearts, He will purify and cleanse our hearts.

 

Someone once said, "What God chooses, He cleanses; what God cleanses, He molds; what

God molds, He fills; what God fills, He uses." If we wish for God to use us, we must hide His Word in our hearts and let it cleanse us. We must daily ask the Lord to cleanse us as we spend time with Him.

 

Second, God will protect us as we make Bible memorization a priority in our lives. In Matthew 4, we see the story of Jesus fasting and praying in the wilderness. When the devil came to tempt Him, Christ answered the devil with Scripture. Matthew 4:3-4 says, "And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God."

 

When Christ was tempted He immediately said, "It is written." He used the Bible to fight off the devil's attacks. If Christ felt it was necessary to memorize Scripture, we must as well! As we memorize His Word, He will give us protection from the devil's attacks.

 

Are you memorizing God's Word? Are you hiding His Word in your heart? When we meditate on God's Word through memorization, He is able to cleanse us and protect us as we live for Him. Ask God to help you hide His Word in your heart today.

 

 

 

Daily Bible Reading

1 Kings 21-22 • Luke 23:26-56

 

 

 

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