“…keep my words and store up my commands
within you. Keep my commands and you will live;
guard my teachings as the apple of your eye.
Bind them on your fingers; write them on the
tablet of your heart.” Pr.7:1-4
Throughout scripture we read the promise of life when we obey the Lord’s commands. Deuteronomy 30, holds this promise three times.
“The Lord will again delight in you and make you
prosperous…if you obey the Lord your God
and keep His commands.” Deut. 30:9-10
“love the Lord you God, to walk in His ways, and
to keep His commands, decrees and laws;
then you will live…” Deut.30:16
“I have set before you life and death,
blessings and curses. Now choose life,
so that you and your children may live.” Deut.30:19
Solomon tells his son to keep his teachings as the apple of his eye. When something is dear to us, whether good or bad, it becomes who we are; our very life. Let’s keep God’s words as the apple of our eye and store up His commands and promises within us so that His “word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart.” (Deut.30:14, Romans10:8) Also, so we can “always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope you have.” 1Peter3:15
The best way to write God’s word on the tablet of our heart is to read His word every day and yes, memorize scripture. I find this to be a tough one. Doable but tough, and a bit overwhelming! I mean, where do I start?!!
My New Years resolution is to memorize one verse or some section of scripture each month. So, by the end of the year, I will have 12 new things written on the tablet of my heart. Doesn’t sound too hard, right? Here’s my game plan! Feel free to join – I need motivation and accountability!
~ Set small goals. One verse a month! I can do this!
~Print out that verse and other verses. Tape them to areas I see regularly, then be intentional about reading them over and over.
~Hang a framed verse on the wall. Or update/add to the collections I already have in my home. Not only are these being written on my heart, but also on the hearts of my family! This thrills me!
~Practice the verses while driving. Chant it & do the head bang if it helps! 🙂
~Make up a tune for the verse & belt it out in the shower! …OK, maybe, that’s going a bit too far, but sounds fun to me! 🙂
Deuteronomy 30:20 says “For the Lord is your life”, and Colossians 3:4 reads of “Christ, who is your life.” Let’s keep Him as such by keeping Him as the apple of our eye, and continuously ‘storing up’ something new on the tablet of our heart!