Memory

The memory is such a strange thing. It seems that every time you don't want to remember something you can't get it out of your head but if you really want to memorize something or remember it you can't! I want to memorize the Bible more but it's tough. You really have to work at it. I am involved in a Bible study with a friend and we decided to start memorizing a verse per week but it doesn't seem like enough to me. Even that one verse is hard to get in there unless you make memorization a priority. We decided to start by memorizing Psalm 34:15 and 17 (ok I know its two verses but you get the idea!). Then last night I was reading those verses and decided to read the rest of the Psalm just for contexts sake when I realized what an amazing Psalm it is! So I committed to memorizing all of this amazing Psalm. Check it out:

Psalm 34

A Psalm of David when he pretended madness before Abimelech, who drove him away, and he departed.

1 I will bless the LORD at all times;
His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul shall make its boast in the LORD;
The humble shall hear of it and be glad.
3 Oh, magnify the LORD with me,
And let us exalt His name together.

4 I sought the LORD, and He heard me,
And delivered me from all my fears.
5 They looked to Him and were radiant,
And their faces were not ashamed.
6 This poor man cried out, and the LORD heard him,
And saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him,
And delivers them.

8 Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good;
Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!
9 Oh, fear the LORD, you His saints!
There is no want to those who fear Him.
10 The young lions lack and suffer hunger;
But those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing.

11 Come, you children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
12 Who is the man who desires life,
And loves many days, that he may see good?
13 Keep your tongue from evil,
And your lips from speaking deceit.
14 Depart from evil and do good;
Seek peace and pursue it.

15 The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous,
And His ears are open to their cry.
16 The face of the LORD is against those who do evil,
To cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.

17 The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears,
And delivers them out of all their troubles.
18 The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart,
And saves such as have a contrite spirit.

19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
But the LORD delivers him out of them all.
20 He guards all his bones;
Not one of them is broken.
21 Evil shall slay the wicked,
And those who hate the righteous shall be condemned.
22 The LORD redeems the soul of His servants,
And none of those who trust in Him shall be condemned.

The statements in bold are just a few of the ones that struck me as I read this Psalm. I came away from this reading very thankful that I am a child of God. He makes pretty amazing promises to his people and it makes me realize that I do not give God the place that He deserves in my life.

There are many promises in the Bible that relate to knowing the word of God and they include such things as long life, wisdom, understanding, and many other blessings. Many passages emphasize how important it is to know God in a deep personal way and what better way is there to know God then to study His word. I need to make His word a greater priority in my life and if I do that the rest of my life will fall in line with God's plan.

I challenge you to evaluate the place that God's word has in your life and try to commit more of it to memory every day.