Having God’s Word hidden in our hearts is a powerful concept presented in Psalm 119:11 – “I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” But what does this really mean and how can we achieve it?
Here are some key points to understand about hiding God’s Word in our hearts:
It involves treasuring Scripture
The psalmist says he has “stored up” God’s Word in his heart. This implies valuing Scripture, cherishing it like a priceless treasure. We hide something valuable where no one can take it from us. When we treasure God’s Word, we will prioritize reading, studying, and memorizing it.
It requires diligent meditation
Hiding God’s Word in our hearts doesn’t happen by accident. It requires intentionally meditating on Scripture, thinking deeply about its meaning, application, and commiting it to memory. As Joshua 1:8 says, we should meditate on God’s Word day and night.
It’s aided by memorization
A key way to have God’s Word hidden in our hearts is by memorizing Bible verses and passages. As we commit Scripture to memory, we are ingraining God’s truth into our minds and hearts. Psalm 119:11 shows the connection between treasuring God’s Word and memorizing it.
It prevents sin
The psalmist says storing up God’s Word enables him not to sin against God. As we meditate on and memorize Scripture, it renews our minds and changes our thinking. God’s truth replaces lies and guards us against temptation and sinful desires. It keeps us on the right path.
It requires constant review and renewal
Having God’s Word hidden in our hearts is not a one-time deal. Our minds tend to be leaky vessels that can forget. We need to continually review verses and passages we’ve memorized and re-ingrain God’s truth into our hearts. It’s a lifelong process.
It involves obedience and application
It’s not enough to just read, study, or memorize Scripture. We hide God’s Word in our hearts by applying and obeying it. As James 1:22 says, we must be doers of the Word. Obedience is key to engrafting it into our hearts.
It leads to blessings
Hiding God’s Word in our hearts stores up spiritual blessings for us. As the Psalms reveal, it leads to stability, guidance, wisdom, joy and more. It fills our hearts with good things rather than what defiles us.
Here are some practical tips for hiding God’s Word in your heart:
Set aside regular time to read the Bible
This may seem obvious, but it’s vital. Allot time each day to read and study God’s Word. Treat it as precious nourishment for your soul. Start with reasonable goals for Bible reading you can maintain.
Study with pen and journal in hand
Engage and interact with Scripture as you read. Underline key verses, write down meaningful passages, record questions and insights. Actively dig into God’s Word.
Memorize strategically
Don’t just randomly memorize verses. Focus on passages addressing an area of need or growth in your life. Also memorize foundational verses like John 3:16. Review regularly.
Meditate and reflect on what you read
Don’t just rush through your Bible reading. Pause and ponder passages. Ask yourself questions like: What is God saying here? How does this apply to my life? How is this motivating and changing me?
Put verses to music
Remember and internalize Scripture by singing or listening to songs with verses in the lyrics. Music is a powerful memory aid.
Quote verses throughout your day
As you memorize Bible verses and passages, quote them to yourself aloud during the day – while driving, doing chores, etc. This repetition ingrains them into your heart.
Visualize verses
As you read Scripture, create mental images and pictures of what you’re reading. Visualizing key verses and events will help cement them in your mind.
Write verses by hand
Physically writing out verses and passages will help with memory. You can recite verses as you write them or write verses on index cards to carry with you.
Share verses with others
Speaking Scripture aloud reinforces it in your mind and heart. Share meaningful verses, passages and insights with others to help ingrain God’s Word into your heart.
Focus on application and obedience
Ask yourself, “How does this verse apply to my life? What do I need to change or do differently?” Put what you read into practice. Obedience indicates true heart change.
In summary, hiding God’s Word in our hearts requires treasuring it, meditating on it, memorizing it, reviewing it, obeying it, and more. As we apply these practices, Scripture takes deeper root in us, transforming our minds and lives. The blessings are infinite for those who treasure God’s Word within.
Let’s look at some key verses on this topic:
Psalm 119:11
“I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.”
Joshua 1:8
“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”
Psalm 119:15-16
“I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways. I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word.”
Psalm 1:2-3
“But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.”
Psalm 119:9-11
“How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.”
James 1:22
“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”
In conclusion, hiding God’s Word deeply in our hearts through treasuring, meditating, memorizing, and applying Scripture transforms our minds and lives. Though it takes commitment and diligence, the eternal rewards are infinitely worth it. There is simply no substitute for ingesting and digesting the nourishing words of life found in God’s Word and allowing them to permeate our innermost being.