ODB- From head to heart

My childhood piano teacher was a stickler for memorization. Being able to play a piece without error was not enough. I had to play several pieces flawlessly by memory. Her reasoning was this: She didn’t want her students to say, when asked to play, “I’m sorry, I don’t have my music with me.”

As a child, I also memorized Bible passages, including Psalm 119:11. Due to my limited understanding, I believed that simple memorization would keep me from sin. I worked hard at memorizing verses, and I even won a Moody Bible Story Book as an award.

Although memorizing the Bible is a good habit to develop, it’s not theact of memorizing that keeps us from sin. As I learned soon after my winning efforts, having the words of Scripture in my head made little difference in my behavior. In fact, instead of victory over sin, knowledge alone generated feelings of guilt.

Eventually I realized that the Word of God had to spread through my whole being. I needed to internalize Scripture, to hide it “in my heart” the way a musician does a piece of music. I had to live the Bible as well as I could quote it. As God’s Word spreads from our heads to our hearts, sin loses its power over us.

O Lord, my God, may Your Word become so
much a part of me that obedience comes
naturally and cheerfully from my heart.
Change me andmold me into Your image.

Let God’s Word fill your memory, rule your heart,
and guide your life.

In our church back in our province, we are obligated to memorize verse and site it during prayer meetings, Sunday service, and Sunday night. I feel frustrated whenever I cannot memorize exactly the words per verse, more frustrating when I am just memorizing during the service meaning I am not prepared. :(

Memorizing the verse means a lot to us Christians. It doesn't mean that it is ONLY an OBLIGATION but this is more. This is what will guide you and remind you whenever you are in struggle and whenever we don't have our bible in hand. 

Had you ever watch the The Book of Eli? It is a story in the future that a man who was blinded carries the bible and everyone is chasing him because of the book. But in  the end, the book was rewritten even though it was stolen because the blind man memorized the Bible! it was great story! 

Yes It is not just memorizing the verse but we need to keep it in our hearts. Because the heart will never forget what you had planted. :)