Memorization: November 23, 2009

TODAYS WORD FOR MONDAY NOVEMBER 23.

MEMORIZATION

Defined by Webster:
The mental capacity of retaining and reviving impressions; remembrance; recollection.

GODS WORD

“Your Word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against You.” Psalm 119:11

“Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Psalm 119:105.

WORDS FROM KEN AND DOTTIE

When our children were living at home we made it a practice for all of us to have dinner together every night as a family. We had very few exceptions over the more then 30 years. We felt as parents that this was an important need for several reasons. First it gave us time together every day with the family. By the way --- there was no TV on or text messages coming in. It was a family time without outside distractions.

Secondly, it kept the communication line open giving each of us the chance to talk about how our day went. Thirdly, each child had an opportunity to share their concerns and blessings with us. Fourthly, it gave us as parents a chance to listen so we could be sensitive to each child’s needs and concerns and respond to them before they became major problems.

Probably the most important reason for this practice was that it gave us time every night to read the Bible together and to pray together as a family. We could share prayer needs and hear about people that needed our prayers. Each one of us had our own circle of friends with some overlapping, but hearing prayer requests from each family member broadened our world of concern. We also each week had one verse from the Bible that together as a family we would memorize. These verses have stayed with us all down through the years. Memorizing God’s Word has been so important to the spiritual growth of our children and to us as well.

In the two verses we have listed above we can see the importance of memorizing God’s Word. The Psalmist reminds us to hide God’s Word in our heart so that we may not sin. Thus it helps us grow spiritually each day that we live. When we hide God’s Word in our heart, the scriptures memorized will be a constant reminder for us to walk as Jesus wants us to walk and His Word will guide us in that walk.

We have been in parts of the world where families did not have their own Bible so they shared one Bible with another family. There also are people in certain areas of our world that have asked for just one Bible for a whole village. When they received their Bible, they tore out a page for each family. They would keep that page for a set time and then trade with another person or family. While they had their one page they would memorize these pages so that they would always have hidden in their hearts the Word of God.

Having had this experience with our family and seeing illustrations of what we have shared above we have decided to add one verse from the Bible each week to these devotionals for us all to memorize together. These verses each week will be simple, short but meaningful. We hope you will join us in this new addition to our daily devotionals.

THIS WEEKS VERSE!

“YOUR WORD HAVE I HID IN MY HEART THAT I
MIGHT NOT SIN AGAINST YOU.” PSALM 119:11

TODAYS FAMILY PRAYER

Give our family a desire to memorize Your word. Help us to realize how blessed we are to have Your written Word so we can hide it in our hearts. Thank You for the assurance You give that by doing this it will help us not sin against You. As we, as a family, memorize Your Word allow it to make a difference in the way we live and the way we serve You.