Verse #8: Bind Them on the Tablet of your Heart

My son, 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.  Proverbs 7:1–3 (NIV2011)

I know of no more direct command to memorize Scripture than this one: write them on the table of your heart. If you would teach God’s people, teach from a heart that is full of God’s word. Bind His Word on your heart. Memorize Scripture.

Fifteen minutes a day can change your life. Fifteen minutes a day. If you have a smart phone, I recommend any of these apps:

• Scripture Typer https://scripturetyper.com/
• Verses http://getverses.com/
• Fighter Verses: http://fighterverses.com/

Of course, if you don’t have a smart phone, you can use index cards, or get the Navigators Topical Memory System, which includes small cards you can put in your purse or pocket. http://www.amazon.com/Topical-Memory-System-Navigators-ebook/dp/B00IDHWSFC/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1453307899&sr=1-1&keywords=topical+memory+system

Fifteen minutes a day with the app of your choice. Fifteen minutes a day with index cards. Or, fifteen minutes a day with the Topical Memory System will make all the difference. It won’t make a big difference today or tomorrow or next week. But, keep it up for a year and you will be amazed at the spiritual growth that will happen. You will worry less than you do. You will be more thankful than you are. You will be more joyful. You will teach better.

The word of God is alive and active. Once planted in you, it will change you.

However you do it, there is nothing that will drive steal into your soul like memorizing God’s Word. I would challenge every believer to a lifetime goal of committing to memory 100 Verses. If you need a little inspiration, check out this John Piper video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOkLP6VHtWk

Of course, Proverbs 7 is not the only passage that encourages us to memorize God’s Word. Here are a few more:

• Accept instruction from his mouth and lay up his words in your heart.  Job 22:22 (NIV2011)
• My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity.  Proverbs 3:1–2 (NIV2011)
• Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.   Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.   These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts.   Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.   Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.   Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.  Deuteronomy 6:4–9 (NIV2011)
• How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word.   I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands.   I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.  Psalm 119:9–11 (NIV2011)

What are you waiting for? Get started in the habit of Scripture memory today. Fifteen minutes a day can change your life forever.

If you don’t memorize scripture, you can never influence the people in your group to do so. Your life has a compounding effect on others. That is why the Bible say that not many of you should be teachers. Teachers are held to a higher standard because of their greater influence.

Encourage your group to memorize Scripture. Lead by example.