Recently I was speaking with a more senior saint who was troubled because of an inability to remember things; in particular the inability to readily recall from memory the precious truth of God’s Word that had been hidden in his heart since youth. As we spoke there were fragments of verses, phrases and words that still had meaning but only one verse that he could still be quote from memory, John 3:16: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (KJV) I reassured him that he was holding on to the most precious truth of all and we prayed for him to rest in this truth. When I prayed for the Lord to lead him to the green pastures and quiet waters, he said, ‘O, that’s another one…The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. (Psalm 23:1 - KJV)
This experience has caused me to think, ‘what if I begin to lose those portions of the word I have held in my heart, what is it that I would hang on to as my source of truth’? If I had only two texts I could remember, what would I hold close to my heart when all else slips away?
There are several Scriptures that come to mind. The words of John 3:16 would be near the top of my list; almost everyone’s list. Or, I might recall the words of 1 Peter 3:18, which for me concisely captures the heart of the Gospel message: Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.
David’s 23rd psalm, particularly the first and last verses would certainly warrant consideration. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. (1) Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. (6)
I might find I hold the words of Titus 3:3-4 close to my heart because this is the text God used to draw me to Himself: When the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.
I might find my heart and mind retain the words of one of the first passages I memorized, Proverbs 3:5-6: Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Or I might cling to that which has been my life verse, 1 Corinthians 15:58: Stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourself fully to the work of the Lord, because you know your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
The words of Psalm 46:1 might make my list: God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Or maybe the words of Psalm 91:1-2: He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.
I might find the words I have often quoted, particularly in funeral settings are those words that say firmly in my heart and on my lips, John 14:1-3: Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.
Should the day come when all I can remember are just some simple truths, maybe for me I would hold to two such truths: Taste and see that the LORD is good (Psalm 34:8) and, Be still and know that I am God. (Psalm 46:10) I pray that I never lose the wonder of God’s goodness, nor the ability to find rest in Him alone.
I wonder, what text(s) would you hold close to your heart. I want to invite you to share those texts with one another. Use the response from on the blog page or email your verse(s) and I will post them so that others can be encouraged as we share with one another the Words of God.
This experience has caused me to think, ‘what if I begin to lose those portions of the word I have held in my heart, what is it that I would hang on to as my source of truth’? If I had only two texts I could remember, what would I hold close to my heart when all else slips away?
There are several Scriptures that come to mind. The words of John 3:16 would be near the top of my list; almost everyone’s list. Or, I might recall the words of 1 Peter 3:18, which for me concisely captures the heart of the Gospel message: Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.
David’s 23rd psalm, particularly the first and last verses would certainly warrant consideration. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. (1) Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. (6)
I might find I hold the words of Titus 3:3-4 close to my heart because this is the text God used to draw me to Himself: When the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.
I might find my heart and mind retain the words of one of the first passages I memorized, Proverbs 3:5-6: Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Or I might cling to that which has been my life verse, 1 Corinthians 15:58: Stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourself fully to the work of the Lord, because you know your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
The words of Psalm 46:1 might make my list: God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Or maybe the words of Psalm 91:1-2: He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.
I might find the words I have often quoted, particularly in funeral settings are those words that say firmly in my heart and on my lips, John 14:1-3: Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.
Should the day come when all I can remember are just some simple truths, maybe for me I would hold to two such truths: Taste and see that the LORD is good (Psalm 34:8) and, Be still and know that I am God. (Psalm 46:10) I pray that I never lose the wonder of God’s goodness, nor the ability to find rest in Him alone.
I wonder, what text(s) would you hold close to your heart. I want to invite you to share those texts with one another. Use the response from on the blog page or email your verse(s) and I will post them so that others can be encouraged as we share with one another the Words of God.
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