Day Two

Welcome to day 2! Don't think of it as 28 days to go...but that you've gotten up for 2 days in a row, and that you're on your way to developing a habit that will reap a lifetime of spiritual intimacy with your Lord! (OK, so I'm a "glass is half full" kind of guy).

I hope that you heard the Lord say something to you yesterday from your Bible reading. Feel free to comment on here and share with others what the Lord said to YOU.

This morning, we are going to start some scripture memorization.

Why is it important to memorize scripture? Well, the psalmist says "I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you" (Ps. 119:11). So, one reason is that if we have scripture in our heart and mind, it can keep us from giving in to temptation. After all, when Jesus was tempted by Satan in the desert, how did He resist those various temptation? Go read the story (Matthew 4, Mark 1, and Luke 4)....Jesus quoted scripture! Another reason, is that God's Word provides incredible guidance and direction in life. Psalm 119 says "Your Word is a lamp to my feet, and a light for my path" (v. 105). If His Word is embedded into our memory banks, we'll have that guidance and direction ready for any situation (including those situations where others need to hear wisdom from God - we'll have scripture ready to give to them). Finally, God's Word comforts and encourages us to live lives that worship and glorify our great King. How awesome to have those principles ingrained into our heart and mind so that we can be re-focused to God's agenda any time, any place!?

There are two primary kinds of scripture memory. The first is to memorize specific verses that contain specific truths/principles for specific situations. I call this topical scripture memory, and the very best resource I have ever used or seen to help with this kind of scripture memory is The Topical Memory System. Through this system, you'll memorize 60 verses, organized and categorized by topic so that you can remember them whenever relevant situations arise in your life. Its available in most Christian Bookstores, or online at CBD. (click here).

Another kind of scripture memory is where you just memorize an entire passage of scripture. This is harder because it usually includes larger portions of scripture; however, it probably more closely resembles how the early church memorized scripture as much of Biblical teaching was transferred primarily via verbal transmission (in other words, they memorized the gospel accounts and Paul's letters and such, and would recite them to one another).

For the next couple of weeks, we're going to be memorizing Psalm 1. If you are doing this at home, follow these simple steps at home this morning, before you start your Quiet Time.....

1. Read Psalm 1 several times - read it out loud too. There's something about hearing the spoken Word...makes it more real. Read it through slowly, pausing after each natural break in the verse.

1 Blessed is the man
who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked
or stand in the way of sinners
or sit in the seat of mockers.
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither.
Whatever he does prospers.
4 Not so the wicked!
They are like chaff
that the wind blows away.
5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
6 For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish.


2. Meditate (more on meditation later, but for now, it's simply thinking intently about God's Word - not eastern meditation where you empty your mind...but Biblical meditation where you FILL YOUR MIND with God's Word) - meditate on each phrase of verses 1 and 2 (that's all for today). Ask the Lord what each phrase means. Try to picture a mental image of what each phrase is saying. How does this meaning make you feel?

3. Write out verses one and two on a 3x5 card - I find it helpful to actually write the verse out. Some people like to use pre-printed cards or computers, but again, there's something about actually writing the words of scripture out. To help me memorize it, I'll often write a verse out several times....aids greatly in memory retention!

4. Review these verses over the next few weeks.

OK, now we're ready for today's devotional. Remember, the point here is to listen to what the Lord wants to say to "you" on "this" day.

Follow the P.R.A.Y. acrostic, and go through Acts 5:1-16.

May the Lord meet you, right there....right now! See ya tomorrow!