Do you feel like you should have some scripture memorized? The should part of that sentence stares me down every time. I really believe it is a great thing to memorize scripture and it will hugely impact one’s faith, but I don’t think I’ve done a spec of memorization since I had to, in order to pass some Bible college courses. Does it still count as memorization if I forgot the verses immediately after reciting them to the prof?
I was challenged by a devotional recently to memorize a verse that God put on my heart. I love a good challenge so I went and selected this verse:
“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s” Psalm 103:2-5
My heart is drawn to this verse. I want to reread it over and over and let it sink in, so memorizing it makes sense. So far I have “Bless the Lord” down pat. It is going to take a lot of dedicated work to write this on my heart. I desperately want it to be there though, in my heart when I respond and react to life.
Often when I meditate on a scripture I choose one that challenges me and gives me something to aspire to. Because I am a challenger to the core (Enneagram anyone?) I tend to always be pushing myself and others onward and upward. Which is ok sometimes but I think I default away from trusting and remembering what God has been and is doing and praising Him.
This Psalm doesn’t promise that God will heal my diseases but praises a God who is powerful enough to do that. Powerful and loving enough to forgive our sins, to rescue us from eternity apart from that Love, and sustains us with what we need for the challenges of today.
And of course, I am challenging myself with this verse. It’s a challenge for me to praise instead of petition. It’s a challenge for me to accept God’s forgiveness for the very things I am trying to change about myself. It’s a challenge for me to accept His provision when I feel like I should be capable myself.
I want to remember God’s benefits to me and praise Him for them, because He is worthy of my praise. I want my life and voice to speak that praise and worship and attest to the good things He has done through what He challenges me to do.
It’s not my natural bend to praise so I am going to go through the work of writing the praise on my heart and put sticky notes with this verse on my bathroom mirror and wallet. Because all the praise is His and I want my heart to attest to that. Challenge accepted.
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