Power in the Word

Jordan McKinney

So recently I have been challenged to start memorizing Scripture. This was a conviction that I had after watching a YouTube video about how we as Christians can and should fight temptation and draw closer to God. Almost every point made had to do with knowing and using Scripture. I felt very convicted on this point because I feel like I have a general knowledge of Scripture, but not a precise knowledge. 

 I will give you an example of what I mean. I know, for instance, what the Bible generally says about salvation. I can reference Romans and the passage that generally says, “if you believe in your heart and confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord you will be saved,” but I don’t know the precise wording or the actual reference. I have grown accustomed to having a smart phone and being really good at Googling things. I can easily look up all of the passages that talk about salvation with just a quick search online.  

However, I felt like something was missing. So I have started a journey of memorizing passages of the Bible, starting in Romans 8 and working my way through the end of the book of Romans. I am very slow at memorizing passages, and it feels a bit like homework to me, but I have never experienced the word of God like this before. I feel like I am reflecting on the same few verses all day long and finding them applicable throughout my day. Really what it comes down to is the following passages of Scripture are so true!  

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. 
Hebrews 14:12-13 

How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, 
Nor stand in the path of sinners, 
Nor sit in the seat of scoffers! 
But his delight is in the law of the Lord, 
And in His law he meditates day and night. 
He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, 
Which yields its fruit in its season 
And its leaf does not wither; 
And in whatever he does, he prospers. 
Psalm 1:1-3 

What a difference meditating on His Word all day long has made in my life. I feel like it can make a huge difference in all of our lives if we take time to not just glance through a passage or two, but really look at His words. Let the Scripture penetrate deep into our hearts. Memorize passages so that they are at the forefront of our minds all day long. It can change us and renew our minds as we take each thought captive. We can be transformed by words of God.