Growing up, I remember frequently hiding toys from my siblings to keep them from being stolen. My favorite toy was my American Girl doll named Claire. I memorized what she was dressed in, how her hair was fixed, and her exact position on the shelf so that I would notice if anyone else played with her. I was protective and over-bearing, to say the least.
I acted as my doll’s guard because I cared about her and wanted to keep her safe from others. One definition of guard is “to protect something against damage or harm.” Just as I tried to protect my doll from harm, God asks us to protect our hearts from sin.
Guarding Our Hearts
God, as our heavenly Father, wants to protect His children from damage or harm in this world. One way He does this is by calling believers to guard their hearts (Psalm 119:9-11). He knows that we are still susceptible to sin and the harm of others’ sin. We need to live differently from the world and to be set apart from those around us (Romans 12:2). If we don’t, we will find ourselves drifting towards the things of the world and in an ever-losing battle against sin.
So, how can we obey this command to guard our hearts? By treasuring God’s Word and seeking Him with our whole heart. One way to renew our minds is to memorize Scripture.
In college, I was involved in a campus ministry that encouraged their leaders to devote themselves to Scripture memorization. Though it took time and effort to memorize several verses, I got to see how God used the Scripture in my heart daily. Whether you are talking to a friend, encouraging a family member, or sharing the gospel with a stranger, Scripture memory comes in handy. God’s Word is true and profitable (2 Timothy 3:16).
Fighting with the Word
God has not left us to fight temptation alone. We are unable to defeat sin on our own. The good news is that Jesus has already defeated sin for us. In Christ, we have ultimate victory even though sinful temptation still exists in our lives on this side of eternity.
In Ephesians 6:17, we read that God calls His Word the “sword of the Spirit.” It is through the truth of God’s Word along with God’s Spirit and God’s people that we are able to fight against temptation and the schemes of Satan.
Fullness from God’s Word
One final reason to store God’s Word in our hearts is to better know the God who created us and enjoy Him to the fullest potential. God reveals Himself to us through His Word. As we meditate on His attributes, we become more familiar with His character. When we are familiar with God’s character, we are able to recognize how He’s moving in our lives and trust Him more readily. He is always at work, whether we can see it or not. He loves us and has a plan for us.
Friend, let us hold fast to God’s Word, not neglecting the truth He’s placed right in front of us. Hiding God’s Word in your heart will lead to a flourishing life with Him. Your Father loves you. He wants to protect you from sin and harm. He wants to keep your way pure. Lean into His nearness today.
