June 2, 2026 – Daily Devotional
“Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates, so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth.” -Deuteronomy 11:18-21
Do you memorize scripture? I am so grateful that I was challenged early in my life to engage the Bible and memorize scriptures. Throughout my life, God has used these verses to encourage, inspire, challenge, and comfort me. There have been so many moments when I was seeking direction, and a scripture I had committed to memory helped me better understand how I should proceed.
When we commit to studying the scriptures and memorizing verses, we help to shape our understanding of the world around us. The Bible is the story of God’s gracious work in the world. As we read these powerful stories of faith, we are reminded that God is at work in our lives. God has a loving purpose for us, and that purpose is often revealed as we immerse ourselves in the practices of the faith, like studying the scriptures. (Romans 12:1-2)
Who we are and how we are to engage with the world around us are found in the teachings of the Bible. This is why the writer of Deuteronomy recorded the words, “Fix these words of mine in your hearts…” Deuteronomy contains the teaching for the people who were about to cross from the wilderness into the promised land. They would experience new cultures in a new land. They needed to know their story, God’s story. If not, they would be redefined by each new encounter instead of the powerful story or redemption they had experienced as God led them from captivity in Egypt.
Richard Foster, in his wonderful book, Celebration of Discipline, writes, “Therefore, we should rejoice that we are not left to our own devices but have been given this means of God’s grace for the changing of our inner spirit.” When we memorize scripture, we plant deep within us the gracious words of God who loves us and created us for a good purpose. God has also given us the gift of these ancient words that lead us into a blessed future.
I encourage you to add scripture memorization to your practice of the faith. God will use these verses to shape and lead you. When we face all of life’s possibilities, the word of God will bring light to the dark path before us. (Psalm 119:105)
-Rev. Keith King, Pastor of Worship
