“I have stored up your word in my heart,
that I might not sin against you.”
– Psalm 119:11
Are you struggling to kill off a particular sin that seems to keep tripping you up? Is there some temptation you really can’t seem to get out of your mind? Do you really want it gone? If so, then what’s your relationship with God’s Word? Are you reading a meaningful amount of Scripture every day? Are you systematically making your way through the Bible? Are you making time to think about what you read, what it proclaims about God and Jesus, and how it applies to you? Are you memorizing Scripture that will help you in your battle against temptation and sin?
The reality is that we can’t just choose to stop thinking about something we don’t want to think about anymore. That just makes us think about it more! We must actively replace whatever we hate thinking about with something else. The Bible tells us to set our thoughts on the good things of God so they will squeeze out all the thoughts about darkness and temptation. For that to happen, we must be soaking our souls in God’s Word!
As we marinate in God’s Word, we’re filled with thoughts about God’s glory, Christ’s love, and the Spirit’s power. We’re clarified and reinforced about God’s standards, His holiness, and His call for us to be holy like Him. Intentionally fill yourself with God’s Word so that sinful desires will be crowded out and sin itself itself crucified in your heart. Make a point to memorize Scripture to have available in times of need. When Jesus was tempted by the devil, He didn’t ask the devil to wait a minute while He pulled out His Bible scrolls. No, Jesus recited Scripture from memory to fight the devil! You can too, it just requires discipline and effort. Don’t let that scare you off! It’s worth it. Store up God’s Word in your heart to protect you from temptation and sin. #FollowJesus