“And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.” – Deuteronomy 6:6
The words of God, the commandments and teachings of Scripture, have been written on many things over the centuries. They’ve been written on stone. They’ve been written on scrolls and parchments. In codices and books. They’re written in the Bibles in our homes. They’re written in bits and bytes on our devices and in the cloud. However, what’s most important to God is that they get written on our hearts.
Why? Because then His words change us. When God’s words move from media to mind, and print or screen to heart, then they correct us, convict us, comfort us, challenge us, and inspire us. Then we may actually try to live by them, repenting of those ways in which we fall short, and embracing the grace God teaches through His words. Are God’s words on your heart, today?
We write God’s words on our hearts when we read them or hear them AND then think about them. When we consider carefully what they mean. When we study them until their meaning is clear. When we take a few minutes to consider what we learn through them about God, Jesus, sin, mankind, or ourselves. When we reflect on what His words mean we should or shouldn’t do in response. We hold His words on our hearts when we take notes from our reading and listening. When we take time to memorize certain Scriptures that particularly stand out to us. When we pray through the words and let God’s Spirit guide those prayers. When we draw pictures, form illustrations, or find ways to explain His words with words of our own.
There are many ways to make sure God’s words are on your heart. Broadly, this is called meditating on Scripture. Anyone can do it and everyone should do it. Make sure God’s words are on your heart today! #FollowJesus