Hey Sweet Friends,
I pray you are encouraged!!
I stopped a bit short of the 100 verses. 😊 If you would like more verses, please let me know in the comments.
Love and prayers…k💗🙏
What Does it Mean to Hide God’s Word in Your Heart?
“Thy word have I hid in my heart.” Psalm 119:11
The steps creak and the small desk light flickers on as I tap it on. The still quiet of the morning silence is broken only by the whir of coffee beans and the hissing of the kettle warming up. This time is set aside to sit down with God before the day starts. It didn’t always begin that early. It started by locking the bathroom door to snag five minutes of sanity for a momma with two littles clamoring for constant attention. Faithfully, day after day, God honored the minutes spent locked in that small space, running down the road at sunrise, and praying by the shore of the lake. All of the little moments are layered in the sedimentary foundations of a heart sold out to Christ. One small, obedient step at a time, God’s Word accumulated, hidden for moments of triumph, trial, and testimony. He doesn’t ask us to be perfect, only that we talk to Him. Like a mom hopes for her teenager to cuddle up and talk like the olden days of toddler life, God’s heart is moved when we make an effort to seek Him with all of ours.
What Does ‘Thy Word Have I Hid in My Heart’ Mean?
“So Moses wrote down this law and gave it to the Levitical priest, who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and to all the elders of Israel.” Deuteronomy 31:9
‘Thy word have I hid in my heart.’ God’s Word is meant to be placed at the center of our lives. He is our Rock, the firm and unchanging foundation we build our lives upon. The NIV Study Bible explains, “Ancient treaties specified that a copy of the treaty was to be placed before the gods at the religious centers of the nations involved. For Israel, that meant to place it in the ark of the covenant.” For New Testament Christ-followers, we have the Living God living in us through the Holy Spirit from Jesus Christ! This means through the daily disciplines of reading the Bible, prayer, and worship, we have the Holy Spirit to help us understand, remember, and apply God’s wisdom to our daily lives.
The Hebrew root of word designates God’s revelation. God’s Word reveals wisdom, understanding, and perspective that we would not have without His divine hand reaching into our hearts through the Bible. It becomes our foundation, and God builds upon our lives in layers of truth, conviction, instruction, encouragement, and love that flow from the supernatural power of the Scripture when we seek Him there. This habit, over a lifetime, allows us to develop the relationship with God we were meant to have and that He desires with us. His truth becomes a part of who we are and how and why we live our daily lives. “This way entails both treasuring (zealously guarding) God’s Word …in one’s heart as well as meditating on it (internalizing, memorizing it, pondering it over time, and considering how it applies to one’s situation),” the Moody Bible Commentary explains, “This should form a lifelong habit of hiding God’s word in his heart so as not to sin against the Lord.”
Created in His image, we were purposed to bring glory to God through our lives here on earth. The biggest expression of love of all time was God’s sacrifice of His Son Jesus on the cross. And Jesus, though He prayed and wept that there would be any other way, went willingly. Our sins are forgiven, and this line of communication and personal relationship between God and humanity is available through the acceptance of Jesus Christ. Our belief in Him ushers the Holy Spirit into our very souls, allowing us to hide and build upon God’s wisdom …within our very hearts and minds.
10 Practical Ways to Hide God’s Word in Our Hearts
“Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.” Proverbs 30:5
One of the junior high students in our youth ministry recently commented, “I want to read my Bible like you say daily, but I don’t understand it.” It’s a valid point, to which many of us relate. This particular student has been taught how to read the Bible, given a Student Study Bible and a Teen devotional book, but missing is the effort on her part to use those tools. There are podcasts we can listen to hands-free! There are many ways to get into the Word of God each day, to keep His truth top of mind and center of the heart. But, it doesn’t happen without the disciplined effort to open the app, the book, or journal and get quiet with God. Here are ten simple ways to hide God’s word in our hearts, daily.
1. Read the Bible. Set aside time. Start with five minutes, and prayerfully ask God to meet us there.
2. Journal. If it’s hard to focus, we can write a prayer to God each day before diving into Scripture.
3. Pray Scripture. If there is a particular issue we face, we can google Scriptures that apply to those issues. (Always read study Bible notes to make sure to understand the verse in context.) Then, we can write out those verses in prayer to God. Replace general terms with personal pronouns, because His Word is meant for each of us, individually.
4. Study Bible. Reading a study Bible can help define words and describe people, places, and events in the Bible to help us understand them better.
5. Jesus Cards. For a small investment, a box of cards that have Scriptures written on them can be used as bookmarks, placed in places we see often and serve as reminders of God’s Word laced into the everyday corners of our lives.
6. Devotional Books. Not to be used as a replacement to the Bible, but alongside can provide great perspective for the walk or stage of life we are in.
7. Podcasts. From short devotionals to entire sermons, podcasts are a great way to hide God’s Word in our hearts as we drive, work, and walk through our days.
8. Email subscriptions. Subscribe online to subscriptions that will send articles, prayers, devotionals, podcasts, and more right to our phones and computers. It helps us to remember God’s Word throughout the day, and often meets us where were are with a particular question, struggle, or piece of encouragement.
9. Worship Music. Music is a wonderful way to knit God’s Word on our hearts. So many songs are truths straight from Scripture put to a melody that easily becomes stuck in our minds and hidden in our hearts. They can become anthems for seasons we walk through with Jesus.
10. Books. Christian authors and publishers abound with books written about the content of the Bible, and how to apply it to our everyday lives.
What Are the Benefits of Hiding God’s Word in Your Heart?
“How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word.” Psalm 119:9
Purity in this context means, “free from all moral taint” (NIV). The Voice paraphrase reads: “How can a young person remain pure? Only by living according to Your word.” The truth of Scripture prepares us, whether we are in need of help or healing, or searching for the opportunity to share our faith, hiding God’s Word in our heart. The Bible tells us to guard our hearts because everything we do and say flows from it. The benefit of hiding God’s Word in our hearts is that we would have the self-control and grace-filled perspective to live and speak in a way that is Christ-centered and God-honoring. Hebrews 4:12 reminds us:
“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”
The Bible gives us the ability to discern what is right, the next step to take, and provides the comfort, encouragement, discipline, and conviction we need for our daily lives. When we are faithful to read it daily, through the power of the Holy Spirit, we are able to recall God’s truth when we need it! In hard moments, anxious tests, and opportunities to share the gospel truth with others. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 reads:
“All Scripture is God-breathed and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
Take all things to the Lord in prayer, and look for answers in His Word. “When we come to the Bible to hear from God, we don’t close our eyes, or shut our ears, or disengage our minds,” John Piper explains in his book Reading the Bible Supernaturally. “Rather, it is through these very natural means that God then miraculously, supernaturally opens our spiritual eyes (Ephesians 1:18), ears (Mark 4:9), and minds (1 Corinthians 2:14-16).” Hiding God’s word in our hearts allows us to see, hear, and understand through the heavenly perspective of God, whose ways are not our ways and thoughts are not our thoughts. We connect with the Author of our souls, the One who has knit unique purpose into our lives and cares for us more than any soul on earth ever could.
Thy Word Have I Hid in My Heart: A Prayer to Hide God’s Word in Our Hearts
Father,
You know us completely, God. Only when we make an effort to meet with you daily in prayer, worship, and Scripture can we be fully prepared for the day ahead, and a life that brings glory and honor to You. Father, we pray today for the power of the Holy Spirit to help us understand the Bible, as it applies to our lives each day. You promise that if we seek you with all of our hearts we will find you. You assure us the plans You have for us are good. Father, You are all-knowing and everywhere. You are goodness and love, justice and peace. You are our provider, reminder, teacher, and friend.
Abba, Father; Jesus, Messiah; Spirit, Counselor; One True and Triune God, glory to You in the highest. Show us more of You each day. Teach us, guide us, mold us and help us to hear You correctly and follow Your instruction and guidance faithfully. God, please loft Your voice over all the others that compete for our attention in life. Focus our hearts on You. Ground us in You, our firm foundation. It takes effort and discipline to read the Bible each day, God. We pray for the obedience to do it. May our lives be living witnesses of our Christ-centered steps.
In Jesus’ Name, we pray, Amen.
Faith in Jesus is more than a religion. It goes far beyond following rules and it isn’t at all about feeling bad for what we’ve done wrong past confessing our sin and embracing His forgiveness. Faith in Jesus, living a Christ-centered life, is walking with Him. Reading the Bible, hiding God’s Word in our hearts … is hiding Jesus in our hearts. He is the Living Word, there at the beginning with God, sitting as His right hand now, and has promised to come back again. The more time we spend in Scripture, the better we get to know Jesus, our Savior, Messiah, Son of God … and our Friend.
Author:
Meg Bucher
Sources:
NIV Study Bible, Copyright © 1985, 1995, 2002, 2008, 2011 by Zondervan
Moody Bible Commentary. Copyright 2014. Moody Publishers
Hey Sweet Campers,
Here is a list of the Bible verses we will use in the camp.
Please wait until the video on 7-30-2020 on JosephinesDesigns.com YouTube before you print.
Love and prayers,
k 🙂
2 Corinthians 12:9-11 NASB
9 And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast [a]about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 10 Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with [b]insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.
11 I have become foolish; you yourselves compelled me. Actually I should have been commended by you, for in no respect was I inferior to the [c]most eminent apostles, even though I am a nobody.
13 I can do all things [a]through Him who strengthens me.
3 He will be like a tree firmly planted by [a]streams of water,
Which yields its fruit in its season
And its [b]leaf does not wither;
And [c]in whatever he does, he prospers.
2 It will blossom profusely
And rejoice with rejoicing and shout of joy.
The glory of Lebanon will be given to it,
The majesty of Carmel and Sharon.
They will see the glory of the Lord,
The majesty of our God.
3 Encourage the [a]exhausted, and strengthen the [b]feeble.
4 Say to those with anxious heart,
“Take courage, fear not.
Behold, your God will come with vengeance;
The recompense of God will come,
But He will save you.”
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against [a]flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 14 Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 [b]in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18 [c]With all prayer and petition [d]pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, [e]be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, 19 and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in [f]chains; that [g]in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
11 Not that I speak [a]from want, for I have learned to be [b]content in whatever circumstances I am.
29 He gives strength to the weary,
And to him who lacks might He increases power.
2 “[a]The Lord is my strength and song,
And He has become my salvation;
This is my God, and I will praise Him;
My father’s God, and I will extol Him.
2 When [a]it was told to Jacob, “Behold, your son Joseph has come to you,” Israel [b]collected his strength and sat [c]up in the bed.
6 You know that I have served your father with all my strength.
8 “You shall therefore keep every commandment which I am commanding you today, so that you may be strong and go in and possess the land into which you are about to cross to possess it;
6 Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the Lord your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you.”
23 Then He commissioned Joshua the son of Nun, and said, “Be strong and courageous, for you shall bring the sons of Israel into the land which I swore to them, and I will be with you.”
7 Only be strong and very courageous; [a]be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may [b]have success wherever you go.
9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
9 “Nevertheless the righteous will hold to his way,
And he who has clean hands will grow stronger and stronger.
9 [a]The Lord also will be a stronghold for the oppressed,
A stronghold in times of trouble;
14 Wait for the Lord;
Be strong and let your heart take courage;
Yes, wait for the Lord.
2 Incline Your ear to me, rescue me quickly;
Be to me a rock of [a]strength,
A stronghold to save me.
24 Be strong and let your heart take courage,
All you who [a]hope in the Lord.
16 But as for me, I shall sing of Your strength;
Yes, I shall joyfully sing of Your lovingkindness in the morning,
For You have been my stronghold
And a refuge in the day of my distress.
17 She girds [a]herself with strength
And makes her arms strong.
6 Each one helps his neighbor
And says to his brother, “Be strong!”
13 Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.
9 For we rejoice when we ourselves are weak but you are strong; this we also pray for, [a]that you be made complete.
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.
2 You therefore, my [a]son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
14 I have written to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.
10 and on the vine were three branches. And as it was budding, its blossoms came out, and its clusters produced ripe grapes.
17 Though the fig tree should not blossom
And there be no [a]fruit on the vines,
Though the yield of the olive should fail
And the fields produce no food,
Though the flock should be cut off from the fold
And there be no cattle in the stalls,
18 Yet I will exult in the Lord,
I will rejoice in the God of my salvation.
19 The Lord [b]God is my strength,
And He has made my feet like hinds’ feet,
And makes me walk on my high places.
Work
23 Whatever you do, do your work [a]heartily, as for the Lord [b]rather than for men,
2 By the seventh day God completed His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done.
9 Let the labor be heavier on the men, and let them work at it so that they will pay no attention to false words.”
3 ‘For six days work may be done, but on the seventh day there is a sabbath of complete rest, a holy convocation. You shall not do any work; it is a sabbath to the Lord in all your dwellings.
11 “O Lord, bless his substance,
And accept the work of his hands;
Shatter the loins of those who rise up against him,
And those who hate him, so that they will not rise again.”
12 May the Lord reward your work, and your wages be full from the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to seek refuge.”
9 For all of them were trying to frighten us, [a]thinking, “[b]They will become discouraged with the work and it will not be done.” But now, O God, strengthen my hands.
3 When I [a]consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,
The moon and the stars, which You have [b]ordained;
2 He who walks with integrity, and works righteousness,
And speaks truth in his heart.
19 The heavens are telling of the glory of God;
And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands.
4 For the word of the Lord is upright,
And all His work is done in faithfulness.
9 Then all men [a]will fear,
And they [b]will declare the work of God,
And [c]will consider [d]what He has done.
18 Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel,
Who alone works wonders.
18 Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel,
Who alone works wonders.
8 There is no one like You among the gods, O Lord,
Nor are there any works like Yours.
17 Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us;
And [a]confirm for us the work of our hands;
Yes, [b]confirm the work of our hands.
31 Let the glory of the Lord endure forever;
Let the Lord be glad in His works;
3 [a]Splendid and majestic is His work,
And His righteousness endures forever.
9 The Lord is good to all,
And His mercies are over all His works.
3 [a]Commit your works to the Lord
And your plans will be established.
17 And the work of righteousness will be peace,
And the service of righteousness, quietness and [a]confidence forever.
34 Jesus *said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work.
29 Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.”
3 Jesus answered, “It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him.
28 [a]For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works [b]of the Law.
28 And we know that [a]God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
11 and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we commanded you,
Hi Sweet Friends,
Let us keep our mind on things above and not on the things of this earth!! (Col. 3:2)
Keep trusting Jesus….He loves you so very much!!
Hugs and prayers…k 🙂
Hey Sweet Friends,
Here is a lovely encouragment from Dr. Charles Stanley.
I pray you are encouraged.
Stay safe and keep serving God well,
k 🙂
Hammock? Check.
Lemonade? Check.
A good book? Check.
An afternoon all to yourself? Check.
Mix those four ingredients together and you have a recipe for a perfect summer afternoon. So why can’t you relax? Why is your mind racing a mile a minute, as usual? What seems to be missing? There is one more secret ingredient needed for this dish and it is often overlooked – a spirit at peace.
For many of us, pushing the pause button is easier said than done, even during the summer months when life should slow down a little, giving us a chance to catch our breath and relax. But just as physical rest is necessary for a healthy body, spiritual rest is important for our spiritual well-being. And the best way to rest your spirit is to rest in the One who created you.
The notion of resting is a theme woven throughout Scripture beginning … well, at the very beginning.
“On the seventh day God had finished His work of creation, so He rested from all His work.”
Even God took a day to rest after creating the world and it’s a lesson He intends for us to follow. Here are six verses you can focus on this summer – verses to remind you to rest in God and lean into Him so you can relax and fully enjoy the season.
“The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength.”
In God, we have all that we need. No matter what. He knows the “green meadows” and “peaceful streams” that will restore and renew each of us. And He promises to deliver. When we walk with Him, we can count on Him for complete rest and restoration.
“It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat: for God gives rest to His loved ones.”
Even with the best of intentions, we can easily slip back into the habit of counting on ourselves to meet our needs. We honor God with our work but not when it serves as a cover for our inability to trust in Him. Trusting in Him, while working and resting, is the key to renewal and refreshment.
“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life … your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”
In this passage, Jesus makes it clear that worrying about the future is a waste of time. Instead, He reminds us that our heavenly Father values us above all else and He will care for us just as He does the flowers of the fields and the birds of the air.
“Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
Responsibilities can be overwhelming but Jesus promises to help carry the load. And His shoulders are much bigger than ours! While He doesn’t promise a life without hard work and trials, He does promise to be our partner, participating with us and walking with us every step of the way.
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
In this passage, Paul provides some great advice – he suggests we turn our worries into prayers. When we stop worrying and start praying we will be filled with the complete peace and rest that only God can provide.
“I have told you these things so that, in Me, you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
The next time a restless spirit threatens to ruin a perfect summer day, stop and remind yourself that, in Jesus, the victory has already been won! God is in control, our destiny as believers is set, and things won’t fall apart when we pause to enjoy the beauty of the world around us.
Looking for tools to help you rest in His arms this season? Maybe set some time aside to journal every morning to relax, meditate and focus on God and His Word. Ever thought of Bible journaling? Take time to soak in His presence before bed every night with a 30-minute unwind session using Bible journaling supplies. Also, be sure to send your loved ones a Summertime Ecard to remind them to praise God for his beautiful creation during these sure-to-be glorious summer months.
Article creadit: Dayspring.com
Hello Sweet Friends,
A quick note to let you all know I am fine. I have had a bit of a health issue and need to rest. Many of you have messaged and emailed…thank you so very very much for your concern and prayers. This little hiccup is just requiring more rest than I had planned!! 😉
My hope was to be back today. I have rested today and hope to be back filming tomorrow.
I have posted many pictures of the gardens and things we have been doing in the last couple of months. Please feel free to go take a peek. https://www.instagram.com/josephinesdesigns/ God is so good!! 🙂
God has a plan and I am so thankful for all who have been so kind and helpful during these days!! We are as I say many times in my videos…”La Familia”. And all of your kind words and encouragements again let me know how true that is for our little YouTube channel family.
Please be safe and take good care of yourselves.
Keep serving the Lord well….hugs and prayers,
k 🙂
Hi Sweet Friends,
Dr. Evans knocks it out of the park again!!
Great encouragement for us all!!
Let’s praise the Lord!!!
Be safe!!
Love, hugs and prayers…k 🙂
Hi Sweet Friends,
I have been a bit busy with Spring gardens and home cleaning.
You all continue to be in my prayers!! I hope this encouragement on prayer bless you!!
Love, hugs and prayers,
k 🙂
Hi Dear Friends,
It is Palm Sunday.
A day that is different than any other Palm Sunday in my life.
A day full of stress and irritation is how it started here.
A day that I can choose to give in or move on…even though those around me at times are frustrating beyond all words. And yes, I can too be that person.
Who do I trust? God and God alone.
He is perfect and He is the answer in a time of not many answers.
How do you feel this day?
Who do you have your hope in?
Who do you trust?
May I encourage you as I seek the Lord to encourage me…
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Dr. Evans encouragement: Jeremiah 29:11
11 For I know the plans that I [a]have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.
Let us focus on the Lord as his world right now has given us less than hope….my hope is in the Lord!!!
Hope according to Dr. Evans: expectation about the future….
Jesus is my hope and my hope alone. Let us keep seeking Him…focus on Him and trust Him in our futures…our hope.
Be safe Sweet Friends, keep serving Him well!!
Love, prayers and hugs,
k
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