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I have laid up thy word in my heart.
Psalm 119:11a
Memorizing scripture once occupied a much larger place in church culture. The vintage Christian corners of the internet are chock full of a creative assortment of games and memory aids: Promise boxes filled with rainbow-colored cards; board games like Bible Baseball and Bible Tic Tac Toe; hand-stitched samplers and framed plaques; and stacks and stacks of Sunday School picture lesson cards with memory verses to recite the following week. It’s a rich heritage.
But what does it mean to say, “I have laid up thy word in my heart?”
The verb “laid up” reminds me of another verse about laying up treasures in heaven. So when I read this passage, I imagine my heart as a treasure box filled with something precious and beautiful, or in other circumstances, an emergency kit where I can reach for the thing that will help me survive.
We’re used to taking on spiritual disciplines during Lent, but there’s no reason our Advent preparations couldn’t include laying up a few more verses in our hearts. Something to carry with us no matter where we go. A comfort, a challenge, a reminder of promises made and obligations to carry out. I know I’ve still got plenty of space.
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