Daily Devotional

I have a multitude of pictures in albums, and on the walls of my home. I treasure these collections.  They represent memories; snap shots of important events, people, vacations. A few years ago, we had all these precious pictures put on to a back-up hard drive for safe keeping.

I have another collection of memories. For safe keeping—it is in my heart—my personal back-up hard drive. Let me explain. Throughout my life God has imprinted Scriptures into my heart during specific events. For example: Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” This verse became mine when I was getting ready for my first speech at College. I was so terribly shy and withdrawn—this seemed an impossible feat for me to accomplish with any shred of dignity. God used that verse to give me the courage to trust him. I did it!!

Another Scripture memory on the back-up hard drive of my heart is Isaiah 41:10, “Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” This verse was added to my collection in June 1976 when I got ready to go to my father’s funeral. He had died unexpectedly as a result of his job. As the Chief of Detectives of Santa Cruz County, he was highly respected for what he had accomplished and the kind of man he was. I knew there would be a lot of people at the funeral. Terrified, grief overwhelmed me. I took Isaiah 41:10 with me to the cemetery. As I stepped out of the car, I viewed a vast sea of uniformed officers and officials from California and beyond. They stood at attention with their eyes dripping with compassion. I will never, never forget those moments of God’s comfort and the comfort of all those people. My back-up hard drive keeps this memory safe. Every time I read this Scripture, I remember God was with me on that sad day in 1976.

I asked my husband yesterday what Scriptures are in his collection. He gave me Acts 13:36, Daniel 11:32, Colossians 3:1-4, Romans 8:28, Proverbs 1:7; 9:10, Galatians 2:20 and 1 Peter 1:7.

Do you have Scripture memories on the back-up hard drive of your heart? What are they? Share them with your family, your spouse, your children. Those treasured collections will support you through the rest of your life as you remember what God did during those significant moments.  

FOR PARENTS:
1. One of the primary reasons I recommend AWANA Club for kids, is due to its’ emphasis on Scripture memory. This truly prepares kids for the future ups and downs of life ahead of them.  Scripture memory builds the foundation for God to apply Scripture to specific events in their lives. This will grow their confidence in our Great God.
2. Share with your kids a special verse that God used in your life and why it is so important.
3. When your kids are facing a challenge or victory, help your kids select a Scripture and memorize it so they can attach it to that challenge or special event. Encourage them to start their collection of Scripture memories on the back-up hard drive of their hearts.
4. Write these Scriptures in a Journal for your kids. Be sure to write the event the Scripture is forever tied to.  
5. Another method: I often write alongside the Scripture in my Bible a brief note of the event and the date. Invite them to do this in their Bible…or do it for them.

New American Standard Bible (NASB)
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