In the past few months, I have felt convicted about the need to teach my little ones to hide God's Word in their hearts. And I can't ask them to memorize verses when I don't. I've read the Bible several times through and I know the verses, but I really only have a very few that are memorized.

Currently, when I'm in a situation and a verse might come in handy, I end up thinking, "There's that verse about this… Now how does it go…." And then I have to dig through my Bible to find it (if one is handy) or rely on my memory for a paraphrased-by-me version which is not the most reliable or accurate method for sharing the Word of God.

So, I've been trying to get my act together and start memorizing. Which I really like to do, but I have a terrible memory, so it's a bit of a struggle. But I want to, because I love knowing that no matter what happens to me or my Bible, I'll always have God's Word written in my heart, because I want my kids to know God's Word and carry it with them for the same reason, and because I want to set an example for them.

However, this whole process brought me to another question which has been on the back of my mind for several years, but which I've managed to ignore until now…. Which translation should I use?? But I'll save that for later.

Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. - Psalm 119.11 (KJV)

And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. -Deuteronomy 6.6-9 (NKJV)

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Posted by heatherdmc

Absolutely! I did in fact today dig out my 8x10 printouts of attitudes and scripture verses. Along the side is the negative attitude, the top is the positive attitude with definition of latter. Then it has a verse that goes with it exactly. I too need to keep those words on my tongue and be prepared to say them. Thanks so much for this post.

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Posted by Anonymous

This is Shelby (treasurekeeper) from homeschoolblogger :). Have you ever heard the "Hide'em In Your Heart" CD's? They are really great for helping really little ones with memorization! I have learned though that it takes a little more practice to remember the references because they aren't repeated as often as the verse itself.
By the way, I loved your post about the refridgerator door falling off :). Life is sometimes stranger than fiction :). I once had a steering wheel fall off in my hand :). Not the "really important" part, just the part that makes it easy to steer...talk about a shocker :)!
You have such cute little ones :)!

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Posted by Jonash2004

This might not be what you want to hear, but I've seen breakdowns of the different versions, but the KJV consistantly has fewer syllables than the NASB and the NIV. A moderate example would be the first part of Matt. 26:14 - "Keep watching and praying" (6) vs "Watch and pray"(3). I find this hilarious, personally. Check out the same chapter, verse 59: "in order that they might" replaces the word "to".
(ROFL!) It's tough for dh n me because all of the verses he's memorised are in various versions. Sometimes he quotes a verse and I'm like, "It says THAT?" Usually, he gives me a "rough" quote of the verse and we joke that it's probably word-for-word in one version or another.
I've heard that if a church program offered $50 per verse memorized, most people's memorization problems would dissapear. (I have two brothers that "can't" memorize, but I think that would help even them!)
It's worth it, though I don't as much as I should . . .
:D

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