The Vault of our Heart

I love The Message’s paraphrase of Psalms 119:11, which says, “I’ve banked your promises in the vault of my heart so I won’t sin myself bankrupt."

The government of Norway is now constructing an enormous “doomsday” vault in the Arctic for seeds in the event a global catastrophe wiped out the earth’s vegetation.   The vault is designed to stockpile as many as three million of seeds.  They will be packaged in foil and stored at cold temperatures.  Some researchers claim that the seeds will last hundreds of years.

Our minds are vaults especially designed to stockpile the seeds of God’s Word.  God’s Word is compared to a seed in Luke 8:11: “Now the parable is this: the seed is the word of God.”  Just like Norway has prepared themselves for times of trail by storing up seeds, so we must store up the seeds of God’s Word in our heart and mind.

We never know when we’ll face temptations or trails.  We don’t know when we’ll be bombarded by the lies of the evil one.  We can’t prepare for the persecution we will face.  Much as we like to put the thought aside, we don’t know how much longer the Bible will be allowed freely in this country.  We must use the resources that God has given us in this time of plenty to prepare for the time of drought.

We know that God’s Word is a priceless asset in those times of drought, doubt, and difficulty that we inevitably will face.  The Scriptures are the truth that we need; the encouragement that we can receive nowhere else; and the strength that comes only from God.

Corrie ten Boom memorized many passages as a youth, and these verses sustained her during her time at the concentration camp, when no Scripture was allowed.  Her father once said “Girl, don’t forget that every word you know by heart is a precious tool that [God] can use through you.”

Let us too lay up these seeds of God’s Word in our heart even today, not only to reap fruit in the present, but also in preparation for the future.  I can guarantee that you will never regret it.

What should you memorize?  Here are a few of the chapters I would suggest:

Matthew 5

Matthew 6

Matthew 7

Psalm 23

Romans 6

Romans 8

1 Peter 1

That should be enough to get you started.  :) Remember that even if you don’t seem to be reaping the benefits of these Scriptures in the immediate moment, they will reap benefits in the future. When you are doubting, remind yourself of the countless stories of the power of the Scriptures to sustain in the times of trails.  I remind myself of these truths, as well as you, knowing that the devil will try everything possible to keep us from memorizing Scripture. We must defeat him in his schemes.  Let us bank God’s promises in the vault of our heart.