Allow me to give you a glimpse of how I’ve been brushing my teeth for the last two years. It starts with a tube of Crest Scope & Whitening and ends with something even more important than cavity free trips to the dentist.
A couple of years ago, I bought a packet of Scripture Memory cards from the bookstore. Like so many other things, I had good intentions about how to use them. Yet, I’ll be honest. They sat unopened in the bottom of my purse for a while. When I rediscovered them I was a bit frustrated with myself and decided I needed a better way to use them more intentionally. I started brainstorming places/things I do each day consistently. Like you, brushing my teeth was one of them. I stuck the card on my bathroom mirror as a reminder that just as my morning and evening routine involves physical cleansing, my soul needs it all the more. I wouldn’t leave the house with morning breath or go to bed with the build up from the day stuck in my teeth, why would I care less about my heart’s equivalent?
Some verses were new, many were familiar to me. In fact, I was sometimes tempted to skip over verses like the one pictured above because it was something I thought I already knew. As I’ve learned, the purpose of Scripture Memory is so much deeper than merely being able to recite the right words, though. Sometimes the deepest and most profound truths are the ones we take for granted as “common place.” Those so fundamental to the hope we’ve been called to are often easy enough to rattle off, but the weight of those words are much bigger. For example here are some September thoughts I had during just one night of teeth brushing with Proverbs 3:5-6:
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
There is that first simple word–Trust. When I think about the sin I’m struggling with and the difficulties I’m facing, it really isn’t about an external action. It’s about a heart that’s unwilling to surrender completely. I’ll even take it a step further. My heart is unwilling to surrender because I’m believing things about God that simply aren’t true.
Case in point: That because He loves me and because He is Sovereign, I can trust Him with the things that are the most tender to my heart.
Do I believe this?
Do I believe that I can trust completely? That I don’t have to control because quite frankly…I’ve never been in control to begin with? That I don’t have to manipulate circumstances? That I don’t have to constantly strive? That I don’t have to worry?
Do I believe this? I do…but with an imperfect faith. I trust God with a faith that needs refining. If faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we don’t see (Hebrews 11:1) my unbelief is keeping me from being sure and certain. How do I know this? Because of the restless anxiety and worry that rise up when I contemplate some rather raw emotions and sensitive areas of my life. Because of the way that thoughts bombard me when I lay down to sleep at night. Because to the world, my exterior actions may look fine, but my thought life is really not (see restless anxiety and worry.) I need to hear these verses on repeat play.
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
This was just one conversation I had with myself while practicing good dental hygiene. A verse that on the surface looks simple but is far more complex when it comes to application. I didn’t even spend time meditating on the whole thing. That night, it was really only about one word–trust.
What I’m finding is that being intentional with this memory verse card is nothing like other memory protocols I’ve done before. I played the part of a good church girl for many years prior and honestly am grateful in ways for verses I memorized back then even if my motivation for memorizing them at the time was more about duty than application. But this is different…and so much better.
Instead of repeating and repeating so that I could recite with my mouth. I’m repeating and repeating so that I can recite with my heart. It’s actually been more like praying/focusing in on one thing and examining something small from many different angles.
Spending time with one little verse twice a day with your toothbrush really doesn’t sound like that big of a deal, but through it I’ve been convicted of sin, I’ve been given an accurate picture of who the God I love is, I’ve had my soul revived, I’ve had my mind refocused, I’ve had my heart encouraged. My teeth need cleaning…but my heart needs it more.
You can pick up your own 2012 packet of Scripture Memory Cards at The Crossing’s bookstore for a dollar, or download them here.
The precepts of the LORD are right,
rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the LORD is pure,
enlightening the eyes;
the fear of the LORD is clean,
enduring forever;
the rules of the LORD are true,
and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold,
even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey
and drippings of the honeycomb.
Moreover, by them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.
Psalm 19:8-11
