Write Scripture on Your Heart
Earlier this year, I was introduced to a song by Leanna Crawford called, “Still Waters.” If you have not heard it before, I highly recommend it. The lyrics follow the rhythm and promise of Psalm 23, reminding the listener of God’s steadfast presence in still waters and dark valleys.
One specific lyric continues to capture my imagination. In the first verse, Crawford sings about her Great Aunt Maurine who told her to “write scripture on your heart for when you need it.” Her advice is not about memorizing scripture to impress others or to pass a test. It is about filling your head and heart with hopefilled words so that when adversity comes, God’s voice is louder than the worry and fear. Or as the song says, “Anxiety hates Psalm 23. So just say it to yourself ‘till you believe it.”
In the book of Deuteronomy, God commands the people to “Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart. Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise. Bind them as a sign on your hand, fix them as an emblem on your forehead, and write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates” (Deuteronomy 6:6-9).
In historic and modern Judaism, this command is practiced through the use of small, black leather boxes called tefillin. These boxes contain small pieces of parchment with scripture carefully written on them. Faithful Jews strap the simple boxes to their arms or foreheads as a physical reminder of God’s command to “bind these words” to yourself.
Many contemporary Christians adorn their homes with scripture and memorize verses for comfort and conviction. This act of faithfulness is not about impressing others or passing a test. It is about letting God’s Word take up permanent residence in your head and heart. Lately I’ve been thinking about the scripture written on my own heart, and two distinct verses come to mind.
Philippians 1:6 - “I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.” These hope-filled words were part of a song I learned the first summer I worked at an adventure camp in Wisconsin. After two weeks of wilderness training, our camp director simply said he had taught us all he could and now God would carry us through. When I canoed across the lake with a group of twelve-year-old girls to sleep under the stars and cook meals over a campfire, this text was just a little louder than my anxious thoughts. I found myself humming the tune as the words ran through my head, “I’ve got confidence, the Lord’s gonna see me through. Whatever the case may be, the Lord’s gonna shelter me.” When faced with new challenges and the ordinary struggles of being human, I still hum this tune as the words run through my head.
Psalm 46:10 - “Be still and know that I am God.” One of my faith mentors adds a little extra to the text. She says, “Know that God is God… and you are not.” This humbling reminder puts life into perspective. When I seek to control or comprehend things beyond my capacity. When I feel overwhelmed by the chaos in our world. When I drift into busyness to earn my worthiness. I hear God say - in the sweet voice of my 70-year-old mentor – “Be still. I’ve got this.”
What scripture is written on your heart? Do you believe it?