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Hide and Seek with the Word

November 1, 2017 by Sheri

For years, I’ve tried to convince myself that I’ll memorize Scripture. When I get time. Next week. I’ll print out a Psalm and memorize it.

The weeks went by, and the one Psalm I memorized was forgotten. I can’t understand how I memorized pages of poetry in high school and delighted to recite it to myself while I walked or crocheted or when my mind wandered in church. Why can’t it be the same with Bible passages?

Frustration mounted. I wondered, what is the point of trying to hide His Word in my heart? So far, it seemed to be hiding from me, not in me.

I overcame the frustration again last week, and opened my Bible to Isaiah 35. A beautiful passage about the desert blossoming, the lame walking, God Himself coming to save us. I thought, surely I can memorize this like a poem.

I read the first verse, and this thought came to me.

Memorizing is not about reciting Scripture. It’s about dwelling in the Word and letting God use it to teach me. The Psalmist writes in Psalm 119:11-12, “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Blessed art thou, O Lord: teach me thy statutes.”

My frustration died as I realized God doesn’t need me to be able to quote verbatim every passage of Scripture I ever memorize. Some people may be able to do that, but I doubt I will in this life. For me, memorizing God’s Word allows me to soak it into my heart, where it can guide me. Once it’s there, God can bring it back to me when I need it—both to keep me from sinning against Him and to share with others.

My thirsty heart, like the parched ground in Isaiah 35:7, “shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water.”

Have you been frustrated by memorizing Scripture before? Do you know a way to memorize that works well for you? I’d love to hear about it. Please share in the comments below.

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About Sheri

Here Goes Something New!

Hi, I'm Sheri Yutzy. I love forests under the night sky, trying new foods, and drinking Irish tea.
I'm married to a musician who looks good in black, mama to two toddlers who love to eat, and happy resident of a Cape Cod cottage in Ohio.
I write YA fantasy and am acquisitions editor at sparkflashfiction.com.
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One thing I love about Ohio yards: no matter where One thing I love about Ohio yards: no matter where I go, I can always find a little patch of whimsical greenery somewhere that whispers spring is here. My yard right now is strewn with little branches and dried plants from the flowerbeds and old, brown leaves. But soon the grass will grow tall and we’ll gather the branches and everything will be lush and green again.
Fairy tales always seem like a spring thing. The curses end in spring, the eggs hatch in spring, the weddings happen in spring. But I love to see the magic woven into each season, each so different, preparing the earth for the next phase.

What whimsically green corners have you found this week?

#whimsicalwednesday #sheriyutzy #whimsicalgreen #whimsicalcottage #whimsicalspring #whimsicalgarden #yafantasyauthor #hanschristianandersen #bestlovedfairytales #fairytales #springfairytale #magicalspring #magicalcottage #booksoutside #slowliving #changingseasons #marchgreens
🌿✨🌿 Enough words in the world Enough bulbs 🌿✨🌿
Enough words in the world
Enough bulbs budding 
And stretching their hearty arms
Like solid poems, fragrant poems
The world outside is living poetry.
🌿✨🌿

#twentywordtuesday #poetsofinstagram #springpoetry #ednastvincentmillay #springinthegarden #poetryoutside #moodycottage #sheriyutzy #shortpoems
Mondays do odd things for me as an introvert. (By Mondays do odd things for me as an introvert. (By introvert I mean I need solitude to recharge.) 
🌿🌿🌿
Here’s what I mean. By the end of every week I’m ready to see my people, engage in my church community. And by the end of Sunday? I’m ready to be alone again. My kids usually are too, so they spend Monday playing pretend together and I lurk around catching up on housework, reading a book, and gazing out the window, enjoying my own inner silence. (It’s not super silent outside of me, but that’s okay.)
Monday is just lovely, because I’m filled up and rich with community, and I have a whole day to be home and ponder that fullness.
Yes, sometimes I want to be with adults after hearing children chatter all day, but most of the time their conversation is refreshing.

How do you find Mondays? Do you like to get started on the week, or would you like to stay in the weekend?
The wisteria is budding, and will soon be spreadin The wisteria is budding, and will soon be spreading its sunshine across the yard. Our bush was here when we moved and I’ve been so grateful for it. It blooms so early, the brightest thing around.
This weekend was a bit crazy. I did some new things, like make meatballs for a crowd, and juggle three Airbnb guests’ requests at once, and change a car key battery while away from home (thank God for the extra battery in the glove box) but here I am at Sunday afternoon, my time to take a look at the week before, and everything worked out.
I know it doesn’t always, but for today, I am grateful.

What made you grateful this weekend?

#wisteria #buddingwisteria #sheriyutzy #gratefulsunday #kingdomofashandbriars #hannahwest #yafantasyauthor #booksoutside #slowliving #gratefulliving #moodycottage #cottagegarden #intentionalliving #gratefulthoughts #springtimeblooms #timeforspring
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