Thy word I have treasured in my heart that I may not sin against Thee. Psalm 119:11 NASB

A man has joy in an apt answer, and how delightful is a timely word! Proverbs 15:23 NKJV

I love being part of A Martha Heart. Martha was a woman whom Jesus loved. He loved her whole family. He loved her enough to speak a corrective and timely word into her life. Martha loved Him enough to receive it.

I facilitated a Bible study recently Lord Change My Attitude by James MacDonald. We determined at the beginning since we were being challenged to change, that we were not going to be lax about memorizing key verses. We even put in place some incentives to do so. When we memorized our first verse we put the names of everyone who had met the goal of memorization into a hat and drew for a prize. It was fun, but honestly the real reward has been to see how the word has truly kept us from falling. The first week our Scripture verse was Philippians 2:14-15

Do all things without grumbling or disputing; that you may prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world. (NASB)

During that week I developed a problem with my computer that I couldn’t resolve. I called for technical support and spent  well over an hour on the phone with someone who was trying so hard to be helpful. However, we did have a large and frustrating barrier….I couldn’t understand his thick accent. I was transferred to another person who I couldn’t really understand either. The problem was never resolved. As I sat and waited on the phone, my memory verse held me in check. I was not going to grumble or be rude. I wasn’t going to whine to everyone within ear shot either. I was just going to deal with it as graciously as I could. I’m not saying I did it perfectly, but God’s Word truly helped me to yield to the Spirit’s control and not give in to a bad attitude. One of the women in the study shared how in a very provoking but fruitless encounter she yielded to this word she had learned. She did not dispute when she had every reason to. She didn’t sound at all like the victim in that situation. She had the calm and steady demeanor of a victor.

The next week our verse was from 1st Timothy 6:6-10. Part of those verses say

But godliness actually is a means of great gain, when accompanied by contentment. For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either.  (NASB)

Our daughter called that week to tell us that while on vacation she had lost the stone out of a ring we had given her many years ago.  It was an heirloom that had been in my husband’s family since the Civil War.  The stone was very unique and irreplaceable.  She was heartsick and dreaded telling us.  The first thought that came to mind was, you guessed it, “We brought nothing into the world so we can’t take anything out of it either.”  I am so sorry that it happened.  I know she felt terrible.  My husband felt the loss as well, but none of us have been plagued or weighed down by it.  We are still here, still healthy, still have a God who loves us and has always taken care of us.  No treasure we have ever laid up in heaven will be lost, stolen, or destroyed by moth or rust.  God’s word helped us to keep a proper perspective and move on with a minimum of angst.

God’s word is so amazingly practical and applicable. It transcends time, and is able to minister to hearts in every stage or situation of life, and in every age modern or ancient.  Jesus walked into Martha’s life and home and spoke a timely word.  He will do the same for us.

MY PRAYER:  Lord, thank you that Your Word reaches into the daily nitty-gritty’s of our lives and helps us to shine like lights for Your glory.   How delightful is a timely word. Help us to treasure them in our hearts so that we are more and more like You.

Memorization tip: There are so many resources online that will aid you in memorization.  I want to share one tip that you don’t see too often, and I have found very effective when it seems I’m stuck and not progressing. Write the verse using only the first letter of every word and include the punctuation. If you were memorizing A man has joy in an apt answer, and how delightful is a timely word! Proverbs 15:23 NKJV It would look like this: A m h j i a a a, a h d i a t w!  It really helps the mind to focus and think it through.

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