When Your Mind Starts Chasing Rabbits

This past week I have been reading in the Psalms, and I came to Psalm 16 – it has some encouraging passages – such as 

“I will bless the Lord who guides me;
Even at night my heart instructs me.
I know the Lord is with me.
I will not be shaken for he is right beside me.” (vs. 7,8)

And

“You will show me the way of life,
Granting me the joy of your presence
And the pleasures of living with you forever” (vs. 11)

My thoughts were - this is so good – I should memorize it! I got out my little notebook, wrote it out and it’s sitting on my desk. So far- I’ve memorized the first four verses.

Do you memorize scripture on a regular basis? This is a discipline I learned early in my walk with the Lord. There’s no better way to see our minds transformed than by meditating and memorizing the Word. It is also very helpful when struggling with wayward thinking.  

I used to have a terrible time with fearful, anxious thoughts. Back in the early 80s – many were saying the Lord was going to come back by 1988. The Cold War was going on – Russia was threatening us and saying that when they took over pastors would be hung in the streets – the end times were coming and the Christians were going to suffer for it (this was all before social media!). Current events didn’t help my thoughts and bad dreams that I would wake up from. Not to mention the regular vain imaginations that would normally take place.

Do you know what I mean by vain imaginations? That’s when someone or a situation is troubling you and you imagine all the different ways things are going to play out and what you would say and what they would say and do.  All of which never occurs! But it got my stomach in knots anyway.

I started to memorize scripture for just those moments when my thoughts were whirling and I was afraid. It helped tremendously! It kept my thoughts right where they needed to be – on the Lord and His wisdom and love. And it still helps – I don’t have the fears and bad dreams that I used to have, but I do wake up at 3 or 4 in the morning because I’m getting old and that’s what we do. My mind wants to swirl with many different thoughts and it’s good to be working on a passage to center my mind on the Lord and take those quiet moments to pray and reflect.

I encourage you to memorize Scripture – pick out some favorite passages – and get started. It’s not a race and memorizing may not come easily for you – but you will benefit spiritually even if you just spend time meditating on it.  A few years ago, I was so taken by Romans 8 that I spent the better part of two years memorizing it and trying to keep it. Can I quote it verbatim now? No – but it’s in my heart and mind and I still recall a good chunk of it.  

I’ve memorized the entire book of Ephesians twice! Once in my late 20s and again in my 50s. I can’t even come close to quoting it now – but it dwelt in my mind and spirit for quite a while and helped form me. Think of it like a good meal. Do you remember what you ate last week? Probably not – but it nourished you for the day – and that’s what you needed it for.

Memorizing scripture and meditating on what you’re memorizing, sinks the Word deeply into your heart – helping you to grow up into a mature believer. Pick a verse or passage that you want to know better and get started!