NOT! Only one is trustworthy.

Did you see it? I had a glaring omission in my last briefing . It was only one word, just three letters . . . but those three letters changed the intent of my heart. Here it was: “Hear me correctly—I am standing in condemnation of these folks, just concerned about those who are held captive by what they can’t seem to control.” I shall fire my copy editor---that’s what I’ll do! The sentence was meant to say, “I am not standing in condemnation of these folks (regarding observed behavior on the 4th of July) . . .” Big difference! My copy editor and I apologize.

Now that I have that out of the way, I want to use this opportunity to say, ‘there is only one without error; yes, only one document ultimately worthy of your trust—God’s Word.’ So worthy is it, that I implore you to commit its treasures to your memory.

Sixty-six different books, thousands of verses—which ones should you memorize? I have intentionally selected four verses for your consideration, perhaps even to be memorized in the following order:

1. You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power . . . Revelation 4.11

2. Search me, O Lord, and know my heart; try me and know my thoughts; see if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139.23,24

3. Commit your way to the Lord. Trust in him, and he will do it. Psalm 37.5

4. Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5.18

If you are clever, print them off business card size, and put them in your money clip. If you are not, write them out on 3 X 5 cards, and carry them with you. once committed to memory, no one can take these from you.

With so many verses in the Bible, why did I choose these? Well, I work with corporate guys who travel internationally, frequently into and out of different time zones, which wreaks havoc with their personal disciplines of spending time with God in the morning. I wracked my brain for a way to help them make their ‘morning connection’ though jet-lagged, and fuzzy-brained. I reasoned that if they memorized these scriptures, they wouldn’t even have to stumble around and find their Bibles--they could just ‘still’ themselves before God, and direct their thoughts heavenward. In devotion to the King, they could utter, ‘You are worthy, Lord, to receive glory, honor and power,’ and then tell God why they think he is great.

And because he is, and because it is ours to be teachable and pliable in his hands, ‘Search me, O God, and know my heart . . .’ Shhhhhh . . . listen. Is there something God would put his finger on? ‘Something he would say, ‘you know, this is a behavior you need to avoid…’ or ‘Child, you need to go back and apologize—you were out of line.’ You are unlikely to sense either of these unless you quiet yourself; and even less likely to have God insert himself into your thoughts, unless you invite his tender voice of correction. Oh, his voice will not condemn you, but he will show you a better way.

‘Commit your way to him…’ What’s on your mind? What’s on your heart? Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. That’s what you are doing when you commit your way to him—you are praying, asking God to come and work! And then, ‘trust in him,’ the psalmist sung, and ‘he will do it.’ God did not mean for prayer to be heavy, nor did he mean for it to be a burden for you—just the opposite, he wants you to come to him with your ‘all’—thanks, confession, worries, joys . . . God wants to be a part of all of it. Why? Your all given to him—well, that’s relationship, Friend.

‘Give thanks in all circumstances. . .’ This treasure is one we should have tattooed on the backs of our hands so that we can see it throughout the day. Giving thanks to God creates an attitude of gratefulness in our hearts and minds; gratitude changes us.

These four verses form a framework for prayer and devotion for our own private time with God, and they are also truths we can share with others.

Christine