It’s time to start stockpiling. No, not toilet paper. Not hand sanitizer. Not food. It’s time to start stockpiling Scripture – putting Bible verses into our minds and hearts so that God’s Word is at the ready when we need it.
Yes, I know we probably all have a Bible (or more than one) in our homes that we can open anytime. Yes, I know many of us have a Bible app on our smartphone so we can look up passages anywhere. But, let me tell you something: while it is great to have a Bible in your hands or on your phone, that is no substitute for having God’s Word in your mind and in your heart.
We need to have God’s Word in our minds and hearts so we can:
* Recognize and resist temptation when it comes upon us in a weak moment. “Your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You.” (Psalm 119:11)
* Think, speak, and act with wisdom in a world that is being shattered by sickness, violence, lies, and sin. “The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.” (Psalm 19:7)
* Walk in peace when life as we knew it has been turned upside down. “Every word of God is tested; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.” (Proverbs 30:5)
* Know how to minister to the wounded and bleeding souls all around us. “All Scripture is inspired by God ... so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16)
* Counter the attacks of demonic forces bent on our destruction. “[Take up] the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” (Ephesians 6:17)
In many – perhaps even most – situations in life, we may not have time or opportunity to open a physical Bible or even look a verse up on a Bible app before we have to make a decision about how to respond in thought, word, or deed. At that critical moment, we need to have God’s Word already ingrained in our minds and hearts.
When we stockpile Scripture within ourselves, the Holy Spirit has tons of material to work with to lead and guide us, to reassure and strengthen us, and to reprove and exhort us. If our souls are the equivalent of a bare pantry or an empty refrigerator, we may not have what we need at the moment we need it.
Let us take to heart the words of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ: “It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’” (Matthew 4:4)
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On a very personal note, I am working hard at stockpiling Scripture. In fact, I created hundreds of “photo verses” like the one in this blog post to help me put God’s Word in my mind and in my heart. You can find them here: https://www.prismaticjoy.com/verses. I offer these images to you freely, hoping and praying that God will use them to help you stock up on Scripture!
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