A MATTER OF THE HEART

Psalm 119:11New Living Translation  

“I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.”

            There is a significance to hiding God’s word in your heart.  Man judges by temporal achievements and external appearance, God judges the motives of the heart.^[1] If you hide his word in your heart there's a far greater chance that you will live according to its statutes.  It is vital to the spiritual growth of a believer to study God’s word.  It wasn’t written so that it could be referred to on occasion.  Godly men who were moved upon by the Holy Spirit wrote it.  The words in scripture are truthful and instructive.  I would venture to say that you could find advice on any topic within the pages of the Bible.
           Jesus referred to God’s word often, most notably when he was in the wilderness dealing with Satan.  With each temptation he laid at Jesus feet the Lord responded by saying “It is written” and proceeded to quote words from the Old Testament.  We can speak the word of God to the devil as well but you have to know it from your heart to apply it to a necessary situation. 

            The devil is a defeated foe.  There is no hope for him.  That makes him very desperate. His business is to drag as many souls away from God and down to hell as he possibly can. Scripture refers to him as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.^[2] Scripture tells us how to deal with the devil. James tells us that if we humbling draw near to God and resist the enemy, the enemy will leave us alone as God draws near.^[3] All this from hiding his word in our hearts.  God loves you without condition.  You are worth the death of his Son. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

Resource: Matthew Henry Commentary on the Bible.

^[1] 1 Samuel 16:7 But the LORD said to Samuel, "Don't judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The LORD doesn't see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."

Proverbs 16:2  “People may be pure in their own eyes, but the LORD examines their motives.”

^[2] 1 Peter 5:8 “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.”

^[3] James 4:7-8 “So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God, and God will come close to you.”