{"id":53,"date":"2015-08-08T12:59:07","date_gmt":"2015-08-08T17:59:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thedisciplemaker.org\/?p=53"},"modified":"2015-08-08T12:59:07","modified_gmt":"2015-08-08T17:59:07","slug":"gods-word-closer-than-your-smartphone","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.navpress.com\/sites\/thedisciplemaker\/2015\/08\/gods-word-closer-than-your-smartphone\/","title":{"rendered":"God\u2019s Word: Closer than Your Smartphone"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"bsf_rt_marker\"><\/div><p>Memorizing Scripture is seen as a bit old fashioned now that believers have smartphones that can load any Bible Verse from any translation with a swipe of a finger.\u00a0 But, the challenge for disciplemakers is helping them to see that having the Bible at one\u2019s fingertips is different than having it on our minds and in our hearts.\u00a0 Yet, so many struggle with noisy thoughts or \u2018stinkin\u2019 thinking\u201d.<br \/>\n<strong>Sticky Thought Analogy<\/strong> &#8211; Have you ever gotten a song stuck in your head and didn\u2019t know why? Often a single word or phrase is all it takes. From there, the song just seems to spring forth. That same thing can happen when the cadences of Scripture are running through your head.<br \/>\n<strong>Mental Toolbox Analogy<\/strong> &#8211; Your mind uses the tools it has available. As a child, it\u2019s the vocabulary you acquire\u2014gaining new words for objects and experiences. As we grow older, we use stories and metaphors to make sense of our lives. And with age, we have the opportunity to choose what tools we add to our mental toolbox\u2014God\u2019s Word is one of them.<br \/>\n<strong>When we memorize Scripture, we make it available at any time<\/strong>, not just at the swipe of a smartphone. God\u2019s words can be on our minds and in our hearts when we wake and when we lie down, when we go for a run and when we stand in the shower. Scripture can permeate our thoughts at times when smartphones can\u2019t. If we choose to memorize them, God\u2019s words can accompany us as we walk down the street, and our thoughts can meditate on them as we drive down the highway\u2014all while keeping our eyes up.<br \/>\n<strong>Thinking biblically means having God\u2019s Living Word working in us and through us.<\/strong> When we memorize Scripture, we invite God to speak into our hearts in times of both joy and sorrow, excitement and struggle. God\u2019s Word goes to work, humbling us and encouraging us, and straightening us out when we get crooked.<br \/>\nBut <strong>memorizing Scripture also becomes a blessing to others.<\/strong> When God\u2019s Word is in us, God can encourage others through us. When we find ourselves talking with friends and neighbors, God\u2019s Word is readily available, not at hand, but at heart. Not in our pockets, but on our lips. We can speak God\u2019s words readily and with love, not while fiddling with a smartphone. Scripture has the potential to become a part of our everyday conversations, making us a blessing to others.<br \/>\n<strong>Figuring out how to memorize Scripture is where most people give up.<\/strong> That\u2019s why The Navigators\u00ae incorporated it in its study for new believers, <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.navpress.com\/p\/growing-in-christ\/9780891091578\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Growing in Christ<\/a><\/em> and created an entire <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.navpress.com\/search\/?search=topical+memory+system&amp;search-filter=\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Topical Memory System<\/a><\/em>. Each is designed to immerse us in Scripture by studying each memory verse. As someone begins to commit a verse to scripture, they\u2019ll wrestle with the meaning, as it penetrates the innermost places of their soul, dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow.\u00a0 They emerge being not only being able to quote the verse, but also knowing the verse\u2019s context.<br \/>\nIf you are mentoring someone who is seeking a meaningful way to memorize Scripture, take a look at the <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.navpress.com\/search\/?search=topical+memory+system&amp;search-filter=\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Topical Memory System<\/a><\/em>.\u00a0\u00a0 If you have someone who is new to the Bible or new in their faith, start them off with the healthy spiritual habits in the\u00a0 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.navpress.com\/p\/growing-in-christ\/9780891091578\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>Growing in Christ<\/em> <\/a>with lessons and corresponding scriptures on assurance of salvation and foundational insights on Christian Living.<br \/>\n<strong>Smartphone Analogy:<\/strong> People spend thousands of dollars on Smartphones, bills, apps each year, so they have relevant information at their fingertips.\u00a0 Memorizing God\u2019s Word is allows them to have His Supreme Wisdom and Living Truths readily available in their heart and mind. That\u2019s a secure investment. It can\u2019t be lost, waterlogged, or smashed. It won\u2019t grow old or become outdated. And unlike your smartphone, it will never be obsolete. But most important, it helps you take your thoughts captive and helps you abide in God\u2019s peace.<br \/>\n&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Memorizing Scripture is seen as a bit old fashioned now that believers have smartphones that can load any Bible Verse from any translation with a swipe of a finger.\u00a0 But, the challenge for disciplemakers is helping them to see that &#8230; <\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more-container\"><a title=\"God\u2019s Word: Closer than Your Smartphone\" class=\"read-more button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.navpress.com\/sites\/thedisciplemaker\/2015\/08\/gods-word-closer-than-your-smartphone\/#more-53\">Read more<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">God\u2019s Word: Closer than Your Smartphone<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":191,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","_FSMCFIC_featured_image_caption":"","_FSMCFIC_featured_image_nocaption":"","_FSMCFIC_featured_image_hide":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v20.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>God\u2019s Word: Closer than Your Smartphone - The Disciplemaker<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.navpress.com\/sites\/thedisciplemaker\/2015\/08\/gods-word-closer-than-your-smartphone\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"God\u2019s Word: Closer than Your Smartphone - The Disciplemaker\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Memorizing Scripture is seen as a bit old fashioned now that believers have smartphones that can load any Bible Verse from any translation with a swipe of a finger.\u00a0 But, the challenge for disciplemakers is helping them to see that ... 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