Before the choir began to sing an anthem of praise, Cindy quoted the first Bible verse she had ever memorized. It was inspirational for our congregation to hear her repeat from memory that passage from the Psalms.

At the same time, in another part of the church, adult workers were listening to more than 50 children recite verses they had memorized. They were involved in a Scripture memory program designed to hide God's Word in their hearts for a lifetime.

I remember when I first became a believer as a teenager. A godly woman was conducting a similar memorization program in our little church. I learned 110 verses and won an award--a book that told the story of the Bible.

I no longer have that book, but I am still carrying the best prize--those precious verses. When I need them--while visiting a sick friend, while making an important decision, while going through difficult days, while I'm talking about or writing about the Lord--the Holy Spirit brings the appropriate verses to my mind.

The psalmist referred to hiding God's Word in his heart (Ps. 119:11). We do that by memorizing it. Then it's always there, even when we don't have a Bible.  — David C. Egner