Front and Center

Psalm 119:11 really summarizes what we're trying to do this year.

I don't think we generally sin out of ignorance, but having God's word in our heart, as opposed to the back of our minds, takes our knowledge to another, more practical level.

Think about things you've learned in school over the years. There's probably a lot you could recall if you really thought about it (the order of the planets or the formula for the area of a triangle), but that knowledge is different than the things that you use regularly, which can easily be recited.

To me, storing God's word in our hearts means that it is front and center and active in our minds. When we have that, we have God guiding our everyday decision making, which will help us to be more like Him.

Pslam 119:11 Printable

Psalm 119:11

I hope you have the fruit of the Spirit memorized and are ready for another verse! For the next two weeks we'll work on Psalm 119:11.
 

I have stored up Your word in my heart,
    that I might not sin against You.

If you have any thoughts on this verse, feel free to share. I'd love to hear from y'all. :)

Bearing Good Fruit

I think sometimes we can gloss over lists like this in the Bible, but these are amazing qualities. I have some more than others, but I would love to be a person who exudes all of these things.

As we work to memorize some of God's word this year, I hope the result will be more Scripture popping into my head - both in challenging times and day to day situations - which will help me to bear these fruits in my life.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
- Galatians 5:22-23

The Fruit of the Spirit printable

                                   

My attempt at some "Subway Art" let me know if you want the file. Trista shared a great strategy for grouping this list. The first three (love, joy peace) are all one syllable words, the next three are two syllables (patience kindness goodness), and the final three are three syllables and in alpha order (faithfulness, gentleness, self-control). Happy memorizing!