“How can a young man keep his way pure?” the Psalmist asks.

“By guarding it according to your word. With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you” (Ps 119:9-11).

In a world where temptation presses in at every side and lures us to follow its path, we ask, “how can I keep my heart pure?”

In a world where Christians are deconstructing their faith because of their disappointment with the Christianity of their fathers, we ask, “how can I keep my faith pure?”

In a world where what is right and wrong seems to shift like sand beneath our feet, we ask, “how can I know what is true?”

The answer comes back to us, “by listening to God’s unchanging Word.”

The analogy has been offered many times: how do you teach someone to detect counterfeit bills? By pouring themselves into the study of authentic currency.  

There are many competing voices for what true faith should look like in today’s confusing world. May none have a louder voice in our lives than God’s.

How should we store up God’s Word in our hearts? I would encourage two ways:

Read the Bible

Reading the entirety of Scripture can help us from drifting to those portions most comfortable to us. Here are a few plans that you might find helpful. Which one should you do? The one that you will actually follow through on! Choose one that fits you best. If it’s more reasonable to read cut the reading in half and make it through the Bible in two years, do that. You can also find great plans on the YouVersion Bible. I’m currently using the Bible Project Bible in a Year plan.

Memorize Scripture

Memorizing Scripture can be a powerful way to allow God’s Word to shape your heart. There are several apps available for Bible memory. I’ve used and appreciated the Bible Memory app. Recently, I’ve been trying to devote larger portions of Scripture to memory. My discipleship group and I memorize one chapter of the over the course of a year together. Last year we memorized Ephesians 1 and this year my group and I are memorizing Ephesians 2. It is very challenging for me, but it has been so rewarding to have the truth about my identity in Christ and Christ’s work pressed into my heart.

I pray that you long to have your way pure in 2022. There is no better guide for a pure path than God’s flawless Word.

Photo by Joel Muniz on Unsplash