5 Ways to Tether Your Heart to God’s Word
If you have found your way here after reading my Proverbs 31 devotion entitled, Tethered or Tattered, Welcome!. {If you haven’t read it yet, click here to do so.}
Here are five ways I have found that help me to tether my heart to God’s word, especially during the trying times of life. I pray they help you too. {Don’t forget to enter today’s giveaway at the end of this post}
1. Google it. {well, sorta}
Is there a particular area of struggle you have where, in order to experience calm, you need to rub the truth of God’s word into your tattered heart? Hop on Bible Gateway and do a search. You can search for scripture verses by typing in a key word to the search bar. So, if fear of the future grips you, search for the words “fear” or “afraid. If you have a hard time trusting God, type in “trust”. Worry messing with your mind? You can search for verses about worry or faith. Then you can type or handwrite these verses and place them on notecards that you can display in prominent places where you are sure to see them often. {kitchen sink, dashboard of your vehicle, night stand, work desk, etc…} Or, you may want to use them along with this next idea:
2. Get it on your phone and into your heart.
Take the verses you have discovered and use an online free audio recorder such as audacity to record your self saying the verses out loud. Store them on your phone, if you have one, and then you can listen to the file with a pair of headphones as you go about doing housework or taking a walk around your neighborhood. Hearing the verses out loud in your own voice can help you to memorize them and then recall them in the future when your heart starts to fret.
3. Read the stories of courageous and trusting Christians of the past.
Get a hold of a book about brave and faithful Christians of the past who faced awful trials and hardships, yet somehow remained steadfast in their faith in God. Reading about these amazing brothers and sisters in Christ can help give us courage when we face tough times and trials too. {You might want to check out this book for starters}
4. Recruit a faithful friend.
Do you have a faithful friend that you can call when fear or dread start to overtake your heart? Having one such friend can be such an asset as week seek to settle our hearts. Of course you don’t want this person to be someone you run to instead of running to God, but they can be at times “Jesus with skin on” when you need someone to stop and pray with you or to talk you down off of an emotional ledge when you feel defeated or beaten down by life. If you don’t have such a friend yet, begin to pray that God will bring you one.
5. Write a book.
One of the absolute best ways I have found for remaining faithful and calm during trying periods in my life is to go back and read in my own handwriting about times that God took care of me or answered what I thought at the time was an impossible prayer. This doesn’t have to be an expensive and fancy journal, even a spiral notebook from the department store will do! Begin to write down the stories of when God answers prayers or meets your needs or encourages your heart through someone. Then, in the future when you begin to feel your heart get rattled, pick up the book and re-read about His faithfulness in your own journey. You can trust that he will once again come through.
I pray these tips will help you to tether your heart to the very words of God and keep it from becoming tattered instead.
I really like the idea of recording versus in your own voice and then listening to help memorize. Thanks for the great idea!
I like the phone idea. I’m a visual learner, so if I find a way to put them in front of my eyes more often, then maybe I can write them deeper into my heart!
I think all are great ideas. i like to write the scripture I read that day or the verses that stand out to me the most in a journal, so that i can go back and look at it. I may write down what it means to me during that time and other quotes from that day. It is interesting to go back and see where I was and what I was going through and how He helped me through it.
Having recently left my husband and fled to a domestic violence shelter with my little ones I really appreciated your Prov 31 devotional today and am glad it led me here to your blog. With 200+ posts I feel so validated to read & know other sisters struggle with “casting that care” just like I do. Waking up at 3 a.m. and worrying about what he could still do to hurt me, worrying that I’m not doing enough for my little ones, or just being angry at him or at myself for letting it get this far and keeping it under wraps for appearances and because I couldn’t help but hope it would get better… It eats away at your soul & your energy level. I am trying the FRIEND method – for accountability as much as prayer. I have been steeping in Gateway at those midnight hours now with an earphone to wash in the Word and purify my mind of those nasty thoughts & worries. He made me burn my journals years ago so I’m out of luck there, but have recently started journaling again for the very reasons you mention. Finally, I have been capturing verses from Gateway on my phone Notes so it is interesting to go back through that daily “journal” and see how He has been leading me through this whole ordeal and supporting me whether I feel Him or not. Thank you for your words of wisdom.
I do keep a Blessings Journal, although I have been a bit sporadic lately. It helps me intentionally focus on the good that God blesses me with every day. It is too easy to whine about my problems and forget to be thankful. Thanks for the suggestions.
Thank you for your message. My heart does seem to bounce all over the place emotionally. I like the picture of tethering our hearts to God and His Word. I do google and use Bible gateway on my phone. I also use you version Bible and read Proverbs 31 devotional on my phone. I love your suggestion of reading about other people’s experiences. I already looked at the book you suggested. I love reading stories of great faith and being reminded about God’s faithfulness. On my things to read list:)
I love the idea of speaking the scripture it into the smart phone then replaying it as I clean! What a practical idea to get God’s Word in my memory and in my heart! Thank you!
I really like the idea of a book. Just yesterday I was trying to remember a specific incident that showed God was right beside me taking care of me. Then I remembered it wasn’t the only time He had used the same situation. I just can’t remember how many times it’s happened this way. A book will help me track these.
I would like to try the Bible gateway research with writung down on a card. I think it will give
me a visual reminder of the lesson and Scripture and help me commit it to heart and mind.
I already do or have done some of these but a new one was recording scripture in my own voice. Going to check out ways to do that now
I set a reminder on my phone for every 90 min. The reminder says “Connect with God”. Depending on what I am doing at that time, I may read a devotional, recite scripture out loud (usually one of the many promises of God), journal or read or study scripture. I love the idea of recording verses in my own voice, then I can listen if I am somewhere I cannot talk out loud and I think it will help me to add some new scriptures to my arsenal. For me, there is something very powerful about hearing the Word of God in my own voice. It seems to go out from my mouth, through my ears and straight into my spirit and soul.
I absolutely love the idea of recording scripture using my phone; I’ll definitely be doing this.
{Stitching.the.word.to.my.heart}?
I’d like to try recording myself saying verses. I used to memorize using 3 x 5 notecards posted all over my house, but since I have not been able to be a stay-at-home mom for the last three years (I work two jobs to make ends meet) having an audio of myself talking TRUTH to myself will be an amazing way of practicing God’s constant presence and speaking his TRUTH into everything I do. Thank you for the great idea!
My heart and mind are so fickle. I continually second guess myself and my decisions. I need to find ways to let things go. I’ve started using my iPhone notes app to copy down verses so I can easily refer to them, however I need to get more organized. I like the idea of recording the verses. And then going back and listening to them. I use bible gateway sometimes.
Thank you so much! Your devotion/blog post is EXACTLY what I needed today! I am reaching out to a friend for some accountability. I’d also like to write the book and try out audacity.
Wonderful list! Love them all, I use my appendix in my Bible and have googled, but have always wanted a reference book!
I love using Bible Gateway. One of my favorite places to go when I am search. I also like to talk with God & be honest about how I am feeling. (After all, He already knows.). Then I ask Him to guide me. I may find an answer in my devotional, or my readings for the day. (Sarah Young Devotionals – I do all 5. Jesus Calling, Jesus Today, Jesus Lives, Dear Jesus and Nearer to Jesus)
I am always finding a nugget to think on to help with something I am struggling with.
Donna
I have done a couple of your suggestions. When I got sick I had to take a step back and I started reading through my Amplified Bible. I started in the gospels. Reading it and hearing the stories about struggle and things helped me through some difficult medical procedures. I am going through one on July 24th and I know that everything will be great.
I find i cant remember the scriptures. dont know why despite having a very good memory for other facts and figures,events etc.
Going to try a number of ideas, sticky note ,write a book,bible gateway.My heart needs to hide more verses in it to withstand the roller coaster effect.
SAM
Love love love these! I want to do all of them but especially the writing the book!!! Thanks for all you do and fir stepping up mag sharing!
I am becoming an empty-nester this year and I am finding it very difficult to “Let.It.Go.” or rather to “Let.THEM.Go.” It just seemed so much easier when I put the boys in their cribs and knew that in an hour I could go back to their crib and they would still be there! :) With all the changes, I am quickly realizing that I have to let go of the control and trust God with all the things I am not a part of anymore. I want to begin a journal where I can claim verses to help with the feelings of anxiousness that come with giving up control.
I use a couple of things from your list. Biblegateway is such a great resource. I use it a lot to look up different translations of a specific verse when I’m memorizing it to find the one that resonates with me. I also journal (on & off but regularly) & love to read about other Christians. Right now I’m reading Through Gates of Splendor by Elizabeth Elliot which is excellent. Would love to entered in the drawing. Thanks for all you do to promote God’s kingdom.
I love the idea of recording scripture verses on my smart phone! While walking or just working around the house what a fabulous way to memorize Gods word to tether my tattered heart!:)
I love the idea of recording myself speaking God’s word. I have a difficult time memorizing scripture and I am hoping this will help. I am currently facing marital separation and pending divorce after my husband’s adultery and abandonment. This has been the most difficult struggle of my life. I know men and women go through these struggles everyday and it’s heartbreaking and devastating. I hope that as God brings me out of this trial that I can help and give comfort to others that are hurting.
I also use the Bible Gateway search…LOVE IT!!! And I also keep a prayer journal. I work full time and have a three year old and many times I don’t get to spend the time with God that I’d like to. But I have a desk job and often times I can take a moment to jot down my prayers to God. I’ve also been know to go to the restroom and pray…hahahahah. Hallelujah, God meets us where we are.
God bless you and the Proverbs 31 ministries. I look forward to my daily encouragement.
I know that journaling examples of Gods faithfulness to me works. I have done this in the past and just need to be disciplined enough to do this regularly. It’s great to be able to look back and see it. Helps me to look to Him instead of letting my fears/feelings take hold. Thanks for the good reminder!