I’ve had a gift ready for you for weeks now, but I’ve been hesitating to put it online {Don't miss the free printable and the giveaway at the end of this post}. I keep getting ready to hand this to you…but then I stop. Because I’ve been wrestling…feeling less-than-qualified to reach out.

Let's just say I’ve been low on words. The put-them-on-a-page-and-share-them kind of words. For quite a while now. And I’d love to string something together for you that might bring encouragement or hope to your soul, but since those words aren’t mine to string today, I’m just going to keep on handing God’s life-and-breath Word over to you.

This season, down my little avenue, has been a one of clinging close to our always-near Abba in the quiet—a season of listening and waiting, hoping and praying. And I’ve had little energy or time to articulate any of it to the world outside of the secret places. But I trust that even that very energy and time are all within the grace of God’s timing. It’s been a season of grasping Truth with white knuckles, knowing it’s my greatest defense against an enemy desperate to lie and to accuse. It’s been a season of feeling the Lord’s hands on my cheeks in the dark, repeating His Truth to me again and again. To glance anywhere but His tender eyes would mean losing ground in the battle.

The Truth.

Sometimes we get stuck thinking that it’s just wrapped up tightly in letters on the pages of a book, don’t we? We call it the “Word of God” without necessarily remembering that the very same title is given to Jesus, Himself (John 1). Just think of what it might do for our faith if we replaced the “Word of God” with “Jesus,” every time we opened our mouths about it. Would it help us to truly practice the presence of Jesus? Would it help us to walk with Him, not just talk about Him?

I’m memorizing part of Jesus today. I’m spending time in Jesus right now. I’m learning Jesus. I’m studying Jesus. I’m meditating on Jesus. I’m holding on tightly to Jesus through all of this.

Because Jesus is the Word of God. It sure makes sense, then, why 2 Timothy 3:16-17 doesn’t say, “All Scripture WAS God breathed…” It says, “All Scripture is God breathed…” Every Word…it’s alive because He’s still saying it. It’s alive because it’s His very exhale on the page. It’s alive because He is alive. And He wants us to hear His voice.

And Truth. It’s no different. Jesus uses that very word to describe Himself in John 14:6 when He says, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life…” Jesus is the Truth. The Truth is Jesus. And the same goes for the Way. And the Life. Ultimately, when we’re talking about the Word of God, when we’re talking about the Christian life, or God’s way, or what’s true, we’re also talking about the very resurrected person of Jesus Christ.

Isn’t that gorgeous?!

Ever since God opened my eyes to that, I’ve been laser-focused on every verse of Scripture I read that mentions God’s word, or the truth, the life, or the way. So many times, those phrases are interchangeable with the name of Jesus. It’s been widening my eyes and grasping my heart again and again.

Check out a few that are rolled up in just one Psalm, and replace the words we just talked about with Jesus’ name when you read the verses:

• Psalm 119:160: “The sum of your word is truth…”
• Psalm 119:105: “Your Word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.”
• Psalm 119:1: “Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord!”
• Psalm 119:15: “I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways.”
• Psalm 119:114: “You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in your word.”

Jesus is a lamp for my feet. The sum of your word is Jesus. Blessed are those whose JESUS is blameless. I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on Jesus. I hope in Jesus.

Which one stands out to you the most? Are there any others you’re starting to think of?

The Way to walk in. The Life to live. The Truth to cling to. The Word of God—living and active—the ever-speaking Word of that breathes Truth—written onto our hearts and shining into the darkness. Ellie Holcomb calls Scripture, hidden in our hearts, our Fighting Words.

Fight the lies with the truth,
Keep my eyes fixed on You
I will sing the truth into the dark
I will use my fighting words.

(Ellie Holcomb)

I need that Truth. I need those fighting words. To help me rest in knowing that there is a much greater voice speaking on my behalf than my little voice. To remind me that my weak hands are not the weapons that fight on my behalf. To guide me through the dark and lift my eyes and strengthen my soul. Much better words than I could ever come up with on my own, anyway!

Can we memorize God’s Word together?

I want to soak in this life-breath. I’ve picked up a few tools along the road that have been incredibly valuable to me with Scripture memorization. I’d love to pass them along to you in any way I can.

I threw these together to help my own kids memorize the names of the books of the Bible, so they can make their way through Scripture more easily. A fun little resource for you, while I’m working on a few more rings of Scripture cards for the shop! These "Books of the Bible" flash cards are free. All you have to do is print them and cut them out. Use them for yourself, use them with your kids, or pass them along to a friend. Let me know how you incorporate them into your life!

Click here for your free download of my Printable "Books of the Bible" Cards.

Oh…and one more thing…

I went ahead and cut out a set, punched holes in them, and put them on a pretty gold Captive Cards ring. I’m giving it away for FREE!

You can enter for a chance to win this set of cards here:

{giveaway link}

The giveaway ends at 11:59pm on Monday, May 29th. See the link for more details.

Happy memorizing!

For more Scripture memory tools, check out the journals and card sets available in the To Choose Joy Shop.