February 22 2026

Sunday February 22

The “Word” Hidden in Our Heart

Ephesians 6:17

“And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

Today we’re talking about a subject that I am very excited about. As we continue looking at Ephesians 6:17, the Apostle Paul tells us to “take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.” My friend, we are in a battle. We are at war with Satan and the forces of hell. We are attacking his kingdom. Therefore, we need to understand what the sword of the Spirit is—the Word of God—and how to use that sword. We need to have it available at a moment’s notice. Today, we’re talking about the Word of God that must be hidden in our hearts. That is why the psalmist said in Psalm 119:11, “Thy Word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against thee.” Think about that: “Thy Word have I hid in my heart.”

Let me give you an illustration. If a criminal were coming after you and you pulled out a big shotgun, he would likely scatter in a hurry. But when you’re seeking to win someone with the Word of God—the Gospel of Jesus Christ—it may need to be more like a concealed weapon. It’s hidden down in your heart, but you’re able to draw it out at just the right moment and use it effectively to bring that person into contact with God Himself. If you come blasting away at them with a shotgun of God’s Word, they may run before they ever truly hear. So, my friend, how important it is to have the Word hidden in your heart. And the only way to hide it in your heart is to memorize it.

Some of us or probably thinking, “I can’t memorize.” I used to think that. But I’ll never forget what happened right after I became a believer on February 21, 1971, which was 55 years ago yesterday—and which has gone by so quickly. My life totally changed. God began to work in my heart, and I fell in love with the Word of God.

I went up to Dayton, Ohio, to Dayton Baptist Temple, where my dad was preaching that Sunday. I listened to him bring a message on memorizing Scripture—hiding God’s Word in your heart. He had just produced a little book called Treasure Path to Soulwinning. It contained 180 verses that you could memorize at a pace of five verses a week. When my dad finished his message I was highly motivated to begin memorizing the Scripture and so I made a commitment to memorize those five verses each week.

At that time, I was working construction in Cincinnati, Ohio. I went back home and began memorizing those 180 verses. I was so excited because my dad had given us a simple method: Say each verse five times in the morning and five times at night—ten times a day. Say it out loud. Just read it. Don’t try to force yourself to memorize it. Simply read it out loud five times in the morning and five times at night, every day for a week.

Do you know what happens at the end of that week? It’s amazing. The verse just settles into your heart and mind. You’re able to recall it. I’ll never forget that book. I memorized those 180 verses in just a matter of weeks instead of nine months, simply by repeating them over and over.

Then I thought, “If I can memorize 180 verses like that, I wonder if it would work on an entire chapter?” So as a brand-new Christian, I took James chapter 1. I read the entire chapter, 27 verses, five times every morning and five times every night. I was working construction, and during the day I might think about it, pull out my Bible, and glance at it again. It was amazing! At the end of the week, I could quote James chapter 1 from memory!

That was 55 years ago that I began my journey of memorizing the Word of God and hiding it in my heart.

I began memorizing other chapters. When I went to Lynchburg Baptist College that fall of 1971, I heard Jerry Falwell said that one of his favorite chapters was Psalm 37. I thought, “If Psalm 37 is his favorite, I need to memorize it.” So I did. Then I fell in love with Romans chapters 1 through 3 and memorized them. After that, I memorized Romans 6, 7, and 8. Then I memorized Matthew 5, 6, and 7—the Sermon on the Mount. Later as a young pastor I finished memorizing the whole Book of James. I simply fell in love with the Word of God and hid it in my heart.

My friend, when you hide God’s Word in your heart, you are preparing yourself for battle. Satan does not wait for you to look up a verse before he tempts you. He attacks suddenly. That’s why Scripture memory is not just for children in Sunday school. Hiding God’s Word in your heart—having that weapon ready—is for soldiers. And we are soldiers. It’s not just for students in a classroom; it’s for those who are engaged in spiritual warfare.

Today, I trust you’ll say, “By the grace of God, I will begin memorizing at least one verse a week.” That’s 52 verses a year. In 10 years, that’s more than 500 verses. You can never hide too much of God’s Word in your heart. You will never regret it. The only regret I have is that I did not memorize more of God’s Word over the years. Take the time to do it. I know that by God’s grace, you can.

I pray we’ve encouraged you today to hide the Word in your heart. To be prepared to face the trials, tribulations, temptations—whatever may come. And when they come, you will be ready with the Word of God.

God bless you, and may you have a wonderful, wonderful day.