Memory Monday — Proverbs 4:20-27

I've missed something like four weeks of Memory Monday, shame on me! I've even been getting my menu plans posted on Sundays specifically to free up Monday for this, but I just haven't had my verses memorized. After this I'm going to have to stop biting off more than I can chew and plan for fewer verses a week for a little while, maybe even just one. Then if that's going really well I'll add more as a bonus. I'd rather do that than completely skip.

So, from memory:

Proverbs 4:20-27:
20 My son, pay attention to what I say;
listen closely to my words.
21 Do not let them out of your sight,
keep them close to within your heart;
22 for they are life to those who find them
and health to a man's whole body.
23 Above all else, guard your heart,
for it is the wellspring of life.
24 Put away perversity from your mouth;
keep corrupt talk far from your lips.
25 Let your eyes look straight ahead,
fix your gaze directly before you.
26 Make level paths for your feet
and take only ways that are firm.
27 Do not swerve to the right or to the left;
keep your foot from evil.

I had said before that we had the last five verses, 23 through 27, each listed on a different colored index card and hanging on our kids' bathroom mirror in Virginia. I did this for several reasons, but primarily as a reminder to them of how important it was to guard their hearts.

I got the verses specifically after reading The Squire and the Scroll by Jennie Bishop. It's a book that follows along with The Princess and the Kiss for girls. The Squire and the Scroll is 'A Tale of the Rewards of a Pure Heart' and follows the squire on his quest to save the Lantern of Purest Light after the kingdom's final and most trusted knight, and the squire's master, fell to temptation.

There are a lot of temptations out there for our kids these days, as well as us, and these verses can be the cornerstone to battling those temptations. I was going to challenge my kids to memorize them and post their own Memory Monday, but we didn't get around to it. I'm hoping to get that done soon. They've seen these verses, but they don't have them memorized, and I think that's very important.

For next week I'll be memorizing Psalm 119:9, which goes along perfectly with these verses:

How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word.

After that I will move to Deuteronomy 6:4-9, just getting as much as I can done at a time. I'm going to put them on index cards, hole punch the corners, and put them on a ring binder. Then I can carry them around the house with me or throw them in my purse, or just whatever. That's been my downfall — not having them handy all the time. I think that will help me get them memorized more effectively.

Joanne hosts Memory Monday at The Simple Wife every week.