Deuteronomy 11:18 English Standard Version (ESV) You shall therefore lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.

How many bible verses have you placed at your disposal to ward of attacks of the enemy? Perhaps you have a few that give you peace or joy. We have favorites that are easier to recall than others. Few of us have the whole bible memorized. Most of us do not have total recall. There is a scientific name for it but I don’t remember it. That is why I have a computer.

Our phones are mini computers and handy for looking up passages but this is a memory test. If you have some favorite scripture that is readily available for you to quote, what is it? Everyone knows John 3:16. It is so often quoted that even non-believers reluctantly know it. They don’t believe it but they know it.

So here is the test. Quote one that is at the forefront of your mind. Got it chapter and verse? Good.

Now what is the next verse? If you know it great. Now look them up and check for accuracy.

For those of us that could not recall the next line, look it up and ask yourself this question: Is it an important verse worthy of remembering? Does it contain value?

Here is my failed attempt to remember. “I love you, O Lord, my strength.” I failed to remember there is no Psalm 17:16 and the next verse in the bible is Psalm 18:1.

Deuteronomy 11:18 says to place His Word in our hearts not our minds. The mind is flesh and subject to decay. We often condemn ourselves for not memorizing enough scripture as if it was what makes a difference. It is not. It is those verses we take to heart with loving care that changes us.

Exodus 14:27 English Standard Version (ESV) So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to its normal course when the morning appeared. And as the Egyptians fled into it, the Lord threwthe Egyptians into the midst of the sea.

This is the only verse in the ESV with the word normal. It might not be the best descriptor of how many of us feel right now as we eagerly seek to see this cold spell behind us. It does however give us an opportunity to see further separation between we who follow God and those in the world. The Egyptians being those in the world.

The world tries to recapture us just as the armies of Pharaoh chased after their former slaves. God saved us from that life and we should be mindful of the life we now live with Christ and not allow the actions of the world to drag us back into their ways.

Going to the store yesterday was a real eye opener about the insecurities of those in the world. Panic buying wiped out just about everything in the store. Meats and cheeses and bread were gone. Milk gone, eggs gone, bakery goods gone and a host of other things that I was not interested in stocking up on.  All signs of panic. You would have thought the end of the world was at hand. They did not buy what they needed for just a few days. They bought enough for a month.

We did not panic. We remained calm and followed God’s instructions. “Go to a place I will show you.”

Now with my life “back to norm” it is the panic of the unfaithful that is upsetting. I don’t want to provide them with anything but the security I have found in Christ. They check their list and say, “Nope not what I am looking for.” Selfish desires never look for salvation. Panic moves them not faith.