Psalm 199:9-16 says “How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Praise be to you, O Lord; teach me your decrees. With my lips I recount all the laws that come from your mouth. I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches. I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word.”
The key to this section of verses is what we do with God's Word. It's not enough to read and know it, quoting it won’t cut it. We must seek Him with all our heart by hiding His Word there. However, this is not the kind of hiding where we forget about it after it is hidden. We hide it there so we can always meditate on it, letting it constantly change us from the inside out. Does this describe what you do with God's Word?
Yes, I was fortunate enough to have the experience as a child to attend the AWANA program where I was taught this lesson. We weren't just to memorize Scriptures but to understand why the verse(s) were important to know in our hearts and how it can change us. I may not know exactly the word for word recitation of every verse I tried to commit to memory, but as my life journey evolved from my youth I have always been able to recollect the truths and study them more fully. God has definitely changed my heart and is still molding me. Thank you, Jesus!