Hi Brian!

The word for this week is "memory". We find it in the Old Testament in these verses: Psalm 145:7 and Proverbs 10:7:

Psalm 145:7 They shall abundantly utter the memory of thy great goodness, and shall sing of thy righteousness. KJV

Proverbs 10:7 The memory of the just is blessed: but the name of the wicked shall rot. KJV

These are both the Hebrew word "zeker". Strong's Concordance says: a memento, recollection. Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon says: a memorial, a rembrance. the Theological Word Book says: remembrance, commemoration, invocation, name. It refers to the mental act of memory. Also various forms of audible or public expression. In the New Testament we have only one verse:  1 Corinthians 15:2:

1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. KJV

This is the Greek word "katecho". Strong's Concordance says: to hold fast. Thayer's Greek Lexicon says: to hold back, to detain, to retain, to restrain, to hold fast, to keep secure, to get possession of. The Theological Dictionary says: to occupy legally, for holding fast values, instruction, or attitudes. Vine's Expository Dictionary says: to hold firmly, to hold fast.

The Old Testament word seems to refer to reminding oneself of something so that it isn't forgotten. I believe that the New Testament word is more powerful in that it refers to holding fast to the truth of God's Word and to getting possession of what is promised. This IS how we are able to walk in the provision of every good thing that JESUS paid with His life for! It is much more than memorizing  verses to recite, but involves meditating until Holy Spirit is able to make the WORD come alive to us! I really like the instructions in Joshua 1:8 from the Amplified Bible:

8 This Book of the Law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe and do according to all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall deal wisely and have good success.

THAT is how we retain the Word and how we are able to make it our own! Here is Hillsong with "Your Word":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!