At church camp many years ago, we played a game called Draw Swords. As a Scripture verse was given, kids frantically flipped Bible pages. The first to find the text would stand and read it.

God’s Word, AKA our sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17), is our greatest offensive weapon against sin. Matthew and Luke describe Jesus being tempted in the wilderness and how He faced each challenge. Jesus quoted Scripture to Satan. He didn’t call a timeout to go to the temple and search for a verse on a sacred scroll and He didn’t have a cell phone with a Bible app. Jesus had committed to memory the very words of God.

We should do likewise. Temptation and sin will be easier and quicker to defeat if we have a verse ready in our heart and on our tongue. While working on a verse, our mind meditates and mulls over the words, transforming our thought patterns and eventually changing our actions.

God’s Word is powerful. Its truth gives us courage and strength to fight against evil, but we can’t have victory in a battle against temptation and sin without our weapon, our sword of the Spirit.

If you’ve never memorized Scripture, why not begin today? Ask God to guide you to a verse that speaks to your circumstances. If you have, perhaps it’s time to add another to your arsenal. Today I’m adding, “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:11).

May we ready our sword.