By S’ambrosia Wasike

There was a time when listening to my mother lecture me with Bible verses was one of the most painstaking events in my life. Desperately seeking methods to display my disdain at hearing the same Scriptures over and over again, I would try yawning every 30 seconds, cutting her off, and finishing her sentences with a knowing nod. Or I’d simply place my head in my hands and stare at the floor. Nevertheless, my mom acted completely oblivious to my signals and forged on with her speeches.

Hidden in my Heart

Ironically enough, whenever a friend of mine would ask for biblical advice, guess which Scriptures I would use—the exact ones I had heard my mother share with me for years. No matter how much I showed displeasure at having to listen to them at the moment, they were getting into my heart. Every time she repeated them, she was hammering another nail to reinforce their presence in my memory.

As an adult it is no longer my parents’ responsibility to expose me to Scripture, explain it to me, and challenge me on my application. It is my responsibility to study the words of Jesus, but then the rest is up to the Holy Spirit. He brings conviction where it is needed, he brings clarity where there is confusion, and he reminds me of Christ’s promises at moments when I need them most.

The Reservoir of the Heart

Oftentimes when we attempt to memorize numbers or facts, they are relegated to rote memory. We may know it for the test, but afterward the information is gone. Thankfully we have the indwelling Spirit of God who is more concerned with our total transformation than whether or not we pass a test. With the Holy Spirit, studying Scripture becomes more than just reading words; it means storing those words in the reservoir of our hearts so that at the right time he can draw from that well and give us a drink. And what a refreshing drink it is! 

S’ambrosia Wasike and her husband are living out their dreams in Kitale, Kenya, where they film documentaries for missionaries and train former orphans in art education.