Commit it to memory

By Del Duduit

If you are asked to pick your favorite movies, chances are you can whip off the titles quickly. I have discovered that for the most part, people, including myself, enjoy talking about entertainment.

My top five movies change often. Here they are as of March 16, 2021.

1. Jaws
2. The Silence of the Lambs
3. True Grit (John Wayne)
4. The Outlaw Josey Wales
5. (tie) Batman Begins / Unforgiven 

I can tell you many lines from these movies, including the best oneliner EVER from Clint Eastwood’s character Josey Wales — “Dyin’ ain’t much of a livin’ boy.”

The same goes for restaurants. Family and friends love to give unsolicited recommendations and tell you that “YOU MUST GO THERE.” With that, here are my top five:

1. Toro Loco (Portsmouth, OH)
2. Tick Tock Diner (NYC)
3. Del Frisco’s Steakhouse (Fort Worth, Texas)
4. Keegan’s Seafood Grille (Sand Key, Florida)
5. Hickie’s Hamburgers (New Boston, OH)

How about the top vacation spots?

My top five include:

1. Alaska
2. Fort Myers
3. Clearwater
4. Las Vegas
5. Gatlinburg, Tennessee

My top five recording artists are:

1. Elvis Presley
2. Billy Joel
3. Norah Jones
4. Johnny Cash
5. Angie Duduit

You get the idea. People like to discuss things that bring them pleasure.

But could you tell me your top five favorite Bible verses? Or would you stare off into space with a bewildered look on your face? Maybe it’s the same expression you gave your fourth-grade teacher when she asked you for the homework assignment you forgot to complete.

How about your favorite scripture? Surely you have one.

When I spoke to David Hess, a pitcher for the Tampa Bay Rays, he not only told me his, but he recited it and told me why he liked Galatians 2: 20.

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

“It’s one of my favorite verses because the verse, especially Paul, talks about his identity in Christ and who he is through what happened through Jesus’ death and the resurrection,” he told me on the field at Cleveland’s Progressive Field. “It just stands out as something that I want the world to be aware of and who I live for and who I play this game for.”

David had no idea what I was going to ask him. I simply inquired what his favorite verse was and why. He then told me the verse word for word and explained the reason for his choice. For him, it was part of a normal conversation.

It was as if he had rehearsed his answer –but he hadn’t.

David clearly articulated his beliefs and why this scripture is so special to him.

Over the past two years, I have interviewed several professional athletes and asked them about their favorite verses. Most of them told me – and most of them could recite it to me. Could you?

My top five include:

1. Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established. (Proverbs 16: 3)
2. Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. (Romans 15: 13)
3. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. (Colossians 3: 14)
4. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. (Philippians 4: 13)
5. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (Romans 8: 28 – actually my wife’s favorite)

When you memorize a verse, it can provide you with inspiration and encouragement when you need it the most.

Try to find one that has meaning for you and make it a point to commit it to memory.  Because you never know when someone may walk up to you unexpectedly and ask you to recite your favorite verse in the Bible. Find “your” verse.

David was not expecting me to ask this when I approached him – but he was ready. Are you?

You can read about stories like David’s in my book Dugout Devotions II: Inspirational Hits from MLB’s Best which just launched last week. You can order it here.

And by the way, David’s favorite movie is Gladiator; his favorite breakfast is bacon and eggs, and his favorite vacation spots must include the beach or mountains.

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Del Duduit is an award-winning writer and author who lives in Lucasville, Ohio with his wife, Angie. They attend Rubyville Community Church. Follow his blog at delduduit.com/blog and his Twitter @delduduit. He is represented by Cyle Young of C.Y.L.E. Agency.