My husband’s grandma started memorizing Scripture late in her life. She always said her brain couldn’t remember it exactly. But then, someone told her it was a lie from the enemy. She didn’t take too kindly to that, so she set out to defy the enemy. She told everyone in her life that they could memorize Scripture, too, and that thinking they couldn’t was a lie from the enemy. Speaking truth to the lies we hear is important, but is there any real importance to memorizing Scripture? Does Scripture itself tell us of any benefits to learning the words? I believe so. Let’s look at a few reasons why we must pursue this discipline.
The Bible tells us to write Scripture on our hearts and in our houses and to teach it to our children. (Keep in mind that you do not need to have literal children to be “parenting” someone in your life.) We are told to think about Scripture and to put reminders around us so that our focus stays on God’s Word. In Deuteronomy 6:5-9 (NIV), Moses writes, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road when you lie down, and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.”
Five chapters later, he emphasizes the importance of reiterating, “Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road when you lie down, and when you get up. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth” (Deuteronomy 11:18-21, NIV). Lest we think this is only an Old Testament guideline, hundreds of years after Moses, Paul tells us to “let the word of Christ dwell in us richly” (Colossians 3:16, NIV.) Notice the word “in” here– that means in our hearts.
Satan himself knows Scripture and will try to use it against us. We must know it so that we can resist and cause him to flee (James 4:7, NIV). Jesus did this very thing when He was tempted in the wilderness. See Matthew 4:1-11 and Luke 4:1-13 for the story of Jesus and Satan using Scripture against each other. We know from the temptation of Eve in Genesis 3 that Satan twists God’s words. He does the same thing when he tries to use God’s good and holy Word against Jesus. However, because Jesus has those very words written in His heart and mind, He fights back with Scripture and wins.
When Satan is whispering lies to us, we must know the truth of God’s Word so we are not tricked by clever deceptions. When we spend time in God’s Word and write it on our hearts through memorization, verses will appear in our minds when needed. Try it and see. The Holy Spirit speaks to you through Scripture and will use Scripture so that you know the right things to say, think, and do when you most need help.
Scripture guides us to live obedient lives. When we memorize Scripture, we are writing obedience right onto our hearts. Psalm 119:9-16 tells us that learning and following God’s Word is what keeps us pure: “How can a young person stay on the path of purity? 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, 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” (NIV).
In seeking obedience, we are required to make wise decisions. We can know what God wants us to do. He is speaking! He is not hiding Himself, hoping you one day stumble upon His desire and will for your life. Rather, He is clearly guiding us with His word. Psalm 119:105 declares:
“Your Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (NIV).
The book of Joshua tells us that when we know God’s Word, we will be careful to act on it and prosper through those wise actions. “Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” (Joshua 1:8, NIV).
The best way to get to know someone is by listening to what they have to say. We show that we are invested in those people when we remember what they have told us. The same is true of God. We get to know Him through His Word and demonstrate that He matters to us by remembering what His Word says. We know that the Word is God (John 1:1), so memorizing Scripture teaches us more about our Heavenly Father. Not only will we know Him better while we are here on earth, but we will also carry that Scripture with us into eternity because we know that the Word will never pass away, rather, it will endure forever (Matthew 24:45, 1 Peter 1:25, Isaiah 40:8).
Whatever your reason for memorizing Scripture, my prayer for you is that you feel the full blessing of His Word in your life. He is capable of immeasurably more than we could ever ask or even imagine (Ephesians 3:20-21), and your efforts will not be wasted. Write His Words in journals, on dry-erase boards, or your mirrors. Put sticky notes on your door and recite a verse each time you go in or out of the house. Sing songs of Scripture- we memorize easily when words are set to tunes. Encourage your entire family to memorize alongside you. Have check-ins and challenges and spur one another to memorize even more. Memorize Scripture because “No word of God will ever fail” (Luke 1:37, NIV).
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/aldomurillo
Megan Moore is a military spouse and mom of 3 (through birth and adoption). A speech-language pathologist by training, she now spends her time moving around the country every couple of years. She is passionate about special needs, adoption, and ice cream.