Twitter accounts, email addresses, usernames, passwords, phones numbers, and on and on. Memorization is a part of daily life.
The ability to memorize depends on its importance to us: sports fans remember statistics; students memorize information they think will be on an exam.
How important is remembering God’s Word? I learned to memorize Scripture and continue today because of the power it unlocks in my faith journey.
This year several students I spoke with had the same question: Why is memorizing Scripture so important? It is so important because it is so powerful: in our heads, hearts, and hands.
Head
When a verse is stored in our mind it is ready to be used. We cannot reflect on what we do not know. Memorizing Scripture puts it in our head. The Psalmist wrote, “…on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers,” (Psalm 1:2-3). We meditate on Scripture so we can prosper spiritually.
One student, Henry (not his real name), was in his last year of school and still did not know what to do with his life. He said, “For the past six years I have been a failure.” With this thinking, Henry was like a withering leaf. For three years, I had seen Henry grow spiritually and I reminded him of Joshua 1:8: “Do not let this book of the Law depart from your mouth; 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.” This passage opened Henry’s understanding and showed him the key to success is more than a career choice. Today Henry continues to read and memorize Scripture and produces spiritual fruit in his workplace.
Heart
Transformation of the heart is another real power of Scripture memorization. The Holy Spirit uses the verses we know to convict us to become more Christlike. When we memorize Scripture, it is not the act, but God’s Word, which keeps us from sin. “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:11). When the Word of God is hidden in my heart and made available to the Holy Spirit, it protects me from sin.
Our victory, however, is constantly challenged by a world caught in spiritual war. Our spiritual warfare involves a real enemy—Satan. We are told in Ephesians 6:17 to combat him with “…the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.” Three times Jesus used Scripture to gain victory over Satan in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-10). We too can have victory if we are equipped with the words of eternal life (John 6:68). The power of Scripture memory puts the sword into our hand where we can use it.
In one of my Bible studies, a woman named Wendy struggled with Satan’s attacks on her personal worth. She believed her past was too horrific to be cleansed and forgotten. I gave Wendy weekly verses that could help but one in particular, John 1:12, stood out to her. Especially the part, “…He gave the right to become children of God.” For the rest of the semester, Wendy memorized and meditated on this verse. It was amazing to watch as she discovered her true worth and identity in Christ. Because of the power of Scripture memory, Satan was defeated and God was glorified in Wendy’s life.
Hands
Memorizing Scripture puts a powerful tool immediately at hand so we can make use of it by helping others. Daily, students I work with are flogged with whips of busyness or clubs of pressure and continually need help. When students trust me to help them how will I answer? Will I teach the words of truth, or will I selfishly offer my own opinion?
In one of my quiet times the Lord brought me to Proverbs 18:2, which I had memorized the week before: “A fool finds no pleasure in understanding but delights in airing his own opinions.” I began to find peace in not always having an immediate answer. Now I carefully consider problems and challenges and seek God’s direction. Because I memorize Scripture, verses often come to mind, giving me practical guidance and making me a better leader.
Remembering God’s Word is a powerful way of unlocking God’s truth in our lives. Through Scripture memory, God can transform our thinking, mould our hearts, and use us in his plans.
Here’s my tweet: Scripture memory is powerful because it transforms your thinking (Rom 12:2) and your heart (Ps 119:11), and guides your actions (2 Tim 3:16).
