There have been times in my life without a bible in hand to refer to scripture. No phone, no computer, no tools but my mind that I have placed scripture into. Below is a great resource to help you begin or begin again to memorize scripture. This article gives the “why should I?” answers, that clearly encourage and inspire scripture memorization.
In Deuteronomy 6:4-6, Moses calls out to the people of Israel:
“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one! You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.”
Why does God command us to be continually preoccupied with His words right after calling for our whole-hearted love?
Have you ever noticed this sequence of instructions?
We were created to love God with all that we are. To focus on Him, to put feet on this “heart-soul-strength” thing, we start by absorbing all that He’s said. Our consciousness is to be saturated with the resonating words breathed out by God’s Spirit through inspired apostles and prophets.
We begin by planting those words in our own hearts. Only then do we impart them to our children. And from there we go on to engage our households in an unceasing, daily, hourly conversation about God’s words.
When it comes right down to it, we all know that to love someone is to pay attention—careful, “remembering” attention—to what he has said. When we love someone, we remember his words. As we remember and treasure God’s words, our hearts grow in love for Him.
Beyond that, here are just a few other reasons you should memorize Scripture:
- God tells us to.
- It heals and comforts us.
- It saturates our hearts with truth.
- It offers spiritual success.
- It equips us for spiritual warfare.
- It fuels our witness.
God tells us to.
“And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.” —Deuteronomy 6:6-7
This is a direct command from God for His people. We are to treasure His Word in our hearts first, then carefully teach our children to do the same. Our ministry’s methods and memory courses are optional, but the practice of memorizing Scripture is not. We need it, and our children do too!
It heals and comforts us.
Scripture has the power to heal broken lives, and memorizing Scripture gets it deeper into our hearts where it can do its healing work. Focusing on God’s promises also gives peace and stability even through the worst trials: “Unless Your law had been my delight, I would then have perished in my affliction” — Psalm 119:92
It saturates our hearts with truth.
“’My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,’ says the Lord.” —Isaiah 55:8
Truth doesn’t come naturally to us as fallen human beings. Memorizing Scripture helps us guard against sin, including sins out of ignorance: “Your word have I hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You” — Psalm 119:11
It offers spiritual success.
“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” — Joshua 1:8
It equips us for spiritual warfare.
“And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”— Ephesians 6:17
It fuels our witness.
“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.” — 1 Peter 3:15
When we memorize Scripture, we make it instantly accessible in every situation and for every need. Whether you use our plan or your own, memorizing God’s Word is vital. Don’t talk yourself out of it—it will change your life!
Click here to read the original blog on ScriptureMemory.com
