Prayer Room

Memorizing Scripture
Memorizing Scripture is one of the most effective means to engage Scripture. Because Scripture engagement is about reflecting on the Bible and mulling a passage over in our minds, having a passage memorized makes the process of reflection available to you at all times. Memorized Scripture allows you to dwell continuously on a passage throughout the day. Passages memorized often bring a sense of “ownership”; a passage feels like it “belongs” to you after you have it memorized.

In an age when Bibles are readily available, it might seem that the work it takes to memorize Scripture is not worth the effort. Most of us don’t memorize much of anything, so why should we memorize the Bible? Didn’t people in the past need to memorize Scripture because the Bible was not readily available? In reality, there are actually numerous and critically important spiritual reasons for Scripture memorization.

Memorizing scripture can be important for a number of reasons, including:

Spiritual growth
Memorizing scripture can help you grow in your knowledge of God, your love for him, and your obedience to him. It can also help you develop a deeper understanding of how to follow Jesus.

Resisting temptation
When you have scripture memorized, it's easier to avoid temptation because God's word is always fresh on your mind.

Strengthening your mind
Memorizing scripture is a great exercise for your brain.

Sharing the gospel
Knowing scripture by heart can help you when you're sharing the gospel or bearing testimonies.

Widening your view of God
Memorizing scripture can help you enrich your understanding of God's character and deepen your trust in his faithfulness.

Changing the way you think and act
Memorizing scripture can transform the way you think, act, respond, reason, and speak.

Reading Psalm 119:1 People did not have personal copies of Scriptures to read as we do, so God's people memorized his Word and passed it along orally. The structure of this Psalm allowed for easy memorization. Remember, God's Word, the Bible, is the only sure guide for living a pure life.

Reasons to Memorize Scripture
First, Bible verses that are memorized will come back to you. Memorized Scripture is particularly helpful when you’re being tempted. Jesus combated the half-truths of Satan by quoting Scriptures from the Torah that he had memorized as a young man (in Matthew 4:1-11, Jesus quotes from passages in Deuteronomy and in Psalms). Psalm 119:11 is clear about the relationship between memorizing Scripture and its power to help you resist temptation: “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” As the saying goes, “Don’t forget what you learned in the light when you’re in the dark.” Scripture memory, done in the “light” times when you are strong in your faith, will come back to you during the “dark” times of temptation. When you need encouragement, comfort, or strength to stand firm in your faith, God’s Word will be readily at hand.

Second, memorizing Scripture, like all Scripture engagement practices, will help you grow in your knowledge of, love for, and obedience to God. The truths of the Bible will soak into your life, changing your understanding of what is real and good. It will help you to be stronger emotionally, bring a deeper peace into your life, and will be used by God to renew your mind.

Third, memorized Scripture is also helpful as you serve other people. You can bless others when you have an appropriate passage to share. In Colossians 3:16 we read, “Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.” When giving advice to others who are hurting or struggling, God’s Word, readily available to you if you have it memorized, is powerful to bring healing and encouragement. Also, being able to quote specific passages as you share your faith will help others to hear God’s Word and might even be used by God to bring others to Christ (Romans 10:17). 

Finally, memorizing Scripture is a powerful tool to help you to live out your faith. It’s important to keep in mind that memorizing God’s Word is not the final objective of memorizing the Bible. We’re called to be “doers” of the Word (James 2:14-19; Matthew 7:24-27). In Deuteronomy 30:14 we read, “The word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.”