A 75-year-old woman was constrained to a hospital bed after
breaking her back. When a good friend of hers, a missionary, was home on
furlough, he visited her in the hospital. She confided in him that she felt
aimless because God had no purpose for her in the hospital. In response, the
missionary asked her what she had been doing for God lately.
The nerve! She couldn’t move, had cables attached to all
sides of her body, and he expected her to do something? He reminded her that
even though her body was unusable, her mind wasn’t. He challenged her to
memorize God’s Word, so it would be there when she couldn’t pick up a Bible and
read. She took him up on his challenge with Psalm 1 and by the time she was
released, she had close to the whole book of Psalms committed to memory.
Over 20 years later, the missionary visited her again, and
was amazed by the sharpness of her mind. Even more so, he was impressed with
her unmistakably deep relationship with God. Then she told him her secret: she
never stopped memorizing. She had almost half of the Bible hidden in her heart.
Why Memorize Scripture?
The most common challenge to memorizing Scripture is the
accessibility of the Bible. The typical Christian home has multiple copies on
their bookshelves. People can download the free apps on their phones, and buy
them pocket-sized online or at Christian bookstores. While it is a blessing to
have the Bible at our fingertips, we can take it for granted and diminish its
worth as commonplace. Keeping Scripture not only in our hands, but in our
hearts, is a way to cherish God’s Word—creating the opportunity to meditate on truth
and rest in his presence.
Psalm 119 stresses the importance of Bible memorization.
Verse 114 reads, “You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your
word.” Scripture gives us endurance to withstand temptation. When we fill our
minds with the Word of God, we mentally and spiritually build a barrier between
ourselves and the enemy. Imagine each verse as a brick. The more verses you
commit to memory, the higher and stronger that wall against the enemy grows.
In Matthew 4, Jesus used Scripture to stand firm against
temptation in the desert. He didn’t pull out his pocket Torah and leaf through
it until he found the verses he needed. He had them hidden away in his mind,
ready to use when he needed it most. The relationship between the human mind
and the Word of God is powerful: during dark times, the Holy Spirit calls out
these memorized verses to bring you wisdom, strength, and hope.
Memorizing Scripture has emotional benefits, as well. Psalm
119:143 explains, “Trouble and distress have come upon me, but your commands
give me delight.” I know people who have found solace in quoting Scripture,
especially in the darkest of valleys, and I’ve lived this reality in combating
depression and anxiety in my own life. When these enemies pounce, quoting passages
about God’s love, power, and authority brings assurance and peace to my mind.
Myths about Memorizing
Misconceptions abound about memorizing Scriptures. Take
these three myths, for example:
Myth 1: I can’t memorize.
If you’re hearing yourself think this, take this
three-question quiz:
Say your home
address.
Write down the
synopsis of your favorite movie.
Give directions
from your home to the closest gas station.
If you could do this without looking up the answers, you can
memorize. Just as your address is split into short sections, verses are
segmented by punctuation. A good example is Matthew 5:7: “Blessed are the
merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” See? Two short sections. In many
respects, memorizing Scripture is no different than memorizing any one of the
items above. The more familiar you become with a verse—the way you’re familiar
with your address, favorite movie, and directions to local hotspots—the deeper
it’s etched into your mind.
Myth 2: I’m too old to memorize.
God doesn’t retire people when they reach “old age.” Take
Moses, for example. Do you remember how old he was when God called him? No, not
late 30slike you see in The Prince of Egypt. Not even 60-something like in The
Ten Commandments. According to the Bible, he was 80. At the burning bush, God
took an elderly outlaw with a speech impediment who spent his time with stinky
sheep and convinced him to guide Israel across the desert for the next 40
years. If God can do that with Moses, then God can do untold things through
you—regardless of your age.
Moreover, memorizing Scripture helps improve working memory.
In 2006, the Journal of the American Medical Association released a study
revealing that seniors who underwent memory training benefited, even for years
after.
Myth 3: I don’t have enough time.
Nobody thinks they do, but the fact is there are ways to
incorporate memorization into our busy schedules. Be intentional and strategic
with how you use your time. Make use of wait times like when you’re waiting in
line at the grocery store or waiting for your food at a restaurant.
10 Tips to Get Started
Contrary to popular opinion, people who memorize regularly
are not “super Christians” with photographic memory. Instead, they have simply
learned ways to make the challenge fun and simple. Below are 10 tried-and-true
memory strategies.
1. Start with passages you’re already familiar with.
2. Write the verse on one side of an index card and the
verse reference on the other. Carry the card around with you so you can work on
memorizing it during wait times.
3. Record yourself reading the verses. Listen and follow
along while you’re driving, working out, or cleaning.
4. Write the first letter of each word in the verse. When
you need a hint, look at the letters instead of the full verse.
5. Use the stacking method. Stack small drawings or pictures
that represent different keywords in the verse. This can help you visualize the
verse, even when you aren’t looking at the pictures.
6. If you learn best when you do something with your hands,
shuffle a deck of cards while you quote. The repetitive motion will help you
concentrate.
7. Tape your verse to the bathroom mirror and work on it as
you shave or fix your hair in the morning.
8. Write the verse by hand. Rewrite the verse over and over,
or use hand-lettering and other creative illustrations. Utilizing fine motor
skills engages your brain. The more of your brain you can employ while
memorizing, the better the information will stick.
9. Memorize for five minutes, and then take a break. This
allows your brain to relax after the mental exercise.
10. Set your computer and phone background images to verses.
You’ll be surprised by how quickly you have it memorized!
Although Bible memorization can be challenging, it’s vital
for anyone interested in growing spiritually. Not only is it commanded in
Scripture, but also you’ll be strengthened and be able to benefit others as
well. So try it! Choose a verse. Memorize it. When you’re done, share it with
three people. After that, choose another verse.
You don’t want to miss the powerful ways God can use this
practice in your life.
Written by Angela Cornell
Angela Cornell is a country girl living in central Illinois
with her family. She graduated from Bethel College (IN) in 2013 and is a
freelance writer.
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