5 Ways & Reasons To Memorize Scripture

1…2….3….4….check marks beside “Michaela” on the dry erase board in the children’s Sunday school room. As a little girl, getting to get a check mark put beside my name, or a star shaped sticker for memorizing that week’s “Memory verse” was like the best thing ever, ya’ll! My sisters and I were homeschooled, and part of our school work was often to memorize scripture, especially when we were small. My Sunday school teachers as well as my mom always had a way of making it fun, easy, and exciting so it was something I always enjoyed.

     It wasn’t until I got older that I really realized the true benefits of having them memorized, understood them better, and had more opportunities to put them to use. Yet, as much as they came in handy, I wasn’t memorizing very many new ones anymore…if at all! It was, and is, no longer an actual part of my week, and I was really bad about memorizing them in my own time. Being totally honest here, I am still awful about it. Not proud of that, but hey, it’s the truth!

     I think a lot of times we forget the importance of having God’s words deeply rooted in our memory. We’ll easily memorize the lyrics of a song we heard momentarily in the grocery store, a funny line from a favorite tv show in seconds, a tragic story told by the local news station, a conversation full of someone else’s business….so many things our minds will store and repeat so easily. Yet, how often do we fill ourselves with the words of Jesus himself, a scripture of encouragement for someone else (or yourself), The Lord’s precepts, and the Bible’s stories of the steadfast faithfulness of the God we serve? Let’s be real. Most of us are pretty bad about it. (If you aren’t, well by golly, keep it up!) But it’s really so important, you guys, and here’s why!

     1.) Knowing God’s words are not only imperative to Godly living, but a blessing and joy bringing. The Bible is ever addressing to us the importance of The Word and including it as much as possible in our day to day lives. Deuteronomy 6:6-9 tells us “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.” It also reminds us of the joy and delight that it brings. Psalm 1:2 says “But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.” And again in Jeremiah 15:16 “Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O Lord, God of hosts.” Psalm 19:7-11 “The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.”

     2.) In knowing God’s word we can better share Christ with those who have yet to come to Him. How effective can we be in sharing the gospel and Christ’s love without God’s Word to aid us? If we don’t know it for ourselves? 2 Timothy 4:2 tells us to “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.” We should be ready for any opportunity God may give us to share and at any time. For the opportunities we know are coming, and for ones that may pop up. You never know who God will send your way or when. We should always be prepared to be able to share God’s gospel and word with anyone who may be set in our path. There have been so many instances where I needed a Bible verse in a conversation and it came right back to me when I needed it, but so many times I had wished I knew one off hand and didn’t.

     3.) You can better encourage other believers “old and new” towards Godliness. There will be so many times when a sister (or brother!) in Christ desires or needs to hear God’s promises! His truths…His precepts…His precious words of wisdom or blessed assurance… 1 Thessalonians 4:18 says to “...encourage each other with these words.” And in Colossians 3:16, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom…”

     4.) To keep yourself accountable. I can’t tell ya how many times a verse would pop into my head just as I was about to say or do something I really shouldn’t. It’s kind of crazy how those verses WILL be brought to your remembrance! (Okay, God….I get it.)  Having God’s words memorized is seriously such an incredibly helpful accountability tool. Psalm 37:31 “The law of his God is in his heart; his steps do not slip.” & Psalm 119:9 “How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word.” And two verses later in verse 11 it says, “Thy word have I hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against you.“

     5.) Knowing His words will give Godly direction, guidance, + success to your decisions! In Joshua 1:8 it says that “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful 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.” Psalm 119:105 “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” And lastly, Proverbs 6:21-22 “Bind them on your heart always; tie them around your neck. When you walk, they will lead you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; and when you awake, they will talk with you.“

Now for some easy ways to go about doing that memorizin’!

1.) Make it a song. This was almost entirely how I memorized verses as a kid. My Sunday school teachers made them songs, my mom made them songs, and if we didn’t make it a song, we would simply clap with it. Sounds soo silly, I know! But oh my good gracious, IT WORKS, and so stinkin’ quickly.

2.) Break it up. If it’s a long one, instead of memorizing the whole chunk, try memorizing it in pieces, parts, or one or two phrases at a time. It won’t be as overwhelming or nearly as much. Keep adding on as you memorize! (You got this!)

3.) Put it in places where you constantly see it. Stick it on a mirror, above your coffee maker, on your desk, on your refrigerator, orrr on the lid of that ice cream tub that ya can’t stay away from.

4.) Doodle it! Play around with some hand lettering/calligraphy with it, making it look different each time. Or write it out and doodle around it (multiple times!) Or just simply write it over and over.

5.) Write the first letter of each word in the verse on your hand. This idea was comes from Mary Kate Robertson (read about it on her blog here). But it is so effective! I’ve actually learned a lot of Scripture this way.  Simply write the first letter of every word in the verse on your hand. You’ll constantly be seeing it, and having the first letter there helps bunches.

     I hope that you will decide to challenge yourself right along with me towards memorizing more scripture. We make time for so many other things that aren’t nearly as important (guilty!). So squish in some scripture memory in that busy schedule of yours, and let’s prioritize + memorize God’s precious word together!  //