Bible memorization has been on my bucket list for years. It was only after my son took ill in the winter that I had decided to do something about it. It was then that I had memorized Psalms 23 fully. Moving ahead to today, I am in the process of memorizing Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5, 6 and 7.
The importance of Bible memorization
I am sure someone will ask, why is Bible memorization so important? After all, anyone can quickly summon the Bible on a device with a few simply swipes. What would be the benefit to committing God’s Word to memory?
The discipline of memorizing scripture produces fruit that will remain with a person for the rest of his or her life. First, it will draw the reader closer to God by establishing his word in the heart of the reader. Second, the reader will gain wisdom with the slow and labored act of ingesting biblical truths on a daily basis, wisdom that can only come with the passage of time. Third, and most importantly, when the reader needs help with life’s trials, and the reader will need that help, God, through the Holy Spirit, will bring into remembrance the learned words as a means to carry the reader through those trials.
Why I began memorizing scripture
When my son was in the hospital for a month, I had a lot of time by his bedside to think about life. I also had a lot of time to read what God had to say about it all. His words, especially Psalms, were a comfort to me.
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.” (Psalms 23:4)
As each day dragged into the next, I knew God was there with me in spite of my not having an answer as to why he would allow tragedy to strike my family as it did. Those words eventually became part of me, where now I can not only repeat them aloud without much effort, but also recall experiences attached to those words; experiences I would not have had otherwise, had I not gone through everything I did with my family at the time.
How I commit the Bible to memory
The way I commit the words of the Bible to memory is the only way I have found that works for me:
- Choose a book or chapter that has affected you on a personal level
- Learn a verse a day
- Recall the previous day’s verse before adding a new verse
- Read the text carefully, looking at each word of the text until you can picture it in your mind
- Write everything down that you have learned so far
- Meditate on the words and make them a part of you
It involves a lot of hard work
I cannot stress how important it is to understand that moving forward with the discipline of scripture memorization is going to be a lot of hard work. Some days will be more rewarding than other days, but recognizing that fact in no way diminishes the overall goal of knowing God’s truths in such an intimate way.
Ultimately, the reward will be God’s word living inside our minds and in our hearts, leading us in our daily walk with Jesus.
Looking to God 
I enjoyed reading this post, it is important to memorize scriptures. You have just given us a key to key to fighting our battles.
Thank you. I’m glad it helps!
Thanks for sharing this Jack. This has definitely been something God has been teaching me to be more diligent in lately. I’ve said, it’s too hard for too long, but just finished memorizing 1 John chapter 1 and have learned so much!
Hey, that’s great, Brooke! Blessings!
Blessed by the post so much! Thank you!
You’re very welcome! Blessings!
❤
Two additional reasons to memorize scripture. First, it is the Sword!
“Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,”
Ephesians 6:14-17 ESV
Second, it is a hammer!
https://markjerde.wordpress.com/2017/06/29/gods-hammer/
Blessings!
Making the words of Scripture a part of you – such a simple concept, yet so hard to achieve, yet so critically important!
Thanks for the encouragement. This is so important!
Be blessed.
I have dyslexia so memorization is difficult at best. While teaching ESL in a restricted country I defused stress and worry by memorizing several chapters in the Psalms. Those Psalms still bring me comfort in stress and sorrow many years later.
This is great, Jack. Amen. I used to use a memory system with my kids when we homeschooled that involved reviewing older Scriptures. Now that they are teens and exploring whether or not they believe, I pray that the word they have in their hearts will lead them back to my Father. As for me, I continue to store up His word in my heart that I might not sin against Him (Psalm 119:11). The sermon on the mount is on my memory bucket list!
Scripture memory is so important! Thank you for discussing this in such a helpful way.
Beautiful post, you inspired me to start memorizing my favorite verses, I always had this feeling that, with every word I’m learning, I open my mind and my heart a little more, for God. Your words are a blessing and a motivation, thank you with all my heart snd soul!
Many blessings upon you!