Scripture Memorization
Blessed is the man . . . [whose] delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.
Psalm 1:1-2 (ESV)
I remember every summer growing up, I would memorize at least one Bible verse for each Vacation Bible School I attended. There was one program where we memorized a verse a day. Granted, it was for bragging rights and/or trinkets, but as an Enneagram 3, I couldn’t pass up an opportunity for extra credit.
Sometimes, scripture memory was painful. I remember being in tears as I repeated back to my mom: “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move” (Matthew 17:20, NIV). The entire time, I was thinking, I don’t even like mustard. But sure enough, that passage is still ingrained in my mind. And, now that I’ve actually seen a mustard seed, I get it 😂
How many of you share those painful associations with scripture memorization from your childhood? Our parents and Sunday school teachers were doing a very good thing for us, whether we believed it or not at the time. Dallas Willard wrote:
Bible memorization is absolutely fundamental to spiritual formation. If I had to choose between all the disciplines of the spiritual life, I would choose Bible memorization, because it is a fundamental way of filling our minds with what it needs. This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth. That’s where you need it! How does it get in your mouth? Memorization.
Willard, 2001, p. 7
Scripture memorization is fundamental to our walk with the Lord. I am lucky that memorization generally comes easy to me, as evidenced by my academic performance over the last 21 years. However, unlike the amino acids that I memorized for biochemistry that promptly left my brain, the Bible is is living and active (Hebrews 4:12). Once it’s in our mind, the Holy Spirit uses the Word of God to change us. I memorized Philippians in 2012, and I have few words to describe its impact on my life as a college student finding her identity. Now that I’m older and have lived more life, I am eager to memorize more passages and watch how the Holy Spirit uses God’s words to draw me closer in intimacy and to sanctify my heart.
John Piper argues that when we memorize scripture, we can commune with God and enjoy His person and His ways. He says that we, as broken human beings, are emotionally crippled. However, Scripture offers us hope and wholeness.
If we memorize . . . emotional expressions from the Bible, and say them often, asking the Lord to make the emotion real in our hearts, we can actually grow into that emotion and expression. It will become part of who we are. We will be less emotionally crippled and more able to render proper praise and thanks to God.
Piper, 2006, para. 14
Let’s practice this with an example:
Rejoice always,
pray continually,
give thanks in all circumstances;
for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Do not quench the Spirit.
Do not treat prophecies with contempt
but test them all; hold on to what is good,
reject every kind of evil.1 Thessalonians 5:16-22 (NIV)
Imagine what would happen if we asked God to help us live out these words. What JOY we would find in the mundane!
This leads me to something God placed on my heart as I enter the new year. A few weeks ago, as I was finishing up my year-long, entire-Bible reading plan, I sensed a calling to spend January studying a single book in depth. I selected 1 & 2 Thessalonians. For me, that looks like reading the entire book every day and meditating on what the Holy Spirit is teaching me. So far, I’ve already been convicted of sanctification. He’s asking me what I will give up so that I can become more like Christ (1 Th. 4:3-5). More on that next week, I think.
And, if you haven’t guessed it yet, I will memorize all of 1 Thessalonians (and likely the second book as well).
THIS IS YOUR OFFICIAL INVITATION TO JOIN ME!!
If we memorize 3-4 verses per day, we’ll be done by the end of the month. If you want a smaller chunk to memorize, here are some options:
For an attitude of gratitude: 1 Th. 5:16-22 ( ONLY 42 words)
For comfort in Christ’s second coming: 1 Th. 4:13-18
For a challenge to live a God-honoring life: 1 Th. 5:12-26
For encouragement about your walk with the Lord: 1 Th. 5:2-11
For encouragement to stand firm: 2 Th. 2:13-17
For a reminder of God’s faithfulness: 2 Th. 3:3-5
Will you join me? Let me know what you’re memorizing in the comments, and let’s share what the Holy Spirit is teaching us in this new year.
Piper, J. (2006, September 5). Why memorize scripture? Desiring God. https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/why-memorize-scripture
Willard, D. (2001). Spiritual formation in Christ for the whole life and whole person. Vocatio, 12(2).
