Why Should We Memorize God’s Word?
August 21st, 2023 • by Hunter Beless
How often do we scroll through Instagram, Facebook, or Google for help on a situation we’re walking through? How quick are we to shoot a text to a friend for advice or help? It’s so easy for us to look to tangible helps to soothe our souls (and there is good to be found in these things!). But how often do we neglect first going to the Word as our primary help?
While our lives are ever-changing, God’s Word is forever; it is firmly fixed in heaven (Psalm 119:89). The Word of the Lord is perfect, flawless, (Psalm 18:30), and will stand forever (Isa. 40:8). The Bible is living and active, it has the power to speak to our hearts (Heb. 4:12), and it will not return empty (Isa. 55:11). In all things, the Bible speaks a more relevant word and offers timeless truths that will never pass away (Luke 21:33).
Our worlds will always be filled with change, chaos, and noise, which is why it is vital that we hide God’s Word deeply in our minds and our hearts. Scripture memory is a means of doing just that.
When we memorize Scripture, we take up the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. In rehearsing passages we’ve stored in our minds, we can pray at all times (Eph. 6:17). When we lean on our toolbelt of memorized scripture in times of temptation, we can say with the psalmist, “I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:11). As we rehearse the words we’ve stored in our minds, the Spirit prompts us toward obedience and we illustrate David’s cry, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105).
What is True About God’s Word?
One of the primary ways God has given us to know him is through his Word, the Bible. I’m passionate about encouraging others to grow in their knowledge of the Word because it is the Word that leads us to the Word made flesh.
The Bible helps us:
See and treasure Christ
Know and love God more
Change from the inside out
Combat sin and pursue holiness
Remember God’s promises
Delight in the life Christ offers us
By understanding WHY Scripture is so important, we can build a robust foundation for the discipline of Scripture memory.
“One of the primary ways God has given us to know him is through his Word, the Bible. ”
Why Do We Memorize Scripture?
Likely, we all have incredibly easy access to God’s Word. In fact, I’d wager that most of us have multiple Bibles scattered around our houses. So why is it important to memorize Scripture if we can just open our Bibles and read the words there?
We memorize Scripture:
To know and love God more
To help us fight sin
To enable us to pray biblically
To equip us for evangelism
To fuel our joy
We memorize Scripture because it helps us see Jesus, because it’s the only book that has the power to transform our hearts, because it helps us fight sin, because it comforts our hearts and reminds us of God’s promises, and because doing so will press us to know and love God more!
What Are the Benefits of Scripture Memory?
Scripture memory offers us access to the very words of God in those challenging moments when we need them most.
It allows us to ask strong questions when our children are squabbling like, “Are we honoring one another above ourselves?” (Rom. 12:10) or “Are we walking humbly and seeking to be at peace with each other?” (Rom. 12:16-18).
It enables us to offer a word of encouragement after a skinned knee or a bumped noggin like, “Did you know God heals our broken hearts and bandages our wounds?” (Psalm 147:3) or “God cares about every one of our bumps and bruises. In fact, he experienced far greater pain on our behalf. Did you know we can draw near to him and receive mercy and help even now?” (Heb. 4:14-16).
When we’re on the verge of losing our cool, a verse tucked away in our hearts can remind us that the Holy Spirit is groaning and interceding for us, helping us in our time of weakness (Rom. 8:26), and that Christ himself is at the right hand of God praying for us even now (Rom. 8:34).
And when we find ourselves or someone we love in utter distress we can whisper in their ear, “Take heart. Absolutely nothing can separate you from the love of Christ.” (Rom. 8:35-39).
“We memorize Gods’ Word to know and love him more, to remember who he is and what he has done for us, and to remember how we ought to live in light of that. ”
Tips for Memorizing Scripture:
Memorizing God’s Word might not come naturally to you—that’s okay! Here are a few tips for growing in the practice of Scripture memory.
Remember why we memorize:
In Matthew 22, a lawyer asks Jesus to share the greatest commandment of all. Jesus said the most important thing we can do is to love God with all our heart, souls, and minds (Matt. 22:37). When we memorize the Bible, we offer ourselves ready reminders to love God with everything we’ve got!
Ask God to increase your heart for his Word:
When I’m struggling to love my Bible, I ask God to give me a love for it. I often read Psalm 119 and pray with the Psalmist, “Open my eyes so that I may contemplate wondrous things from your instruction” (18). “My life is down in the dust; give me life through your word” (25). “Help me understand the meaning of your precepts so that I can meditate on your wonders. I am weary from grief; strengthen me through your Word” (27-28).
Choose a verse or passage from your Bible study:
Selecting a verse or passage to memorize from your Bible study will enable you to reflect on its truths throughout the day. Choose one that stirs your affection for God, that reminds you what he’s done for you in Christ, that will help you live in light of what he’s done, remind you of his promises, and fuel your prayers.
Add it to your routine:
Find a daily habit that you can do alongside the discipline of Scripture memory. It might be brushing your teeth, sitting down to eat, waiting for your coffee to brew, washing dishes, or waiting in the school pickup line. Then, simply incorporate reviewing the verse or passage you’re memorizing into your existing routine.
Find a buddy:
One of the most helpful ways to develop new disciplines is to do them alongside others. Try memorizing Scripture with a friend over voice memo, with a family member at mealtimes, or with a small group of people at your local church. It is a joy to memorize and delight in the truths of God’s Word together!
Keep delighting!
We don’t memorize Scripture out of duty or obligation. We don’t memorize to add verses to our spiritual resume or to earn brownie points with God. We are saved solely on the performance of his Son, Christ Jesus. In light of that, we memorize Gods’ Word to know and love him more, to remember who he is and what he has done for us, and to remember how we ought to live in light of that. Ask God to help you delight in his Word and desire to memorize and rehearse its truths every day.
“We are saved by the work of the Word made flesh, Jesus Christ. And because of what he’s done for us, we get to reach for the Word that helps us keep our eyes fixed on him.”
Scripture Memory is Worth it, My Friends
Sisters, it might take you months to memorize just one verse. But it is not about the number of verses you have memorized. It’s about knowing more of God as you think upon his character. It’s about treasuring his words and delighting in them. It’s about looking to him for help in our time of need. It’s about remembering his promises and provision for us in Jesus. And it’s about encouraging those around us to simply look to Jesus.
Praise God we’re not saved by the quality of our Bible study or the number of minutes we spend meditating on God’s Word or the number of verses we memorize—we are saved by the work of the Word made flesh, Jesus Christ. And because of what he’s done for us, we get to reach for the Word that helps us keep our eyes fixed on him.
Below are some verses that I hope grow your heart for God’s Word. Perhaps consider adding some of these to your Scripture memory list. And as you read through them, ask God to grow your affections for his Word.
Scriptures about God’s Word:
“The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever” (Isaiah 40:8)
“Forever, O Lord, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens. Your faithfulness endures to all generations; you have established the earth and it stands fast” (Psalm 119:89-90)
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away”(Luke 21:33)
“The words of the Lord are pure words, like silver refined in a furnace on the ground, purified seven times” (Psalm 12:6)
“For it is no empty word for you, but your very life, and by this word you shall live long in the land that you are going over the Jordan to possess” (Deuteronomy 32:47)
“Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom he also created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power” (Hebrews 1:1-3)
“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.” (Joshua 1:8)
“Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him. Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me” (John 14:21;23-24)
“You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life” (John 5:39-40)
“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12)
“Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls” (James 1:21)
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105)
“If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us” (1 John 1:8-10)
“But the word is very near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can do it” (Deuteronomy 30:14)
“I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:11)
“Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.” (Proverbs 30:5)
“Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ” (Romans 10:17)
“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4)
“How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” (Psalm 119:103)
“The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes” (Psalm 19:8)
“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers, but his delight is in the law of the Lord and on his law he meditates day and night” (Psalm 1:1-2)
Verses to consider memorizing:
“And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37-39)
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15)
“Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you”( James 4:8)
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:2)
“For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil” (Matthew 12:34-35)
“Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise” (James 5:13)
“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer” (Romans 12:12)
“The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth” (Psalm 145:18)
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” (Philippians 4:6)
“And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:18-20)
“But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20:24)
“Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done” (Psalm 105:1)
“But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15)
“Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together!” (Psalm 34:3)
“Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor? Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid? For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen” (Romans 11:33-36)
“How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them? If I would count them, they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with you.” (Psalm 139:17-18)
Hunter Beless is passionate about helping women know and love God more, especially through His Word. She is the founder of Journeywomen, hosts the Journeywomen podcast, loves doing ministry in her local church context, and is the author of Read It, See It, Say It, Sing It. Hunter and her husband, Brooks, have four amazing kiddos. When they’re not reading, seeing, saying, or singing the Bible, you can find the Beless family camping, riding bikes, or snuggling up with a good book. You can find her on Instagram and at hunterbeless.com.
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