March 24th, 2010
How Scripture Memorization Can Be Important to the Christian
This is another of my son’s essays for Christian Growth, and it is on a subject that we hold very dear to our hearts, as Scripture memorization is so important in our everyday lives. In some countries it is illegal to own a Bible, so the only way to have God’s Word near to you is to hide it in your heart.
Scripture memorization is extremely important to the Christian. It helps him to withstand the attacks of the Wicked One. Scripture memorization will help the Christian to “be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:” (1 Peter 3:15). Scripture memorization should be an integral part of every Christian’s spiritual walk with God. Scripture mentions the memorization of God’s Word in many places, especially in Psalm 119. How fitting it is that the longest chapter of the Bible contains so many references to memorizing God’s Word as well as many indirect references to it.
Scripture memorization is one of the most effective ways of blocking Satan’s attacks. Why wait until Satan attacks to try and counter attack and find your armour? Isn’t it better to have your armour on before the battle, than to walk out onto the battlefield, start the battle, and then discover that you forgot to bring your armour with you? Oh, how true are the words of the Psalmist David when he said, “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” (Psalm 119:11). Hiding God’s Word in your heart will help you to overcome Satan time and time again. Here are just some of the verses in Psalm 119 discussing Scripture memorization: Psalm 119: 9, 11, 16, 17, 38, 50, 82, 101, 105, 162 and 172. There are many more in that one chapter that deal less directly with the issues. Some of those may not deal with the benefits of Scripture memorization, but with the results of not memorizing the words of our Mighty Lord. We should always seek to memorize more of God’s holy, inspired Word.
If someone asks you the “reason of the hope that is in you” if you have memorized God’s Word, then you will be able to give them an answer direct from God’s Word. God’s Word has the power to change people’s lives. “But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;” (Romans 10:8). Praise God if His Word is found in our mouths and our hearts, and not just in our heads. His Word is of no value if it is only in our heads and in our hearts, It only has the power to change our lives if it is our hearts and committed there through prayer and the Holy Spirit.
No matter if you memorize a passage a week, or a larger passage a month, pray that God will commit that passage to your memory for life. One day you may need those passages that you memorize, so don’t just let them be forgotten in the busyness of life. If you have never memorized God’s Word before, or if you have trouble memorizing His Word, pray to Him that He will help you to “hide His Word in your heart.” He can help you to overcome any problem that you are facing right now – don’t be afraid to ask Him, and to ask Him for a double portion of His Spirit to help you overcome.
I am a daughter of the King of Kings, seeking to live a godly life and mirror the love of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Such an important message… I like how he said we need to hide God’s Word in our hearts, not just in our heads.
What a wonderful essay, well done James!
Jillian, this is just marvellous! I love the idea of a subject called ‘Christian Growth’. Do you follow a curriculum or create your own?
I love having my children memorize scripture. I have pretty much all of the notebooing.com’s bible copywork sets and they are wonderful. Just the right amount of scripture for small minds to take in and memorize.
A blog post after my own heart:)
Another wonderful essay. I really can’t count the number of times that just the right scripture passage (that I’ve memorized) has come to mind at just the moment that I need it. I have a feeling that having scripture memorized is going to be needed more and more as the days pass…
Hi Amanda,
Yes, we do, and it’s not until we strike difficulty that we realise how much we actually don’t know.
Thank you – I shall pass the message on to my son.
Have a wonderful week,
Blessings,
Jillian ♥
Hi Jeanne,
It is one of the PACE courses through Australian Christian Academy, and it is great.
Have a wonderful week,
Blessings,
Jillian ♥
Hi Tricia,
We have always memorized Scripture, in varying sizes for the different ages, but now that ours are teenagers, the Scripture memorizations are longer – usually about 8 verses.
Have a wonderful week,
Blessings,
Jillian ♥
Hi Rosemary,
Thank you.
Have a wonderful week,
Blessings,
Jillian ♥
Hi Heather,
The one that I’m going to post next is the last in the Christian Growth series, but Australian Christian College PACE’s really challenge the thought processes.
I agree – in the last days we are going to need our Scripture memorization skills!
Have a wonderful week,
Blessings,
Jillian ♥
I am hopeless at memorizing anything (I was at school and still bad at it) but I would really love to be able to memorize scripture – what is the best way to do it? I read in one book about writing the verse on a card and carrying it around with you to read regularly. I do write them down in my journal but they still don’t remain in my head – not verbatim. Sadly it wasn’t something my parents got us to do – however my older brothers were good at memorizing!
Sadly I remember lots of things of no use:)
Hi Jo,
Friends of ours say that you need to recite the verse every day for seven weeks, and once you have done that, it is with you for life.
We recite the verses each morning, and by the end of the third week, our children can recite it word for word. Unofrtunately with adulthood comes a longer time needed to remember things. Keep persevering, and ask the Holy Spirit to help you remember.
Have a wonderful weekend,
Love and blessings, Jillian ♥