Memorizing Scripture. You’ve probably done some of that during Sabbath school classes. But most people, when they reach the teen and young adult age, don’t want to memorize Scripture anymore. “Why memorize Bible verses when I can look them up on my phone?” is the most common excuse. To be honest, this is a good question: what is the point of memorizing Scripture? Most Sabbath school teachers say that the point of memorizing Scripture is so that if you happen to not have your phone or a Bible on hand you can still recite Bible verses when sharing the gospel. While this is handy, it doesn’t truly satisfy the question. I think the question has a better answer.

Over the last nine years I’ve participated in summer Bible studies, and Scripture memorization has always been a key factor. This past fall I also had the privilege to compete in the National Bible Bee competition, in which we studied Colossians and memorized 956 verses. Although that sounds like a lot (and it is!), it was such a blessing to memorize and recite those verses. Over the fall, and really throughout these past nine years, I’ve learned some very amazing truths about Bible memorization that I’d like to share with you.

1: Memorizing Scripture takes work. There’s just no way around it. Memorizing is work. I used to spend hours trying to come up with more effective ways to memorize Bible verses, but in the end it takes hard work. But the hard work has always been worth it!

2: Memorizing Scripture helps refine our inner-compass.

Psalm 119:105-106 Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path. I have sworn and I will confirm it, That I will keep Your righteous ordinances.

Psalm 119:9-11 How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your word. With all my heart I have sought You; Do not let me wander from Your commandments. Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You.

When we treasure God’s Word and hide it in our hearts, it will enable us to know God’s will. When we have Scripture filling our minds, we are more able to hear the Holy Spirit when we’re tempted to do wrong or are unsure about a decision to make. God’s Word truly is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path, and when we follow His Word, we will keep our way pure.

3: Memorizing Scripture helps us to understand it more.

Psalm 119:130 The unfolding of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple.

As I was memorizing God’s Word for the competition and reviewing the verses I’d memorized each day, an amazing thing happened. At first, the memorizing and reciting was just work – the verses were head knowledge. I knew the words, but I hadn’t taken time to really think through each verse. But as I kept reciting these verses each day, those verses transformed from simply being words to being a message. I went from simply saying the words to truly understanding them, as though each and every verse was written from God to me. I often found myself near tears in amazement of who God is and how His Word is truly for me. I didn’t need to read a devotional for the verses to understand them. The Word itself was “giving light” and giving me understanding. Often as I was in the middle of reciting a passage I could feel God nudging me and redirecting me when I needed it, or sometimes I’d simply be awed by His glory, or sometimes I’d just feel His arms around me and receive encouragement from His Word when I needed it. Truly God’s Word is living and active, and the more we meditate on it, the more we understand this truth.

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

4: Memorizing Scripture draws us closer to God. The entirety of God’s Word shows us who God is. When we are studying and memorizing and meditating on His Word, we know more of who God is, and we are drawn closer to Him.

5: When we have God’s Word inside of us, it shapes the way we think and the way we act.

Ephesians 5:1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children;

God’s Word shows us how to live like Christ, and when we know it, we can learn how to live like Him. But we first have to know the Word. I challenge you to start memorizing. It’s not easy. There aren’t short-cuts to memorization. It takes work, even when you’ve been doing it for years. But the effort is more than worth it with the knowledge of God that is gained!

While memorization does take work, I have learned a few tips over the years that make it a little easier:

1: Pray first! Memorizing can be hard and tedious. Make sure you memorize with the right focus – fix your eyes on Christ, and memorize so you can know Him better!

2: Know what kind of a learner you are. Are you a kinetic, auditory, or visual learner? Or are you a combination of two or all three? Knowing this can help you pick the best memorization method for you. I’m an auditory learner, but I’m also slightly a visual learner. I’ve learned that I memorize best through music, but I also like to use Scripture Typer to help me review verses after I’ve learned them. My sister, on the other hand, is a visual learner, but slightly a kinetic learner. She memorizes well by reading things over and over, and by doing hand motions. Discover the best method for yourself and use it!

3: Build your memory muscle. Your memory is like a muscle – the more you use it, the stronger it gets. Right now you might only be able to memorize one verse a week, but if you continually work on improving your memory and don’t give up, it will become easier over time.

4: Set a goal for yourself and go for it! Set a goal for yourself that you can achieve. (For example, if you haven’t done Scripture memorization in a while, maybe set a goal of 5 verses a week. Or, if you’ve been doing Scripture memorization for a while and want to improve, set a bigger goal, like memorizing an epistle.) Once you’ve set this goal, work hard to achieve it, and maybe even come up with a reward for when you accomplish your goal. Once you achieve your goal, set a new one!

5: Have an accountability partner. It’s easy to become slack in Bible memorization. What helps me to keep going is the encouragement of others. My sister and I are challenging each other to memorize an epistle, and because I know she’s going to do it with me, it makes it easier for me to do it.

I hope you have been encouraged to memorize God’s Word. It is so worth it! Press on!  🙂

With love,

Kelsey

P.S. You can learn more about the National Bible Bee here, and you can visit Scripture Typer’s website here.