As we have been discussing, there are five basic ways for you to grow in your knowledge and experience with God’s Word: hear it, read it, study it, memorize it, and meditate on it. In this lesson we will consider how memorizing God’s Word will help you tremendously.
One of the most important reasons for memorizing Scripture is because our memories are short. Research has shown that after 24 hours you accurately remember:
5% of what you hear
15% of what you read
35% of what you study
57% of what you see and hear
100% of what you memorize
Noted author and counselor, Henry Brandt, once wrote: “I still consider Bible memorization the single most important aid in my Christian life and in my counseling.”
Dawson Trotman, past president of the Navigators said, “I know of no form of intake of the Word which pays greater dividends for the time invested than Scripture memory.”
In Matthew 4:1–10, we see Jesus overcoming Satan’s temptations by using scripture. He probably didn’t have the scriptures in written form … he was using them because he had learned them as a child and could recite them! Here’s the story:
“Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After he fasted forty days and forty nights he was famished. The tempter came and said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become bread.’ But he answered, ‘It is written, “Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”’
“Then the devil took him to the holy city, had him stand on the highest point of the temple, and said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written, “He will command his angels concerning you” and “with their hands, they will lift you up so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.” Jesus said to him, ‘Once again it is written: “You are not to put the Lord your God to the test.’
“Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their grandeur. And he said to him, ‘I will give you all these things if you throw yourself to the ground and worship me.’ Then Jesus said to him, ‘Go away, Satan! For it is written: “You are to worship the Lord your God and serve only him.” Then the devil left him, and angels came and began ministering to his needs.”
Q. What do you learn from this passage that you can apply to your own life?
People often say “I just can’t memorize things.” But that simply is not true! We memorize information all the time for business, sales presentations, stock market quotes, sports, and daily commitments. Athletes memorize whole playbooks, team standings, player stats, etc. It’s not a memory that is lacking, it’s motivation.
It’s actually easy to memorize verses:
Start with one verse. Write it down if possible.
Repeat it several times.
Say it in your own words. Identify why it is important.
Repeat it to a friend or family member.
Think about how you might apply it to your life.
Once you have it memorized, review it every day for 30 days.
It will be yours to take with you wherever you go!
Here are a few verses for you to memorize to get started!
“How can a young person maintain a pure life? By guarding it according to your instructions! … In my heart I store up your words, so I might not sin against you.” —Psalm 119:9, 11
Q. What do these verses teach you about God’s Word?
“Fix these words of mine into your mind and being, and tie them as a reminder on your hands and let them be symbols on your forehead. Teach them to your children and speak of them as you sit in your house, as you walk along the road, as you lie down, and as you get up.” —Deuteronomy 11:18–19
Q. Why is this a good verse to commit to memory?
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and exhorting one another with all wisdom, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, all with grace in your hearts to God.” —Colossians 3:16
Q. In what ways is this verse an encouragement to you?
“For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor heavenly rulers, nor things that are present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” —Romans 8:38–39
Q. Why do you think this is a good verse to commit to memory?
One way to improve your knowledge of the Bible, deepen your walk with God, and memorize verses that will carry you through the hard times of life is by using The Navigator’s Topical Memory System. You can online search for a way to obtain it or it is available in most Christian book stores.
Application
Q. What can you do to keep yourself motivated to memorize scripture?
Choose a verse or passage today to start memorizing!
Q. This is what I am going to memorize: