I\u2019ve done my part to keep the Bible at the top of the bestseller list year after year. At least twenty copies of God\u2019s Word line my bookshelves, and I\u2019ve read them all. I\u2019ve also memorized lengthy passages, providing even deeper insight into the meaning of the Bible.<\/p>\n
The Bible has so much to offer. The Old Testament contains history that tells of the Israelites, prophecy that foretold what would happen to them, and wisdom literature that gives guidance for discerning good and evil. The New Testament contains four Gospels \u2014 eyewitness accounts of Jesus\u2019 life, ministry, death, and resurrection \u2014 along with letters and accounts written by early Christians to elaborate on His teachings.<\/p>\n
In Psalm 119, the longest chapter in the Bible, the psalmist writes of how he delights in Scripture and why we should study it: to keep us from sinning (v. 11); obtain strength, hope, and peace (vv. 29, 49, 165); find wisdom and guidance (vv. 98, 105); and preserve life (v. 50) \u2014 to name only a few reasons.<\/p>\n
The psalmist had it right. In the Bible, Christians find a pattern for righteous living \u2014 if they read it and apply it to their lives. They also find the call to learn and remember it (vv. 7, 52, 176).<\/p>\n
The difference between reading and memorizing Scripture is as big as seeing television in color rather than black and white. And the benefits are many.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n For example, in committing Scripture to memory, we notice every single word and become aware of the writer\u2019s word choice. In Philippians 1:29 Paul writes, \u201cFor it has been granted<\/em> to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him\u201d (emphasis mine throughout). Paul\u2019s choice of the word granted<\/em> makes suffering sound like a privilege. I never thought of suffering that way before. \u00a0<\/sup><\/p>\n We also notice similarities of wording and phrasing when memorizing the Bible. For instance, Paul thanks God for the Philippians (1:3) and prays that their love will abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight (v. 9). In the same manner, he thanks God for the Ephesians and prays that God will give them the Spirit of wisdom and revelation so their hearts are enlightened (1:16-18). Paul\u2019s main thrust in prayer seems to be that those he nurtured will mature in the faith. Perhaps I too should pray more for the spiritual well-being of people I teach and lead.<\/p>\n As we memorize Scripture, we find opportunities to give it away \u2014 another benefit. We can pull verses from our minds to encourage others when they need an uplifting word. When I teach at church, I offer dramatic presentations of the passages I\u2019ve memorized. Presenting Scripture verbally pulls listeners into the story and touches their hearts in a fresh way.<\/p>\n When I discovered I could remember passages, I looked for one that would minister to my heart if I ever can\u2019t handle God\u2019s Word for myself. I chose Philippians because though Paul wrote this letter while under house arrest in Rome, he included sixteen references to joy<\/em> or rejoicing<\/em> in the book. He never let his circumstances get him down but looked for God behind them. That\u2019s what I want to do.<\/p>\n One of the most important ways the memorized Word of God blesses my heart is the peace it brings when I go to bed troubled by a problem. God may use a little-noticed verse to speak to a situation as I run Scripture through my mind.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n People may say, \u201cI\u2019m not good at memorization.\u201d But we memorize song lyrics quite easily as we hear them over and over. So it is with memorizing Scripture. We simply need to find a time when our hands are busy but our minds are free.<\/p>\n I memorize while I walk. I write a verse on a 3 x 5 card and say it out loud, with the same rhythm and phrasing each time I repeat it. The next day, I review that verse and add a second one \u2014 and so on until I\u2019ve mastered a chapter or a short book of Scripture.<\/p>\n As I memorize, I notice words with similar sounds. For instance, Philippians 1:17 reads, \u201cThe former preach Christ out of selfish<\/em> ambition, not sincerely<\/em>, supposing<\/em> that they can stir<\/em> up trouble for me while I am in chains.\u201d As I repeat the verse, I emphasize the s<\/em> words, helping my recall.<\/p>\n I also sometimes notice the alphabetical position of a series of words: \u201cWhatever you have l<\/em>earned or r<\/em>eceived or h<\/em>eard from me, or s<\/em>een in me \u2014 put it into practice\u201d (4:9). In my mind, I see a ball bouncing from the l<\/em> position in the alphabet down to the r<\/em>, then back to the h<\/em>, and on to the s<\/em>.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t worry about being word perfect. Does it really matter if we remember Jesus<\/em> or Christ<\/em> or Jesus Christ<\/em> or Christ Jesus<\/em>? Now that I\u2019m publicly presenting Scripture, I try to be accurate. But for personal edification, it doesn\u2019t matter.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I began reading Scripture when I received a Bible at age fourteen, and my determination to live according to it saved me from making wrong choices in my young adult years. Many decades later, God\u2019s Word is just as relevant to my life.<\/p>\n As was the psalmist\u2019s practice of hiding the Word in his heart (119:11), memorizing Scripture is not a mechanical exercise but a heart habit that leads to a deeper relationship with its Author and brings God\u2019s Word to life.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I\u2019ve done my part to keep the Bible at the top of the bestseller list year after year. At least twenty copies of God\u2019s Word line my bookshelves, and I\u2019ve read them all. I\u2019ve also memorized lengthy passages, providing even deeper insight into the meaning of the Bible. The Bible has so much to offer. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":285,"featured_media":3710,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"sync_status":"","episode_type":"","audio_file":"","castos_file_data":"","podmotor_file_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[37],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\nBenefits<\/h2>\n
Methods<\/h2>\n
Changeless Word<\/h2>\n