10 Reasons to Memorize Scripture, Especially In large Sections

I am writing this post because a number of people have joined me in striving to memorize the book of Colossians. This is not something we do because we are bored and looking for a challenge. On the contrary, we are busy and this pursuit will only add to our plate (just a little). But, life is short and we don’t want to mess up the things we are doing. We need God’s word to change us, shape us, and direct us so that we are “adequate, equipped for every good work.” (2 Tim. 3:17)

Below are 10 reasons why memorizing Scripture is worth your time and diligent effort. I highly recommend it, as I have found it one of the most fruitful disciplines you can do.

If these reasons are compelling and you would like to join us in memorizing Colossians, please let me know. We would love to help you along.

1. Memorizing Scripture is an effective way to meditate on Scripture. The godly man of Psalm 1 delights in God’s word and meditates on it day and night. How is that possible? It’s possible only if God’s word is hidden in your heart. You can’t have your Bible in the shower, so the only meditation that will happen there is on what is memorized. There are many other times when having you Bible open is not practical.

2. Memorizing Scripture is how you fight temptation in the heat of battle. You don’t always have a Bible around when you are tempted with some lie. Sometimes even when you have a Bible around you don’t open it. But when Scripture is already in your mind, the Spirit will bring it to mind whether you want it or not. Truth, and the promises built upon it, is the only weapon against lies.

3. Memorizing Scripture helps you make the most of your time. The reality is we all have some brainless activities scattered about in our day. Your mind will think upon something in those times. Memorizing Scripture is an incredibly fruitful activity that allows you to make “the most of your time, because the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5:16)

4. Memorizing Scripture allows you to obey Philippians 4:8. This verse reads, “Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely…dwell on these things.” When you memorize Scripture, it drives you to think about other things in the light of the Scripture you are memorizing. These other thoughts will usually be good things, and even if they are not, they will be judged rightly by the Scripture that spurred the thoughts in the first place.

5. Memorizing Scripture helps you apply God’s word much more readily and spontaneously because it will be rolling around in your head during the raw details of your everyday life. With God’s word and your life brought into closer proximity, the Spirit of God has more opportunity to encourage, convict, protect, and guide. He can bring it to your mind and apply it quickly and powerfully.

6. Memorizing Scripture allows you to see connections within a book that you normally miss. This is one reason to memorize whole books or large sections within a single book. You will see repeated words, phrases, and concepts, and how they relate to one another in a far clearer way.

7. Memorizing Scripture slows down your intake of God’s word and forces you to think about individual words and their significance. Every word is inspired by God, and when you are working hard to get each word right, you necessarily think about it.

8. Memorizing Scripture becomes easier when done in large sections or whole books. The flow of thought in the passage spurs memory. Memorizing random, disconnected, verses is more difficult. Not only does the author’s flow of thought spur memory, you also get all of the author’s thought, which is the whole point of being in God’s word.

10. Memorizing Scripture, on a purely physically level, keeps your mind sharp and helps memory function as you age. I have had older people tell me it is wise to memorize Scripture earlier in life because the day will come when memorizing gets harder.