Meditate and Memorize

By Denise Trio

“Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”—Joshua 1:8 (NIV)

Have you ever had an ear worm? How about a song about a baby shark that just keeps playing over and over in your head? Or maybe a negative thought that persists? What if, instead of something benign like a child’s song or damaging like negative thoughts, your mind was full of truth that played like a broken record? Scripture encourages us to meditate on and memorize the Word because it’s actually beneficial!

Meditation doesn’t have to be a weird concept for Christians. It literally just means to think about something repeatedly. You can meditate on Scripture by thinking about a phrase or truth from a passage you read. On the other hand, memorization requires more time to remember the correct sequence of words and phrases in a verse. Both are important and neither is right or wrong!

Why is meditating on and memorizing Scripture so important? First, it’s a commandment. God told Joshua to meditate on it day and night—and we ought to follow this instruction, too. God is a good Father who gives commandments for our protection and benefit. Like a dad who sets a curfew and boundaries with His children, God knows what’s best for us. And there’s a promise for our prosperity and success associated with meditating on God’s Word.

Next, meditating and memorizing keeps us from sin. Just like the reflectors on a highway keep us safe when we’re driving at night, the Word we’ve internalized, or hidden in our hearts, will light up the way we ought to go when we’re in the dark.

Thirdly, it gives us an offensive tool. The Bible is also called a sword; it’s a weapon. Strongholds are defensive fortresses that keep us bound and captive. The only way to demolish them and experience true freedom is with the Word. It’s quite literally a wrecking ball (cue another ear worm!). Also, memorizing and meditating are defensive tools. The Bible guards our hearts and minds, and if your mind is full of thoughts about God’s Word, then it quite literally will be the same mind as Christ. Haven’t you ever wondered what God was thinking, like when He made mosquitoes? Memorizing His Word is memorizing His thoughts, which will transform our thoughts into His. And that, in turn, gives us peace.

Finally, memorizing and meditating on the Word encourages other believers. How so? It enables us to share wisdom with others, pray and sing psalms with each other, and express gratitude for one another.

I hope you see the importance of memorizing and meditating on Scripture. Memorizing can be as simple as creating a simple melody, making up hand motions to each word, or reading it over and over again. As you meditate, the Spirit will transform your mind and you will experience peace!

Pause: What is your natural response to the Bible? Are you able to spend time memorizing verses? Do you prefer to meditate on broad truths? How can you incorporate both meditation and memorization into your regular rhythms of life?

Practice: Read the following passages: Joshua 1:8; Colossians 3:16; Psalm 119:11; 1 Corinthians 2:16; 2 Corinthians 10:5; and Philippians 2:5, 4:7. Take a truth from each of these verses, jot it down, and try to remember it (meditate on it) throughout the day.

Pray: Jesus, I admit that sometimes I allow my thoughts to wander or focus on negative things. Thank You for the power You’ve given me through Scripture. I want to know Your thoughts! I want Your mind. Help me to meditate on Your Word. Fill me with Your Spirit to help me memorize the truth from the Bible. Allow the overflow of what I focus on to encourage and uplift those around me. Amen.