5 Reasons to Memorize Scripture (And How to Start)预览

Scripture Memorization Deepens Your Love for God

We often think of our affection for the Lord like the effervescent feeling of a new romantic relationship. Sometimes we feel it; sometimes we don’t. We want to love God wholeheartedly, but sometimes we just don’t feel anything at all. So, we surmise that something must be wrong, that we’re in sin, or that we’re missing something. Any of those things could be true, yet Scripture teaches us that love for God isn’t just relegated to the heart as we know it. Jesus summed up the greatest commandment by saying this: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” (Matt. 22:37). Love is more than a feeling. Loving God also has a cerebral aspect to it. We are to love God with every part of ourselves. If our hearts are lacking in felt affection, a renewed focus on knowing God will help us remember why He is the worthiest object of our love. To love God with all your heart, you must also love Him with your mind. Knowledge of God can grow your love for Him, and Scripture memorization is a beneficial tool for bridging the gap between knowledge and affection.

If we want to love God, we must know Him. And to know Him, we must saturate our lives with what He has given us to know Him: His Word! The more we dwell on Scripture and think about God’s character and faithfulness, the more we will love Him. Knowledge in and of itself isn’t the endgame of memorization. Knowledge of God is the means to the end of loving and enjoying Him more and more.

Memorization Tip:

If you’re new to Scripture memorization, don’t be afraid that your memory isn’t up to the task. God has created your mind to retain information in amazing ways! Choose a verse or short passage of Scripture that focuses on God’s attributes. Print out the text and put it somewhere you’ll see it several times daily. Start with the first phrase and rehearse it ten times without looking. Tomorrow, practice that phrase ten more times. Once you’ve got it, move on to the next phrase, repeating it until you finish the passage.