Memorizing Scripture

I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. - Psalm 119:11

Have you ever been talking to someone - maybe a pastor, a mentor, or a small group leader - and they were able to quote Scripture back to you like it was a breeze? I’ve talked to a few people like that, particularly in the past few years, and it seemed like they had the entire Bible memorized by the way they were able to recall different passages and verses at the drop of the hat. No matter what I was asking them about, they had a verse to help me, and they didn’t have to go look it up on their phone.

After having several conversations like this, I realized that memorizing Scripture was something I wanted to prioritize more in my own walk with the Lord. I wanted to be able to recall verses from memory when I was struggling, when I was needing encouragement, or when I was facing temptation. The Bible tells us that we should meditate on and hide God’s Word in our heart so that we won’t sin against Him.

So over the past few months, I’ve decided to memorize one to two verses a week, and I wanted to encourage you to do the same. You don’t have to go crazy with this. I’m not asking you to memorize an entire book of the Bible, or even a whole chapter. Just start with a couple of verses and begin committing then to memory. This way you can pull them out of your back pocket later when you need them.

Below I’ve included several verses from the book of Psalms to get you started. These are ones I’ve been memorizing as well, so we can do this together! My prayer is that you will start to incorporate this spiritual discipline into your own relationship with the Lord, and that you will come to know Him more deeply by memorizing and meditating on His Word.

The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them. - Psalm 145:18-19

Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. - Psalm 25:4-5

Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy. Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them. - Psalm 126:5-6

For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless. Lord Almighty, blessed is the one who trusts in you. - Psalm 84:11-12

But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness. - Psalm 86:15