Why Should You Memorize Scripture?
By Rick Warren
“Whoever looks intently into the perfect law . . . and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.” James 1:25 (NIV)
If you’re serious about being spiritually strong and mature, the greatest habit you can develop is memorizing Scripture. In fact, the Bible says in James 1:25 that it’s one of four habits that lead to a blessed life: “Whoever looks intently into the perfect law . . . and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do” (NIV).
Here are the four habits you find in that verse:
- Read your Bible. “Whoever looks intently . . . ”
- Review the Bible. “ . . . continues in it . . . ”
- Remember the Bible. “ . . . not forgetting what they have heard . . . ”
- Respond to the Bible. “ . . . but doing it . . .”
Even if you’re not used to memorizing, it’s a skill you can learn; it’s a muscle you can strengthen. In fact, memorizing Scripture will cause your brain to have a stronger memory in other areas—I guarantee it. Study after study has shown this.
Why is it important to memorize Scripture?
You’ll always have God’s Word with you. When you’re tempted, you usually don’t have a Bible open or by your side. When you’re witnessing to someone who doesn’t know Jesus, is under stress, needs comfort, or is in a crisis, there’s usually not a Bible around. You need God’s Word in your mind so you can remember it and review it right when you need it.
You can meditate on Scripture wherever you go. If you’ve memorized Scripture, you can think about it when you get into bed at night or as you drive to an appointment. When you think about a portion of Scripture that you’ve memorized, you’re meditating on it. And the only promise of prosperity and success that God gives us in the Bible says that meditating on his Word is the key: “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).
Start memorizing Scripture today. Pick a verse a week. In a year, you’ll have memorized 52 verses. In two years, you’ll have memorized more than 100 verses. As you hide God’s Word in your heart, you’ll find yourself growing more and more into the person God wants you to be.
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This devotional © 2018 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
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