The Power of Memorizing Scripture
What are the benefits of memorizing scripture?
The Bible is clear regarding spiritual attacks on God’s people. It is also clear regarding the important role of Scripture memory in spiritual warfare.
Why should we memorize scripture? You need God’s Word in your heart before spiritual attacks take place. You can’t draw water from an empty well. For years, I struggled with Scripture memory. I would say I knew where the verses were located, but I would not memorize Scripture.
Scripture memory is not about getting an award at the end of the year. The secret is to read Scripture every day. I am currently reading 23 passages of Scripture. In some instances, it is a single verse such as Philippians 4:5, “Let your gentleness be known to all men the Lord is at hand.” Other passages are longer, such as Ephesians 6:10-18.
According to 1 Peter 5:8, the devil is seeking whom he can devour. Why should we wait on the defensive? We should be on the offensive and that’s why we memorize God’s Word. It’s the sword of the Spirit! Is the enemy going to attack? Yes. We need to have as much weaponry as possible!
How can you find which verses to memorize? One way is through your personal reading of the Bible. You might read a line or verse that stands out to you. Write it down on a sheet of paper or save it in your phone.
In Ephesians 6:18 it states that we need to pray three separate times: “Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests with this in mind be alert and always keep on praying for the Lords people.” Why would we not pray actual verses when the enemy comes and tries to destroy us!
Sometimes the enemy will attack you. When he does it’s subtle. At that moment, you don’t have time to look up verses on your phone or to look for a Bible. You need God’s Word written on your heart. When I am tempted, I recite Philippians 4:8, “Finally brethren whatever things are true whatever things are noble whatever things are just whatever things are pure whatever things are lovely whatever things are of good report if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy meditate on these things.”
Prayer is not an event for when a crisis happens; prayer is a daily exercise! Galatians 5:19-21 offers examples of what we battle daily. When you start having thoughts of wrath, outbursts of anger, thoughts of adultery, or idolatry, those thoughts are not of God. The Devil, wants us to be shackled in whatever sin or ugly thought is not of God. He wants you to believe your sin is greater than the God that you serve.
For years I gave excuses to not memorize Scripture. Yet when I read the same verses each day, they become a part of me. When temptation comes, I can lean on verse like 1 john 4:4: “Greater is he that’s in me than he that’s in the world.” We have the Spirit of God living inside us.
Wrap Up On Memorizing Scripture
Let me challenge you to take a note card or notes app in your phone. Choose different verses that speak to your soul or give you power over your day. Read them aloud after your praise and confession each day. If you don’t know where to begin, Psalm 23 is a great passage that I read every day. It reminds me my God is my Shepherd and He protects me in every way! Find a passage and start memorizing Scripture today.
