Learning verses by heart so they shape thought and speech
“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”
PSALM 119:11 (KJV)
Scripture memorization is the act of imprinting a Scripture verse or passage upon our heart so that we can remember it without the written words in front of us. For many of us memorization can be a difficult and daunting exercise.
Unlike memorizing the bones on our body or the Gettysburg Address to pass the upcoming test, we believe memorizing Scripture offers us something more. Memorizing Scripture increases the accessibility of a verse to us. When we do this we find ourselves turning more easily and more often to the truths of God’s word that have been planted within our hearts.
Memorization often focuses on verses that have become particularly meaningful for us. These Scriptures might bring comfort in times of desolation, courage when feeling afraid, or even a biblical perspective to counter the cultural norms around us.
Memorization starts with commitment and repetition. When we encounter a meaningful verse or passage in Scripture we can choose to find ways to make it repeatable. Maybe we write it down, we read it each morning, we find a song that sings this verse. Over time this repetition allows the Scripture to become part of us, and then we are able to repeat it when needed, but also live out this Scripture and even share it with those around us.
RESOURCES
Fighter Verses app (Truth78)
1,000+ preloaded verses, scheduled review, songs, and lock-screen verses; paid app
Scripture memorization guide (coming soon)