We’re going to take a brief trip back in time to the mind of younger me. I’m going to forewarn you: little me was by no means the darling that I would prefer everyone believe I was. I don’t know if there has ever been a seven year old with such a superiority complex and attention addiction. Here in my younger mind, we’re going to breeze through my top four reasons to memorize Scripture. You ready? Let’s go.

Kid Rosalie Reason #1. To get candy from my Sunday school teachers.

Kid Rosalie Reason #2. To get stickers so that when I got enough stickers I could pick a prize from the prize box.

Kid Rosalie Reason #3. To memorize the verses faster than my peers and therefore be better than them (ah, yes, I’m so proud).

Kid Rosalie Reason #4. To finish another AWANA book (theoretically before everyone else did) and get another award.

Wow. I frighten myself sometimes.

I memorized a lot of Bible verses as a child. Here’s the problem. Eventually, I graduated out of the Sunday school classes that gave candy, stickers, and other assorted prizes for memorizing the verse of the week. And shortly after that, my family moved, and our new town didn’t have an AWANA program for kids my age. So there went all my reasons to memorize Scripture.

For years I didn’t think that there were any good reasons beyond those four to memorize Scripture. Well, thank God for the Holy Spirit because recently, I have learned seven good reasons to memorize Scripture. Basically, these are just seven of the sweetest benefits that come with Scripture memorization (I’ve decided not to elaborate too much on them because they’re pretty self-explanatory).

Reason #1: So that you can meditate on it anywhere and anytime.

Meditation is essential to understanding Scripture. It’s not enough to just meditate on it for an hour in the morning; it’s so important to revisit Scripture throughout the day. We don’t carry our Bibles everywhere; that’s just the way most of us are. And we can’t always whip out our phones and look up some verses. When you have Scripture memorized, you can meditate on it on the drive to work, while you work out, while you do dishes, anytime. Psalm 119:97 says this: “Oh how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day.”

Reason #2: To have increased intimacy with the Holy Spirit.

When you’re spending time memorizing Scripture, this can naturally draw you closer to the Holy Spirit. When you recite and meditate on Scripture, you proclaim Him and draw near to Him. I love Psalm 107:9 because it says, “For He satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul He fills with good things.” The Holy Spirit is the satisfaction of the soul. The Holy Spirit is the best, good thing for a hungry soul, and when you keep coming back to Scripture, you keep coming back to Him.

Reason #3: To have an enriched prayer life.

It is such a joy to incorporate verses into prayers. When you have Scripture memorized, it starts to seep into your prayers. It starts to change the way you talk to God in a beautiful way. You begin to pray verses that you’ve memorized, and since you’ve been spending so much time with the Word, you’ll be more likely to pray God’s will because your mind is more in tune to His Word.

Reason #4: To have the Sword of the Spirit always on hand to fight the Enemy and temptation.

Christ quoted Scripture to Satan when He was tempted in the wilderness, and each time, it conquered the Enemy. When temptations come, verses start to rise in your mind. Memorizing Scripture keeps the Sword of the Spirit within easy reach at all times. Ephesians 6:10-20 talks about the armor of God, and I encourage you to read that passage, but I just want to share verses 10-13. “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.”

Reason #5: To be able to offer stronger encouragement to fellow Christians.

We’re called to encourage fellow Christians, and one of the purest, strongest forms of encouragement is Scripture. Hebrews 4:12 tells us, “For the Word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” There’s no power like that, friends. When you’re memorizing Scripture, you’ll find verses coming to mind more easily to exhort your fellow Christians.

Reason #6: To have a fuller, deeper joy.

This is one of the most beautiful, I think. When you’re focusing on memorizing for the purpose of knowing God, you automatically find your joy and fulfillment in Him. Verses will begin to come to mind when you’re at your lowest, when you feel alone or unworthy, and the Truth that is in Scripture will bring such joy to your heart. I think Psalm 107:9 fits this so well (yes, I might be a bit obsessed with that verse). I’ll share it again just because it’s so good. “For He satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul He fills with good things.” This satisfaction and these good things found in Christ and His Spirit are at the forefront when you’re memorizing and meditating on Scripture.

Reason #7: A hunger for more.

Once you start committing Scripture to memory, it’s hard to get enough of it. You’ll want more. You will have the attitude of Psalm 119:20 which says, “My soul is consumed with longing for Your rules at all times.”

And there you have it. Seven reasons to memorize Scripture.

What about you? Do you memorize Scripture? Why or why not? What are some reasons you see to spend time committing the Bible to memory? Do you think there’s value in memorizing verses?

P.S. – Next week’s post will be a follow-up with some tips that help with memorization.