Have you ever been talking with someone and a vague reference to Scripture comes to your mind? Do you sit there struggling to remember what the Bible said on a particular topic? Have you ever searched Google to find a Bible verse and realized you were way off on what God's Word actually said? If any of the above scenarios have happened to you, then I want to encourage you to begin memorizing Scripture!
Perhaps you're thinking, "But my memory is horrible!" Well, the Bible says, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13, NKJV). If you're like me, it won't be an easy task, but exercise is good for us (at least that's what I hear). Just like everything else, you need to train your brain to memorize Bible verses. Start with something easy, like a verse that you've heard so many times that you probably already have it mostly memorized, John 3:16 for example. Or how about a nice short verse, maybe John 11:35 ("Jesus wept")?
Once you get the ball rolling, memorization will become easier and you can move to longer verses, multiple verses, or even chapters and whole books! There are many memory aids available online that can help you. I highly recommend the freeRememberMe app for Android and Apple products. It has helped me tremendously with hiding His Word in my heart.
I can't express just how beneficial memorizing Scripture has been for me. There have been numerous occasions where the Holy Spirit will bring to mind the perfect Bible verse while witnessing to someone on the street or when preaching. We can recall and recite verses in moments of trials and temptation. Our trust in God can be renewed and strengthened, while also growing in our love and adoration towards Him. It can also be used to encourage others in their walk with Christ or time of need.
God's Word is precious and the more I memorize Bible verses, the more I love Him and the Holy Scriptures. I pray that you will experience the same joy when memorizing Bible verses!
