The Lord saved me later in life at age 38. For many years as I read my bible, and I’d think, “Wouldn’t it be great to memorize a whole Psalm?” I always wanted to memorize Psalm 1, but never thought I’d be able to!
As the Lord grew me in faith, I began writing scriptures on note cards to memorize while I took walks. Back then, I didn’t understand how important it was to memorize whole chapters of scripture (God’s uninterrupted words), until I heard Janet speak on a radio podcast called, “Revive Our Hearts.” Soon after, I bought the book, “His Word in My Heart,” and read it within a week. I realized I could memorize a whole psalm as I dreamed earlier! I began with Psalm 103 and by God’s grace I am persevering in scripture memory. Praise Him! I memorize scripture mostly when I take walks or ride in our car.
Since April 2013 I’ve memorized:
• Psalm 1
• Psalm 18 (working on this now)
• Psalm 19
• Psalm 23
• Psalm 51
• Psalm 91
• Psalm 100
• Psalm 103
• Psalm 121
• Psalm 145
• The book of Titus
• Matthew chapter 5
• 1 Corinthians 13:1-13
Last year, while in a memorization slump, the Lord presented an opportunity for me to speak three times at our Ladies’ Sunday School class before church. This got me back on track, Praise the Lord!
Memorizing helps my day-to-day walk with Christ! He reproves, corrects, instructs or encourages me with things I memorize. In a prideful moment, the Holy Spirit reminded me of Psalm 18:17, “The Lord will save the humble people, but will bring down haughty looks.” Psalm 18 is also a wonderful Psalm to pray back to God in a spiritual battle! I would recommend all Christians to memorize this Psalm.
In times of discouragement, memorizing has taught me to praise God! As I recite Psalm 145 and praise God, my troubles get smaller, and Jesus Christ is magnified. “He must increase, but I must decrease,” John 3:30. As it says in the hymn, “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face, And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.”
Memorizing scripture changed me to agree with Job, “I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food. Job 23:12
I love this encouragement. Your suggestions of verses is so helpful. I think deciding what to memorize is overwhelming sometimes since there is so much to choose from. I have been a worrier for as long as I can remember. Memorizing seems to be the best help.
Hi Sheila,
The Lord is faithful Sheila! When I finish a memorization project, I ask Him what He would like me to memorize next. HE WILL SHOW YOU. Each season of our life varies, and He knows what scriptures each of us need for “such a time as this.” I would encourage you to find a quiet place where you are uninterrupted to be with Him alone and ask Him. Then, as you go about your next few days, listen for His still, small voice in your heart. (1 Kings 19:12) He will show you. He has always proved trustworthy to me to give me the verses to memorize that will be EXACTLY what I need for that specific time in my life. The more you focus on the Lord (and His attributes), you will find the worries ceasing. Also, praying God’s Word back to Him is very helpful. I say it over and over during the day…”I will be anxious for nothing (NO THING). Memorizing this verse brings great peace and even joy, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6,7.
To God be the glory!
Lisa
Thanks for sharing, Lisa. Like you, I have memorized several Psalms and what a treasure trove….
Hi Jane,
You are so right…God’s words in the Psalms are precious gems! And as we live out the Word of God in our daily lives as Ephesians 4:1-3 admonishes us to do…then one day, we will cast our crowns at His feet filled with those beautiful gems! Praise to our Mighty, Matchless King! He alone is God!
I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, 3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Ephesians 4:1-3,
Lisa
Lisa, I am so encouraged by your testimony. The past couple weeks have been so busy, I’ve let my memorization plan slip, but today, I feel renewed determination to get my Scripture memory rhythm back on track!
Thanks for your story, and for including that final verse from Job! A reminder to me that I, too, treasure His Words “more than necessary food”!
Blessings as you continue to hide His Word in your heart,
Shelly
Hi Shelly,
Thank you for writing your thoughts! It was amazing how the Lord worked when I slipped away from the daily discipline of memorizing. I realized I had done this, and prayed with tears that, “He would not let me stop memorizing all the days of my life!” Three days later, our Pastor’s wife asked me to speak to our Ladies Sunday School class on how I learned to memorize. Praise God, I haven’t slacked off from memorizing since I spoke to the ladies 8 months ago. Praise Him for answering my prayer, ever so quickly!
Now to Him that is able to keep you from falling, Shelly, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,
Lisa
Hi Lisa! Wow, you have been a busy girl memorizing all those psalms and chapters! Way to go. Isn’t it neat to look back and see what’s been accomplished when there was a time that we thought it couldn’t be done?! You now know what it’s like for Gods word to live inside you. Press on, my friend!
Hi Richie,
Thank you for your sweet encouragement!
Praise God! For He alone is the One who prompted me to listen to Janet’s interview on Revive Our Hearts that day! I am amazed how He equips weak, broken sinners with His WONDERFUL abilities to do what He asks us to do in Hiding His Word in our Heart! (Psalm 119:11).
Grace and peace be multiplied to you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,
Lisa
Thank you Lisa!
What an encouragement to hear how God uses the verses He has placed in your heart and mind on a day-to-day, in the the midst of the battle, practical application. He is so faithful! I am going to pray about your suggestion to work on Psalm 18 – maybe that will be my next passage! Thank you!
Hi Kelly,
Thank you for your comments on memorizing scripture for spiritual battles! There are many other verses that can help with this as well. Some of those are Jeremiah 20:11-13 and Acts 26:18. A missionary friend once encouraged me to make up a list of topics that pertain to Christian living. Under each topic I have a number of bible verses to pray back to God in times of trouble. Topics include: love, marriage, battle, encouragement, courage, fear, etc. This has been very helpful to me. Praise God for your enthusiasm, Kelly!
Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:27.
Lisa
Lisa, Thanks so much for your sweet encouragement. You are so right when you say that He uses His words to reprove, correct, instruct and encourage. Praise God for His willingness to do so and His faithful love in doing it in us.
Hello Lise,
Thank you for your caring reply to the story today. Your comment makes me think of the passage from Isaiah 55:11, “For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there, But water the earth, And make it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower And bread to the eater, So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.” The Lord God is perfect and uses His word perfectly in each of our lives. Blessed be the Lord!
Thank you Lise,
Lisa
Hi Lisa,
What an encouraging story of how practical Bible memorization is in your life. Thank you for your transparency. You have encouraged me to keep going. IT IS profitably and precious to have the active living word of God in our hearts as you so beautifully stated.THANK YOU again for your encouragement.
Hi Paulette, Thank you for your comment that reminds me how the Lord Jesus KNEW just what we needed when he gave us the brethren (brothers and sisters in Christ). We need one another, don’t we? To help, encourage, correct, and uplift one another in the ways of the Lord – to live out what we read in His Holy Word. You are a blessing to me.
Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, “Behold, I lay in Zion A chief cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.” 1 Peter 2:6
In Christ,
Lisa
Lisa, thank you, loved your story. Loved what you said about when The Lord grew your faith you got into the Word. That is essential. To grow spiritually,we need the nourishment we find in scripture. We also need the truth to fight the battles and to offer praise. To have it memorized is to have it available no matter where or when. May the Lord continue to bless you as you place more and more of His Word in your heart.
Dear Vickie,
I pray the same for you and your walk with Christ. I pray God will multiply His grace, and peace to you as you memorize His Word and as you increase in the knowledge of Him. May you also experience what it means to be a partaker of His divine nature. (1 Peter 2:3).
In the grace Christ our Lord,
Lisa