October 2007
Cartoon by www.kabloonacomics.com - Scott Lincoln
Do you know that we use less than 1% of our brain’s capabilities? Scripture memorization can be one of the most significant and life-changing disciplines you do as a Christian. Unfortunately, it is one of the least practiced disciplines of the Christian faith. Scripture memory enables you to carry parts of God’s Word with you wherever you go. It provides messages of hope at critical times in life. Memorization purifies your thoughts and gives direction in times of confusion.
So why don’t we memorize Scripture? Our excuses are many:
- It is too hard
- I have a poor memory
- I don’t have time
- I am too old
- I have tried before and failed
- Why bother; I have my computer
The real reason we don’t memorize is because we choose not to.
Why we should memorize Scripture? Because:
it transforms our thinking (Romans 12:2);
it corrects the heart (Psalm 119:9; Hebrews 4:12);
it brings passion for God (Psalm 119:10);
it helps us overcome temptation (Psalm 119:11; Mt 4:1-11);
it helps us know God’s will (Ephesians 5:17);
it leads to praise and worship (Ps 138:2);
it help us make our lives successful (Joshua 1:8);
it focuses us on our prayer life (John 15:7);
it encourages us to study God’s Word (2 Timothy 2:15);
it warns us of heresy (Ephesians 4:14).
When we memorize, it creates a pathway in our brain. That pathway is similar to when we blaze a trail through a dense forest. The first time the path is taken, it is narrow and not very wide or deep. If the pathway is not traveled again, very quickly it will become overgrown and it will soon disappear. However, if the pathway is traveled often soon the journey becomes easier. The pathway soon gets wider until the pathway turns into a lane, which will turn into a road, which will turn into a highway, and so on. The same principle applies to our memory: the more times that we repeat patterns of thought, the more likely it is that we can recall information quickly and easily.
Why not begin a habit of memorizing Scripture? At first, start by memorizing a verse a month. Later, you may advance to memorizing a verse a week. But begin someplace, and make memorization a priority in your life.
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