Have you ever considered memorizing scripture?
Perhaps you are a lot like me and tend to forget the verse as soon as you read it. I grew up in church and learned a lot of scripture, but John 3:16 and some of the 23rd Psalm are the only ones that I can recall after repeating them in Sunday school every single Sunday. As a teen we would get extra points if we could recite a whole chapter of the Bible. I tried unsuccessfully. Then as an adult when my son was in elementary school, he was memorizing up to 5 verses a week! We wrote them out on index cards and reviewed every night in bed before I tucked him in. At the time I was embarrassed that I couldn’t retain the verses along with my 8 year old. Later, I joined a women’s group at church that memorized scripture and held each other accountable. Still I was unsuccessful. I’m sure that was when I gave up and accepted the fact that my brain does not work that way.
Recently, there was a traumatic circumstance that happened in my life. It was a circumstance that shook me to the core. It affected me physically, but the emotional trauma is what took me on a spiraling journey down towards the darkness. I cried out to God, and in His faithful love He rescued me, but the emotional state of mind I was in needed to be reminded of His truth. I couldn’t remember any scripture to cling to. I knew the truth, but I had not hidden it in my heart for such a time as this. I am thankful that God had been placing prayer warriors in my life over the course of my life. They lifted me up and continued to encourage me. One of those prayer warriors happens to be my very own sister, who drove 426 miles to come pray over me in person. We spent the day pouring over scripture. She boldly stated that she had some verses she wanted me to memorize so that I would have a life-line when the darkness began to creep in. (And it did.). I sorrowfully explained to her that through the years I had really tried to memorize verses, but at no point did I become successful. My sister looked me straight in the eye and boldly stated, “This time you will.” And then she prayed over me. She invited God to refocus my mind so that I could remember His Word, hide it in my heart, and then cling to it. She gave me Isaiah 41:10 to memorize and 32 other verses to write down and read every single day.
Isaiah 41:10, The Passion Translation:
Isaiah 41:10 was the perfect verse for me to memorize at this time. Through this verse, God told me not to yield to fear. I know the enemy wanted to use this situation to end my faith, but I did not yield to fear. And every time I started to rehash the circumstances I was able to say to myself, “Do not yield to fear, for God is always near.” And then the next part “Never turn your gaze from me, for I am your faithful God.” It was a promise that I believed. When my mind would wonder I would remind myself to keep my gaze on God and His promise of being my faithful God encouraged me. “I will infuse you with My strength and help you in every situation.” This caused me to relax into my Father’s arms. He did not say He would make my strength better. He promised to infuse me with His very own strength. And He didn’t say I will help you in some situations. His promise is to help in EVERY situation. The last part of this verse, “I will hold you firmly with My victorious right hand.” gave me the security to know that there was no way I was going to slip back down into the darkness. I relied on, and believed God’s promise to hold me firmly.
I spoke this verse out loud and had it on repeat all through the days and nights. I didn’t try to memorize anything else during that time, but clung to this one verse. In the meantime, after my sister left, I spent every day writing out the remainder of the 32 verses. I wrote them out in my journal in 5 different translations. Once I had all of the verses written out, I picked the translation of each verse that spoke to my soul. I then wrote each verse on an index card and made a promise to myself that I would read them all every day. Out of the 33 there are now about 8 that I can recite by memory.
Hiding God’s Word in my heart has changed me. I find that when I am praying now, I often pray the scriptures that I have hidden in my heart. When I become anxious, sad or worried I remember God’s promises and remind my heart of what God’s Word says. I never thought I would ever be able to memorize even one verse, but God is faithful in His love for us. He enables me to hide His Word in my heart and He will do the same for you. James 1:5, “If any of you lack wisdom you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”
I encourage you to pick a verse that speaks to your soul and read it every day until it becomes hidden in your heart. But don’t stop there, keep adding to your arsenal, so that you will have stored up God’s Word for such a time as this.
Stacey Daley
CHM Administrator and contributor
I will share the verses that I am currently working to memorize and perhaps some of those will speak to you and encourage you to begin hiding His Word in your heart.
1. James 1:5 (NIV)
2. Philippians 4:4-7 (NIV)
3. Exodus 14:14 (NIV)
4. Psalm 34:4 (NIV)
5. Psalm 55:22 (TPT) (NIV)
6. Psalm 56:3 (NIV)
7. Isaiah 41:10 TPT (NIV)
8. Psalm 27:1 (NIV)
9. Psalm 119:105 (NIV)
10. Psalm 54:4 (NIV)
11. Psalm 94:19 (NIV)
12. Psalm 27:14 (NIV)
13. Psalm 140:13 (NIV)
14. Isaiah 58:11 (TPT) (NIV)
15. Zephaniah 3:17 (NIV)
16. Psalm 23:3 (TPT)
17. Psalm 63:7-8 (NIV)
18. Psalm 139:16 (NIV)
19. Psalm 139:16 (TPT)
20. Psalm 11:7 (AMP)
21. Psalm 31:24 (AMP)
22. Psalm 18:30 (NIV)
23. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NIV)
24. Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)
25. Romans 8:1 (NIV)
26. Psalm 139:7-10 (NIV)
27. Psalm 73:26 (NIV)
28. 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)
29. John 10:10 (NIV)
30. John 13:34-35 (NIV)
31. Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)
32. 2 Timothy 1:7 (NIV)
33. Romans 8:1 (NIV)
