30 Days of Prayer: Pray to Commit to Scripture Memorization (Day 19) - Be Whole, Mom

There are many places in the bible that encourage scripture memorization, but the majority of professed believers have not worked on this discipline.  Even just a few minutes a day will reap incredible gains over time.  And, like I said yesterday, spiritual growth is like a muscle; to get better you need to do the work.

We are counting down the days as we move through these 30 Days of Prayer.  And, today we are going to chat about scripture memorization.

How about you?  Do you plant the Word into your mind?

If not, you’re not alone, but there’s no day like today to get started!

In the first few years of our homeschooling journey, I stumbled upon a really neat system for scripture memorization.  You can find out more here on the CharlotteMason website.  The system was brilliant and exactly what I had wanted, so I immediately got to work writing out cards.

I purchased a cute little box to keep all the sorted cards in, and then got started following the system to teach my children the verses I had written down.  I wrote probably 100-150 verses onto various 3×5 notecards, organized them accordingly, and then we began the journey of scripture memorization.

We are now about 5 years into the practice and I am thrilled with what both I and my kids have learned, all within about 10 minutes a day.

Scripture memorization does not have to be tedious or lengthy, but the fruits of the process are delightful.

Why is scripture memorization so important?

As Americans we tend to have a skewed perception of many of the dangers that happen worldwide when it comes to living as a Christian.  We have access to probably upwards of 3 or 5 bibles in a house at one time, not to mention apps on our phones, and websites for the bible, too.  The Bible is EVERYWHERE around most of us, and yet we have not committed to scripture memorization.

Why?

I suspect it is because we take it for granted.  There are countries in the world where one Bible needs to be smuggled in for a community of people to share and glean from because it is illegal to have it.

In Judaism, there is a tradition that a person would not be permitted to speak on a matter of the Torah until they had memorized the entire thing!  That’s 5 books!!!

And, then there’s the encouragement straight from scripture:

How can a young person stay on the path of purity?

By living according to your word.

I seek you with all my heart;

do not let me stray from your commands.

I have hidden your word in my heart

that I might not sin against you.” ~ Ps. 119: 9-11

There is great wisdom in planting the seed of the word in the crevices of our minds, which is the heart.  It is from this place that we are renewed and changed into “new creations” from the inside out.

I know it might be a bit of work on the front end, but there is great blessing in obedience.

My All-Time Favorite Verses for Scriptures Memorization

If you’re ready and committed to starting your scripture memorization system, here are some of my favorite verses to help you get started!  These are those verses that come back in use over and over and over again, because they are just so spot on in hitting the need effectively.

And, the Holy Spirit knows how to grab the right scripture for the moment from the storage center of our mind!  You’ll be surprised how much more scriptures will begin to run through your mind as you do the work to plant them there.

Here are my top 25 scriptures to memorize:

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” ~ Jer. 29: 11

“Be still, and know that I am God…” ~ Ps. 46: 10

“Blessed are the poor in spirit,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn,

for they will be comforted.

Blessed are the meek,

for they will inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

for they will be filled.

Blessed are the merciful,

for they will be shown mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart,

for they will see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers,

for they will be called children of God.

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

‘Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” ~ Matt. 5: 3-12

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.  Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” ~ Eph. 6: 10-11

“For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.” ~ 1 These. 4: 7

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” ~ Phil. 4: 8

“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” ~ Jer. 29: 13

“Blessed is the one

who does not walk in step with the wicked

or stand in the way that sinners take

or sit in the company of mockers,

but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,

and who meditates on his law day and night.

That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,

which yields its fruit in season

and whose leaf does not wither—

whatever they do prospers.” ~ Ps. 1: 1-3

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,

but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” ~ Prov. 1: 7

“Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;

but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” ~ Prov. 31: 30

“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” ~ John 14: 6

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was with God in the beginning.  Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.” ~ John 1: 1-3

“God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.  If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth.  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.” ~ 1 John 1: 5-7

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” ~ Matt. 5: 17

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” ~ Eph. 2: 10

“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” ~ 1 Peter 5: 8

“Be merciful to those who doubt…” ~ Jude 1: 22

“Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.  Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.” ~ Eph. 4: 4-15

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” ~ Jam. 1: 22

“…let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” ~ Matt. 5: 16

“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’  This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” ~ Matt. 22: 37-40

“Treat others the same way you want them to treat you.” ~ Luke 6: 31

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.” ~ Eph. 2: 8-9

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.  Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” ~ Jam. 1: 2-4

“Then [the older women] can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.” ~  Titus 2: 4-5

We must take our faith walk seriously to experience the fullness of all our Abba has for us.

It may not always be popular to grow in the Spirit, or in the knowledge of the Word, but it surely in the most beneficial thing we could commit ourselves to do.

Abba, I want to know Your Word.  Help me to practice my self-discipline to put to work the actions that I know are most beneficial for my spiritual growth and maturity, even when I don’t feel like it.  Speak Your Truth to my heart when I am struggling, and continue to lead me in Truth and Love.  

Thank You for Your grace and mercy.  I know I fall short so very often, but I am incredibly thankful for the gift that You so freely give.  Help me to not take my salvation for granted, but to live it out as the valuable jewel that it is in my life.  In Jesus’ name, amen.

Sweet sister, the efforts we take to develop these disciplines will repay us for a lifetime.

There is nothing more valuable that scripture memorization.  We never know what lies in our future, and the hidden word in the heart of a believer is planted nourishment in any season of drought and difficulty.

Take action.  Do the work from the heart of love and faith.  And, you will surely reap the rewards

Shalom.

Was this post an encouragement to you today?  Share and comment below.  Your comments mean the world to me, encouraging me immensely, and help me to push onward in this work that the Lord has called me to do.