Why memorize Scripture? Most of us in the Western world have easy access to the Bible on our phones or on our home bookshelves, so we can quickly look up what we need to know or recall. And many of us have spent countless hours in Bible study or listening to sermons and are therefore able to recall general truths or ideas from Scripture. Why spend precious minutes in our busy schedules imprinting specific Scriptures to our memory?
The Bible itself gives us the reason: the Holy Spirit will retrieve those stored words at the exact moment they’re needed, both for our own comfort and correction and also when we’re caring for other people.
For example, when we suffer, it tends to come upon us suddenly and hit with a ferocity that can stun and overwhelm. Our swirling thoughts look for solid, stable ground. To have God’s truth readily accessible—hidden in our hearts—is to have a sharpened sword ready to do battle with fear, doubt, hopelessness, or anxiety and to pierce the soul with security and peace.
The same is true when someone we love suffers. When we have God’s very words spilling off our tongue, our response to their suffering can be exact and impactful, used to remind them of His power and presence. Memorized Scripture can be a “timely word” spoken that brings joy (Prov. 15:23).
Scripture Memory Leads to Joy
Memorizing Scripture is for our joy as well. Imagine memorizing a passage of Scripture that you’ve not ever understood completely. As you imprint it on your brain and as you say it out loud to yourself, your tongue emphasizes words that you’ve not noticed before. As you say it day after day, you emphasize different words, you see the passage differently than you saw it the day before, and the phrasing reminds you of something you read or memorized in another section of Scripture. The Bible simply comes alive. And your mind is filled with truth that, as it’s meditated on, moves to your heart. You begin to value and treasure the Word and its fullness in a different way than when you simply read it as you would a book or article.
This is why I incorporated a Scripture memory challenge into my Bible study, More Than Enough: God’s Strength in Our Weakness in 2 Corinthians. I want Bible students to experience the joy of dwelling on the richest sections of 2 Corinthians and the joy of experiencing the Holy Spirit bring those passages to mind right when they’re needed.
I invite you to join me in experiencing joy through the spiritual discipline of Scripture memory. If you’ve never done it before, you might feel overwhelmed or unsure where to begin. I’ve been there! Here are a few tips to help you get started:
- Choose a Time.
No matter how busy we are, we all have pockets of time where we’re doing menial tasks and our minds wander—when we’re getting ready for the day, while we’re sitting in the carpool lane, when we’re on our lunch break at work or commuting to and from the office, while we’re out for a walk, or when we’re doing house or yard work.
Instead of letting your mind wander aimlessly or pulling out your phone, instead choose to use that time to memorize Scripture.
- Identify Your Learning Style.
Are you a visual, auditory, or kinesthetic learner? The way you learn should inform the way you practice Scripture memory. Auditory learners can use a Bible app with narration to listen to the verse and then practice reciting it along with the narrator. Kinesthetic learners can learn and recite on walks or jogs or in an environment where they can create hand motions to help them recall their verses. I am a visual learner, so I carry a printout of my verse or passage with me and draw pictures in the margin of the printout to prompt my recall.
- Pick a Passage.
After you’ve decided when you’ll memorize and recite, think carefully about what you’ll memorize. Choose Scripture verses or passages that you love or have been meaningful to you in the past. Choose a verse or passage from the book of the Bible you’re studying or hearing sermons from at church. Choose a verse or passage that reminds you of a truth you easily forget. Or choose verses you’re already familiar with so that you have quick success you can build upon as you graduate to those you’re less familiar with.
- Think Big.
Consider memorizing chapters or books of the Bible rather than verses selected at random. Although that may sound intimidating, I’ve found that it’s actually easier to memorize chunks of Scripture. Rather than simply memorizing a verse isolated from its context, I’m memorizing words that flow together and form an argument or cohesive theme. In other words, I’m not just putting the words to memory, I’m meditating on the point of the words. I’m studying and learning how Scripture fits together as I commit it to memory. (For help in knowing how to memorize larger chunks of the Bible, I recommend How to Memorize Scripture for Life by Dr. Andrew Davis.)
- The More the Merrier.
It’s far too easy to give up on memorizing Scripture or to let what we’ve memorized fall dormant. Invite a friend, family member, or spouse to join you in discovering the joy of Scripture memory. Not only will you double your joy, but you’ll have the accountability you need to sustain your efforts over time.
If you don’t know where to start or who to start with, come join me and fellow Bible students using More Than Enough as we memorize what I call “gem” passages from 2 Corinthians. You can find printable cards here and follow along with our Instagram Scripture memory challenge here for summer 2025.
Can you imagine living into old age and also having committed yourself to Scripture memory for many years? Can you imagine what it would be like to recite a chapter of the Bible and not only recite it but understand it in your heart? Can you imagine God speaking directly into a time of great despair with the very words you have committed to memory? All of these possibilities are very real. It starts with carving out 5–10 minutes in your daily routine and, over time, you will reap the benefits of that investment. I invite you to experience the joy!
To learn more from Christine Hoover, check our her Bible study: More Than Enough.
About Christine Hoover
Priscilla Shirer draws life lessons from the account of God speaking to the boy Samuel in the beloved Bible story found in 1 Samuel 3. Priscilla relates six characteristics found in Samuel that are applicable to women today as they tune their hearts to hear God’s voice. By listening to God’s voice and obeying Him, women will be drawn into a closer relationship to God that brings a deeper desire to serve Him faithfully.
