Why memorizing Bible verses matters and how to start

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Circumstances have a way of bringing us down. Maybe you’re facing a difficult decision. Maybe there’s a past sin keeping you in bondage or stealing your hope and leaving you empty and desperate. 

We all have difficult days where standing firm in our faith seems impossible. The more we know of the Bible, the more we know of God and His will for our lives. And when we go beyond reading to memorizing, we place His promises deep in our hearts. There change how we think and how we respond when life gets hard. 

“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” (Psalm 119:9-11). 

When you commit the Bible to memory you are equipping your heart and mind to battle against Satan’s attacks. Recalling Scripture and praying it over our circumstances will grow our faith, remind us of our hope, and send the enemy running for the hills! 

Four Easy Ways to Start Memorizing Scripture

1. Make flashcards. 

Flashcards are a great way to memorize Scripture. Place the reference on one side and the verse on the other side. Practice with a friend or on your own. 

2. Put it where you’ll see it.  

Use a dry erase marker to write the verse on a mirror where you’ll see it every day. Or, write it on an index card then put that card on a magnet on the fridge so your eyes are directed toward it whenever you open the door. Lastly, make a screensaver for your phone or computer with the verse and reference. This way, you’re reminded of the verse every time you pick up your phone.

3. Make it personal.

Put your name in the text (i.e. “For God so loved ______  that he gave his one and only Son, that ________ believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”) Making the Scripture personal helps us to remember the verse and to apply it to our lives. 

4. There’s an app for that. 

Download a Scripture memory app for your phone. You can turn downtime during the day into practice time.  Scripture Typer, Fighter Verses, and BibleMinded are a few good ones to try.  

Eight Good Verses To Start With

There are 23,145 verses in the Old Testament and 7,957 verses in the New Testament. That’s a lot of verses, and every one is from the Lord. So how do you know where to start? 

Start with verses that are meaningful to you, that remind you who you are in Christ, or that help you recall God’s character and desire for your life. Here are a few good examples. Use these to speak truth over your circumstances and banish Satan from deceiving your thoughts. 

• Romans 8:1-2 - “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.”
• Romans 5:1-2 - “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.” 
• Proverbs 4:5 - “Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or swerve from them.”
• Psalm 119:49-50  -“Remember your word to your servant, for you have given me hope. My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life.”
• Proverbs 3:5-6 - “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
• Galatians 5:16 - “So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”
• Philippians 4:6-7 - “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
• Philippians 4:13 - “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.”

Remember, the Lord reveals Himself through His Word. And when we can see Jesus clearly, we can follow Him more closely.