Why Bible Memory is Worth It!

By Alison Groenboom

God Helps Us!

Why spend time memorizing Bible verses when we have the Bible right at our fingertips?  That’s such a great question.  We have quick access to Bibles on our phones and in most of our houses.  Our kids have quick access to them, too!  So why take the effort to memorize?

I have a few thoughts on this, and I pray these thoughts encourage you and your children to start memorizing!

Reason #1

God’s Word helps us to be ready to GO and TELL!

There are many Bible verses that are perfect for retelling God’s plan of salvation!  Each year many of our students memorize Luke 2 and Matthew 28 passages.  Those are GO and TELL verses!  Our children (and us because we practice them with them) have those verses “at the ready” to share the Good News of Jesus’ birth, death, and resurrection!

Read and memorize these verses that the angel said!  They are such good news!

Luke 2: 11-12 “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Matthew 28: 6 “He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.” 

Reason #2

God’s Word helps us to PRAISE GOD!

Sometimes we get so busy, and we can’t think of how to begin to pray or to praise God.  I often think of Bible verses that I know and begin my prayer with those.  I use Psalm 18 often.

Psalm 18: 1-3 “I love you, LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I called to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and I have been saved from my enemies.”

Reason #3

God’s Word ENCOURAGES us!

I share with my first graders that life can be so hard on this side of heaven! I tell them that God loves us so much, and that in heaven life will be perfect! But learning verses like Psalm 145 remind us that God is faithful and trustworthy!  These verses come to mind when I am sad and discouraged.  I am also reminded that God doesn’t change. He is always the same.  Always faithful! Always trustworthy!

Psalm 145: 13-14 “The Lord is trustworthy in all he promises and faithful in all he does. The Lord upholds all who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down.”

Reason #4

God’s Word keeps us from SINNING!

Psalm 119: 11 “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.”

What a beautiful verse!  I long to please God, and I long to not sin! I believe that the more we concentrate on learning the Bible and memorizing the Bible, the less we will sin.  The word “hidden” in this passage doesn’t mean that it is hidden so that it can’t be recalled.  I think it means that it cannot be taken away from us!  Satan can’t take the Bible away from us.  God and his Word are stronger!

Read and try to memorize this verse that Solomon wrote.

Proverbs 3: 3-6 “Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. 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.”

May God’s Word be a big part of your life! May God give you the energy and time to learn it well and even memorize it! May God’s Word fill your heart!