10 Reasons I Love Memorizing Scripture

It's that time of year when many people's New Year's resolutions are phased out by the return of old habits. In January, many people are pumped and ready to better themselves though some kind of discipline whether it be eating right, exercising more, spending less, etc. I have to admit, some of my goals I've let slip, like eating healthier, while others I'm still totally pumped about, like memorizing Scripture.

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Why some goals remain strong, while others fall to the wayside has mystified me. That is until I listened to Michael Hyatt's excellent podcast : "How to Develop More Discipline." I've learned tons from my favorite book on achieving goals, Success God's Way: Achieving True Contentment And Purpose by Charles Stanley. However, Michael Hyatt's podcast helped me see why only some of my goals have stuck. So if one of you goals this year is to memorize Scripture, and you are struggling to stick with it, here are some tips I am implementing with all my goals this year to make sure they all stick. Consider applying these strategies to your Scripture memory goals this year, so when December 2013 is here, you can look back on this year and be encouraged by all the Scripture you hid in your heart. If you are behind in your Scripture memory goals, remember there is no condemnation for us who are in Christ. (Romans 8:1) We are all in different seasons of life. Memorize whatever you can, however you can, for this season of life you are in. 

After you've prayerfully determined what your Scripture memory goals are, these next three steps will make a huge difference in reaching the Scripture memory goals God has put on your heart. In the words of Michael Hyatt: 

1. List your reasons

2. Identify likely obstacles

3. Develop new behaviors

Today we'll look specifically at the importance of listing our reasons for memorizing Scripture. To find out more about identifying likely obstacles, and developing new behaviors, check out Michael Hyatt's great post, "5 Steps to Developing More Discipline" or excellent podcast, "How to Develop More Discipline."

List your reasons

This has been huge for me. Discipline is hard enough. However when I lose sight of why I'm pursuing a goal, why reaching a goal is important to me, it makes being disciplined in that area so much more difficult. However, when I take the few minutes it takes to list my reasons why I want to pursue a particular goal, my motivation is renewed and I am pumped to do what it takes to reach my goal.  Should the initial excitement of pursuing my goal start to fade, I can look back on my list and be reminded why reaching that goal is important to me. For this reason, I'm considering memorizing my reasons for each of my goals, so I never forget my why--why reaching my goals are important and what's at stake if I don't follow though. So what are your reasons for memorizing Scripture? Consequently, what is at stake if you don't follow through?

Here is my why. 10 reasons I love, and am committed to, memorizing Scripture:

1. Verse-by-verse I'm being transformed by the renewing of my mind. (Psalm 1:1-3)

2. It is growing me in the knowledge of God: who He is, what He's promised, and who I am in Christ. (2 Peter 3:18)

3.  It is equipping me to rightly handle the headaches and heartaches of life. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

4. It supplies me with the wisdom I need to make the best possible choices on any given day. (Psalm 119:97-100)

5. It allows me to redeem my daily downtime (waiting in line, running errand, cooking, ironing, etc) with that which counts for eternity (Ephesians 5:16) and will endure forever (1 Peter 1:25)

6. It guarantees my thoughts are lining up, in obedience to Philippians 4:8. (Philippians 4:8)

7. Not one moment I spend learning and reviewing my memory verses will ever return void. (Isaiah 55:11)

8. It communicates to my little girl that God's Word is so important that it is worth memorizing. (Psalm 119:97)

9. I am better equipped to meet the needs of my family because each verse I memorize is useful for instructing, reproving, correcting, and training me in righteousness so I can be a better wife and mother. (2 Timothy 3:16)

10. For all these reasons and more, at the end of the day, I can rest in the fact that my time spent learning and reviewing my memory verses was time well spent.

Questions for you: Why do you memorize Scripture? What are your Scripture Memory goals for 2013?



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Copyright © 2013 Brooke Espinoza.