Why Memorize Scripture?

Memorizing Scripture has many benefits. In Joshua 1:8 the Lord tells Joshua, "Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful." Our spiritual prosperity will be greatly affected by our diligence to meditate upon and obey God's word. Memorization is a means to meditation. As we memorize, Scripture, we can then meditate on it and apply it to our lives.

16 reasons to memorize Scripture:

1. Help in avoiding sin
   Ps 119:11 I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
2. Comfort in affliction
   Ps 119:50 This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life.
3. Spiritual life
   Ps 119:93 I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have given me life.
4. Wisdom
   Ps 119:98-100 Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies, for it is ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers, for your testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the aged, for I keep your precepts.
5. Delight
   Ps 119:103 How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
6. Guidance
   Ps 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
7. Hope
   Ps 119:114 You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in your word.
8. Peace
   Ps 119:165 Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble.
9. A heart of worship
   Ps 119:171-172 My lips will pour forth praise, for you teach me your statutes. My tongue will sing of your word, for all your commandments are right.
10. Freedom
    Jn 8:31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
11. Makes Scripture readily available to teach, witness, encourage or reprove others
    2 Ti 3:16-17 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.
12. Increased faith
    Ro 10:17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
13. Victory over temptation
    Mt 4:4 But he answered, "It is written, ' Man shall not live by bread alone,
    but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" (This is from the account of Jesus' temptation in the wilderness. Jesus answered each of Satan's temptations by saying, 'It is written...' then quoting a Scripture from memory.)
14. Confidence in prayer
    1Jn 5:14-15 And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.
15. To imitate Jesus' own example
    Jesus often quoted Scripture, for example, when teaching (Mt. 5:21ff), when tempted (Mt. 4:1-11), when confronting the Pharisees (Mt. 9:13), and when explaining the parables to his disciples (Mk. 4:12).
16. If four-year-olds can do it, so can you!
    See a four-year-old recite Jeremiah 29:11 (video submitted by his parents).

     (Windows Media Player required.)