Why I Memorize Them

READ: PSALM 119:11-16, 28, 103-105; JOHN 14:23-27

I love God’s Word, the Bible, and all that He put in it for us. I think it’s so important to commit Bible verses and passages to memory so that we are never without it. Some of the reasons I like to have God’s Word memorized is for comfort in the middle of the night, for peace when I am feeling anxious, or for a reminder that I am not alone.

I like to have all kinds of Bible verses and songs in my head for these reasons. Any time I’m feeling down, the verses I’ve memorized can come to me and remind me that life isn’t all bad. They remind me of who God is and how He has come through for me over and over again. I can’t say how many times I’ve thought of different verses or songs in moments when I was starting to feel down, and they made me feel better. Sometimes I am in the deepest, darkest place, and the reminders from Scripture slowly move me from it.

In John 14:26, Jesus said, “the Holy Spirit…will remind you of everything I have said to you.” No matter where we are or how anxious our thoughts get, we can remember the promises from God’s Word. He promises that He will be with us (Matthew 28:20), His hand will guide us (Psalm 32:8), and He will give us peace (John 14:27). • Bethany Acker

• Can you think of a time a Bible verse or passage brought you comfort or helped you in some way? What was that like?

• The Bible is full of God’s promises to us, and all these promises point to Jesus (Luke 24:27; John 5:39; 20:31; Acts 8:26-40). He loves us so much that He died and rose again to save us. Once we’ve put our trust in Jesus, we can know that He is always with us. His Holy Spirit is living in us, reminding us of the truth of the gospel and providing us with peace and strength through His Word. Do you have any Bible verses or passages memorized? Do you have any favorite songs that are based on Scripture? If you’ve never memorized a Bible verse before, why not start today? Who are some friends you could memorize Scripture with?

I have hidden your word in my heart…I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. Psalm 119:11, 15 (NIV)