Jesus was able to defend Himself from Satan’s attacks. His #1 weapon is our #1 weapon – The Word of God. Jesus memorized Scripture to defend Himself against temptation.
I came across an article by Rick Warren in his book, The Purpose Driven Life. It contains some great wisdom. So I hope it helps you see the value of memorizing Scripture.
Why should you memorize God’s Word?
- It’s the number one tool for resisting temptation. When Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness, his only defense against this attack was the Word of God. If Jesus knew a better way to fight temptation, believe me, he would have used it.
- It helps you make wise decisions. I can’t count how many times I’ve asked God for guidance about something very specific, and he has brought a Scripture I’ve memorized back to mind, showing me what to do. The Bible says, “Your word is a lamp to guide me and a light for my path” (Psalm 119:105 GNB). The more you know what God says, the more you are going to know how God thinks, because the will of God is found in the Word of God. The more you fill your mind with the Word of God, the more you will know the will of God.
- It strengthens you when you’re under stress. We all get stressed from time to time. And the Bible says this, “Remember your promise to me; it is my only hope. Your promise revives me; it comforts me in all my troubles” (Psalm 119:49-50 NLT). If you will memorize Scripture, your stress level will decrease dramatically and your confidence level will increase dramatically.
- It comforts you when you’re sad. The Bible is full of comfort. Jeremiah said, “Your words are my joy and my heart’s delight” (Jeremiah 15:16b GWT). I can’t tell you how many times I have been down and read Scripture, and it gave me great comfort.
- It helps you witness to unbelievers. 1 Peter 3:15 says, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect” (NIV). If someone asks you what the Bible says about an issue or what they should do in a situation, what do you tell them? If you have Scripture memorized, it’ll help you be far more effective in sharing because you can share the truth of God’s Word.
For a similar article, see: Tips for Memorizing Scripture
How has the memory of God’s Word helped you in your life?
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