Hiding Scripture In Your Heart
by Pastor Tommy Bailey
I recently got to catch up with my sister. She’s a godly woman and I always leave our conversations with fresh wisdom. She shared an experience she had a few weeks ago when she sat with a grieving family, trying to bring comfort to hearts that were shattered by loss. When words were difficult to locate, she didn’t have to reach for something novel or clever. She drew from a deep well of scripture she already had stored in her heart. Through tears she recalled the promises and comforts of Psalm 23. “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want…Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me…Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all my days, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
She knew the Psalm by heart. It was there at her disposal, and in that moment the comforting grace of God was given to those in need. This is one of the gifts of committing scripture to memory.
The practice of Bible memorization is good for the body, mind, and soul of every believer. We do not live by bread alone, our Lord says, but by every Word that comes from the mouth of God. (Matthew 4:4)
When we do the hard work of memorization, it quite literally rewires our brains, creating new neural pathways.1 It changes us spiritually and physically. The inspired writers of the Bible knew this long before the data showed it, “I have stored up your Word in my heart that I might not sin against You.” (Psalm 119:11) The very act of storing up God’s Word can reshape our hearts and reorder our longings.
Yet, committing Scripture to memory is not simply for ourselves. It is an act of kindness, generosity, and comfort for every image bearer the Lord may send into our path. It is one of the ways the Spirit ministers to and comforts His people. My sister had memorized Psalm 23, unaware that it would be a gift for a grieving family she had not yet met. The Lord knew, and the comfort of His Word was ready in their time of need.
Memorization is hard work. But it can be a life giving practice when we receive it as a gift and not another legalistic box to check.
There are many good ways to begin a rhythm of memorization. We are blessed with a myriad of helpful websites, apps, and other tools, and I’ll list some of those below. But there is a simple practice that has helped me, and it may help you too. It’s an approach that puts the whole person to work. Read the text. Say it out loud. Write it down. Yes, by hand, with a pen or pencil. Old school, my friends! In fact, new research has shown significant cognitive benefits, including improved recall, from the act of handwriting.2
Here’s the simple method:
- Read the text 10 times
- Say the text 10 times
- Write the text 2 times
Every method has limits, and this one may not be for you. I invite you to give it a few weeks and let me know if it has been helpful, or share what has worked for you. And I hope you will keep reading through the Bible with us this year, storing up His Word together through our Treasuring God’s Word reading and memorization plan.
May the Lord continue to bless and keep our church family as we let the Word of Christ dwell richly among us. (Colossians 3:16)
In Christ alone,
Pastor Tommy Bailey
Helpful Apps
Bible Memory App (this is an app I use)
Verses
Other Resources
The Navigators (Topical Memory System)
Verse Card Maker
Footnotes
1: Johns Hopkins Medicine, “Science of Memory,” explains that memories are formed through neuronal connections and that repeated learning strengthens synapses.
2: The Neuroscience Behind Writing: Handwriting vs. Typing—Who Wins the Battle?
