Commentary: Six reasons to memorize scripture

David Chancey

Memorizing anything is hard work, requiring discipline, effort, repetition, energy, and priority. However, with God’s help, we can do it.”

Studies show that our brains shrink as we grow older.

Anne Ravndal, a neuroscientist at the University of Oslo, Norway, and an international team of researchers pulled together more than 12,000 brain scans collected over the years from participants ages 17-95. Everyone had two scans about three years apart. The study revealed men showed greater decline than women as we age (www.sciencealert.com, “Male Brains Shrink Faster Than Female Brains, Study Finds,” October 18, 2025).

Maybe that explains my forgetfulness. I put my phone somewhere and can’t find it. My keys keep disappearing. I open the refrigerator door and then stand there trying to recall why I opened the fridge. Where did I put my glasses?

My memory is so bad, I could plan my own surprise birthday party! That’s why it’s harder for me to memorize scripture. Yet, learning to memorize verses is critical to our spiritual lives.

Why? Here are six reasons memorizing God’s Word is essential to our spiritual health:

First, memorizing God’s Word helps us know God better. God reveals Himself through His Word, and as we memorize scripture, we become more familiar with God’s attributes, such as His goodness, for example.

Psalm 100:5 reads, “For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations.”

Psalm 119:68 testifies, “You are good and do good.”

Second, memorizing God’s Word helps us fight sin and temptation. Psalm 119:11 says, “Your word have I hidden in my heart that I might not sin against you.” What was Jesus’ number one tool when Satan tempted Him in the wilderness? Each time Satan threw temptation at Jesus, Jesus immediately quoted scripture.

For example, Jesus fasted 40 days and 40 nights, and Matthew 4:2 records that Jesus was hungry. Satan tried to take advantage of Jesus’ condition and told him to turn stones into bread to prove He was the Son of God.

Jesus replied, quoting Deuteronomy 8:3, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God’” (4:4). Jesus stood firm, and Satan finally fled.

Third, memorizing scripture reminds us of God’s presence, comfort, and peace when trials come. As I sat in the waiting room preparing to take treatments during my cancer struggle, I often quoted Isaiah 41:10, which outlines five reasons not to fear. That verse brought tremendous comfort. God’s Word is filled with passages recording God’s promises and communicating tremendous encouragement.

When God opens opportunities to minister to others going through trials, we may not have our Bibles with us. We can share scriptures that have spoken to us as we quote from memory and allow God’s Word to reassure.

Fourth, memorizing scripture helps us guard our thoughts with God’s Word and God’s ways. The world attempts to pound ungodly thoughts and ungodly ways into our minds. We should saturate our minds with God’s Word so we can make godly choices.

The Psalmist wrote, “How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to your word” (119:9) and “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (119:105).

Fifth, memorizing scripture is a spiritual discipline that contributes to spiritual growth. Professor Donald Whitney wrote, “Memorizing scripture strengthens your faith because it repeatedly reinforces the truth, often just when you need to hear it again” (Whitney, Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life).

Saturating our minds with scripture helps us “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18) as we take in the milk (I Peter 2:2) and solid food (Hebrews 5:12-14) of God’s Word.

Sixth, memorizing scripture helps us delight in God’s Word. The Psalmist wrote, “I will delight myself in your statutes; I will not forget your word” (119:16).

He also wrote, “I will delight in your commands, which I love” (119:47).

Charles Spurgeon said, “The Bible in the memory is better than the Bible in the bookcase.” Memorizing anything is hard work, requiring discipline, effort, repetition, energy, and priority. However, with God’s help, we can do it.

The verse I’m working on? Psalm 85:6. “You are great and do wondrous things; You alone are God.” What verses are you working on?

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David L. Chancey lives in Fayetteville, Georgia, and serves as transitional pastor at Eagles Landing at Griffin, Griffin, Georgia. Check out his books and other writings at www.davidchancey.com.