Why Memorize Scripture?

I fully believe that one of the reasons Christians are so weak when it comes to temptation is because they not only don't read their Bibles as they should but they also fail to memorize scripture. As I get older, I'm more aware of the need to memorize scripture. Not only are there many benefits as described below in John Piper's testimony and the testimony of Jesus, but I'm thinking ahead as we all should. What if you don't have access to a Bible? What if you're in a car accident that leads to a long term hospitalization? Think of how much you could benefit with God's Word in your mind to bring comfort. But even now having God's Word in my head makes God's Word my thoughts when I go to sleep, through the night, and when I wake. The benefits are even more as you'll see when you read the list below. May this all motivate you to spend time memorizing the Word!

John Piper's Testimony

My testimony can be summed up in eight short sentences.

1. Memorizing Scripture makes meditation possible at times when I can’t be reading the Bible, and meditation is the pathway of deeper understanding.
2. Memorizing Scripture strengthens my faith because faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of Christ, and that happens when I am hearing the word in my head.
3. Memorizing Scripture shapes the way I view the world by conforming my mind to God’s viewpoint.
4. Memorizing Scripture makes God’s word more readily accessible for overcoming temptation to sin, because God’s warnings and promises are the way we conquer the deceitful promises of sin.
5. Memorizing Scripture guards my mind by making it easier to detect error—and the world is filled with error, since the god of this world is a liar.
6. Memorizing Scripture enables me to hit the devil in the face with a force he cannot resist, and so protect myself and my family from his assaults.
7. Memorizing Scripture provides the strongest and sweetest words for ministering to others in need.
8. Memorizing Scripture provides the matrix for fellowship with Jesus because he talks to me through his word, and I talk to him in prayer.

That’s my testimony. I hope it will motivate you to make your own discoveries. But what matters most is the testimony of Jesus. So focus for a few minutes with me on a phrase in John 15:7.

Jesus’ Testimony

Jesus says, “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” Let’s simply linger for a few minutes over the words “If . . . my words abide in you.” What does this mean, and why do the words of Jesus have the effect they do, and what does this have to do with memorizing Scripture?

Read more and listen to the entire message here: 

http://www.desiringgod.org/resource-library/sermons/if-my-words-abide-in-you--2#/watch/full