“But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it; not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it, they will be blessed in what they do.” James 1:25
During the message on Sunday, I still jot down notes, like I did when I took sermon notes sixty years ago and also when my daughters were in Confirmation class just in case they had questions. But memory work now at 72? The top of my memory list now is whether my zipper is up. I am quite sure your memory is much better than mine.
This verse from James encourages us not to forget what we have heard and learned. If you’re serious about being spiritually strong and mature, the greatest habit you can develop is memorizing Scripture. I watched an Andy Stanley study recently and he showed that within this verse there are four habits that lead to a blessed life. Read your Bible; “Whoever looks intently”.
· Review the Bible; “continues in it”. Remember the Bible; “not forgetting what they have heard”. Respond to the Bible; “but doing it”. Even if you’re not used to memorizing, it’s a skill you can learn; it’s a muscle you can strengthen. In fact, memorizing Scripture will cause your brain to have a stronger memory in other areas. For me it is starting to help me with NAMES. Study after study has shown this. Why is it important to memorize Scripture? In Lutheran churches on Sunday morning throughout Haiti the children and adults would recite their memory work before the congregation prior to the start of the worship service.
You’ll always have God’s Word with you. When you’re facing a challenge and walking towards the House of Doubters, you usually don’t have a Bible open or by your side. When you’re witnessing to someone who doesn’t know Jesus, is under stress, needs comfort, or is in a crisis; there’s usually not a Bible around. You need God’s Word in your mind so you can remember it and review it right when you need it.
You can meditate on Scripture wherever you go. If you’ve memorized Scripture, you can think about it when you get into bed at night or as you drive to an appointment. When you think about a portion of Scripture that you’ve memorized, you’re meditating on it. And the only promise of prosperity and success that God gives us in the Bible says that meditating on his Word is the key.
I want to encourage you to start memorizing Scripture today. Pick a verse a week. In a year, you’ll have memorized 52 verses. In two years, you’ll have memorized more than 100 verses. As you place God’s Word within your heart, you’ll find yourself growing more and more into the person God wants you to be.
Dear Heavenly Father, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.
May God be with you,
Jay