6. Because God’s word will become more precious to you.
The things we invest most in become most precious to us. If you spend minimal time in the Bible, don’t expect it to be precious to you.
But if you spend hundreds of cumulative hours storing large portions of God’s word in your heart so that the word of Christ dwells in you richly, it will become a precious part of your essential life (Psalm 119:11).
7. Because you will see more of God’s glory.
We can only know a few things about a person by what they make. We can really know them well by what they say. Mountains and microbes, galaxies and goats, they each say some wonderful things about God.
But to really know God, to really see and be in awe of the things that are most glorious about him, we must listen carefully to what he says about himself, because God reveals himself primarily by his word (1 Samuel 3:21). Memorizing his word helps us listen carefully and perceive more glory.
8. Because it will fine-tune your hooey gauge.
The world lies to you all the time. The devil is the father of lies (John 8:44). And your sin nature lies to you. And false brothers lie to you.
The better you know God’s word, the more skillful you become in handling it (2 Timothy 2:15). The clearer you have his word in your mind, the more accurately you will discern demonic hooey.
Having a lot of God’s word in your head will fine-tune your hooey gauge.
9. Because you’re going to suffer.
Suffering is coming your way (or is here), and it’s confusing and disorienting. Having memorized big chunks of Scripture is so helpful at such times.
Not only will you have specific texts come to mind, but even when, due to pain or fear, you struggle recalling them, you will know right where to go. Memorizing books imprints those books in your mind. You will know which chapters and sections will speak to your suffering.
10. Because your brothers and sisters are going to suffer.
The same is true for bringing gospel comfort and counsel to your brother or sister who is suffering.
Memorizing large portions not only serves you, but also is a way of loving others by being able to provide them with faith-sustaining truth when it’s most needed.
How to memorize long portions of Scripture.
Review, Read, Recite, Repeat.
You do it one or two verses at a time.
