I may have lost you with the very title of this post, though I hope not! When we think about spiritual disciplines, Scripture memorization is one that often seems unattainable. “It’s so hard!” we cry . . . and we’re not wrong. Scripture memorization requires time, diligence, and attention. In a world in which attention spans are growing shorter, memorization feels near-impossible. 

This hard work is also fruitful, though. We may think of the long-term fruit of memorization; I’m a former Awana kid and there have been many times that a verse I memorized over thirty years ago comes back to me in a moment of need. But Scripture memorization isn’t only planting seeds for a distant harvest; it also bears fruit as we memorize. There’s fruit that is ripe for the picking, even in the process.

In recent weeks I’ve experienced that fruitfulness in three areas that are key to abiding in Christ. Those three areas are what Matthew Bingham calls “a triangulated relationship between Scripture, meditation, and prayer.” He goes on to describe that relationship: “We hear from God through his word, we reflect on what we’ve heard in meditation, and we then respond to God in prayer.” Memorization has led to greater fruitfulness in all three points of that triangle.

Fruitful Hearing

This spring, our women’s and men’s Bible studies have been studying the book of James together. In preparation for the study, the women’s teaching team challenged one another to read the book daily. I began by listening to the book of James in an audio Bible app each morning. After a few days, I found that through repetitive listening, the words were becoming familiar. Even without conscious effort, I realized that the words were beginning to sink into my heart.

This realization led me to devote myself to memorizing the book of James. I started with James 1:1 and began to memorize a verse or two at a time. My method (learned from Andy Davis — see the resources linked below) has been simple, but effective: read the verse 10 times, repeat it from memory 10 times, and then review all that I’ve memorized so far. As I’ve continued to work my way through the book, my daily listening has been replaced by daily rehearsing. That rehearsing has led to a more fruitful hearing of the word. 

As I work to remember and recall the words of James, I find myself considering the connections between verses. For example, as I recite James 1:21: “Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls,” I ask myself, “What does James want his readers to do with the implanted word that they receive?” The answer is found in verse 22: “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” 

Scripture memorization bears fruit in hearing the word. Memorization offers the opportunity to move from passive hearing to active consideration of the word. Memorization allows and encourages us to ponder Scripture more deeply, which is necessary for those who would be doers of the word and not hearers only!

Fruitful Meditation

As I rehearse and ponder the words I’m memorizing, I often seamlessly move from hearing the word to meditating on it. Meditation, the second point of the triangle, involves savoring and digesting the words of Scripture. Meditation isn’t content with merely hearing or reading the word. In meditation, we return to what we have heard — or more accurately, we don’t move on from it. 

A picture of hearing without meditation comes from my sister’s home. She and her family have two big Australian Shepherds and their dinnertime never fails to make me laugh. My sister pours a cup of dog food into each dog’s bowl, then we all stand back as they attack the food with such intensity that they practically chase their bowls across the floor. It seems they’re simply inhaling the dry food.

If I’m honest, I very often approach my time in the word with a similar mindset. I gulp down the meat of the word as if it is something to be simply consumed. The words of Scripture are so much more, though. They are “no empty word . . . but your very life” (Deut. 32:47). “More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey, and drippings of the honeycomb” (Ps. 19:10).

Scripture memorization slows me down and leads me to meditation. Instead of gulping down my daily intake of God’s word, I savor it. I’m nourished by it. The words, written on my heart, are there for meditation throughout the day and when I put my head on the pillow. I can call them to mind in a quiet moment. The Spirit often brings them to my memory in a moment of application — a moment that calls me to respond by being “no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts” (James 1:25).

Fruitful Prayer

Hearing and meditating on the word should lead inevitably to prayer — responding to the One who is speaking in his word! Here, once again, Scripture memorization leads to greater fruitfulness in prayer. As I’ve memorized the book of James, I’ve found myself praying the words of Scripture more times than I can count.

For example, James 1:2-4 gives words to pray over a friend in an extended season of suffering. I can ask the Lord to give her joy in the midst of her circumstances. I can praise him for the evidence of steadfastness that I see him producing in her life. I’m stirred to worship the God who works in and through our suffering, using it to transform us into the likeness of his Son.

When I sit down to open my Bible, or when I get up after reading it, I pray James 1:22-25. I thank the Lord for the implanted word, which is able to save my soul. I ask him to grow in me a willingness to persevere in looking into the law of liberty. I ask him to work, by his Spirit, to make me a doer of the word and not a hearer only.

When I feel jealousy stirring in my heart, James 3:14-18 calls me to confess and repent quickly. I ask the Lord to uproot the bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in my heart, leaving no room for the disorder and vile practices that follow. I remember as I repeat verse 17 that “the wisdom from above” is visible in the life of my Savior, Jesus. I ask the Father to transform me into Christ’s image, with wisdom that is pure, peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.

These are fruitful prayers. They reflect the heart of God because they are the very words of God! I am praying back to him what he has already spoken to me in his word. And as I do, my heart is being aligned to his will. 

Conclusion

The discipline of Scripture memorization is just that — it’s a discipline. It requires work, time, and attention. But that effort is not without rewards. Memorizing the words of the Bible will bear fruit as you hear the word, meditate on it, and respond to it in prayer. It’s the nature of the word of God to give life and bear fruit — after all, it is the living and abiding word of God (1 Pet. 1:23)! 

Are you ready to begin practicing this discipline? Here are a few suggestions to get you started:

• Commit to a simple method. Andy Davis’ little book, How to Memorize Scripture for Life will give you practical steps to begin memorizing longer passages or even entire books.
• Start with a text you’re already studying. If you’re in the James study right now, why not start with James 1?
• Memorize in community. Invite a friend, a family member, or your community group to memorize a passage along with you. (If you’re a parent, memorize with your kids! This podcast with Hunter Beless is a helpful and encouraging resource for families memorizing together.)

Finally, persevere. Don’t grow weary of doing good, but continue in this discipline. I’m speaking to myself here because my history with Scripture memorization has been filled with stops and starts. I’m asking the Lord to continue to develop and strengthen this discipline in me, and to give me joy in savoring his word. I pray the same for you as well. As the people of Providence, may God’s words and his commands be on our hearts! May we teach them diligently to our children, and talk of them when we sit in our houses, and when we walk by the way, and when we sit down, and when we rise (Deut. 6:6-7).