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This week we are exploring ways that Scripture memory and recitation benefits us in the Christian life. Yesterday we discussed how memorizing and speaking Scripture help you to better understand the text.
Today's main point is this: Memorizing Scripture is a powerful tool in the fight against sin and for righteousness.
This is not a secret. The Scriptures are clear on this. Psalm 119:11 says, "I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you."
Sin begins with bad desires and temptation. James 1:14-15 says, "But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death." This progression of temptation and desire—>sin—>death is the road that leads to destruction. So how do we stop this stone from rolling? Truth.
Matthew 4 holds the familiar story of Jesus being tempted in the wilderness by Satan. Do you remember what Jesus did every time when He was tempted by the devil? He quoted Scripture. The truth replaced the temptation. For example, Matthew 4:3-4 says, "And the tempter came and said to him, 'If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.' But he answered, 'It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"
Let's go back to Psalm 119:11. I love the translation here when it says, "I have stored up your word in my heart." This makes me think of a savings account. We make deposits of truth into our hearts when we memorize Scripture. Then, when temptation calls, we can make a withdrawal from all we have stored up to fight the temptation, so that we might not sin against the Lord.
Maybe you haven't sat down to memorize Scripture in a while. Let me give you one tip that I use to help me memorize. I read the passage repeatedly until I have a good idea of what it says. Then I use the "first letter" method. I take the first letter of each word of the passage and write them down on a card or make it the background on my phone. Just using the first letter helps me to memorize the text word for word. For instance, if I was memorizing a passage from Psalm 119, and I was working on verse 11, I would write down:
IHSUYWIMHTIMNSAY
...to represent the first letter of each word in the verse. This helps me to review my knowledge of the passage until I know it by heart. Maybe you can give this method a try this week and pick a passage to start memorizing!
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