Memorization Starts with the Heart

I love "quick and easy." I love "do this in five steps." I love "do this in three steps" even more.

But today we are talking about Scripture memory and meditation. I'd love to tell you that there's a quick fix. But in my experience, there isn't.

But many things worth while aren't easy. Marriage isn't easy. Parenting isn't easy. Being a church member isn't easy. But that doesn't mean we quit.

I'd love to give you "Five Easy Steps to Memorize Scripture," but before you can discipline your mind, you  need to discipline the heart. If you begin by getting your heart right, you can say with Jeremiah, "Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart" (15:16).

Psalm 119 speaks to the motivation of the heart to memorize Scripture:

1. We memorize Scripture to keep our focus on God. We get to know God by reading His Word! Seeking Him, loving Him, learning from Him- they all center on His Word.

• Verse 10, "With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments!"
  
• Verse 18, "Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law."

2. We memorize Scripture to keep from sin. When you are tempted to sin you don't always have a Bible handy. But when we hide His Word in our hearts, the Holy Spirit uses those as a weapon against the temptation to defeat sin!

• Verse 9, "How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word."
• Verse 11, "I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you." 

3. We memorize Scripture to keep on His path. Not only does the power of the Word keep us from sin, it also keeps us doing what we are supposed to do.

• Verse 105, "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."
• Verse 165, "Great peace have those who love your law, nothing can make them stumble."

4. We memorize Scripture to receive blessings. When we are obedient, we receive the blessing of deeper fellowship with God.

• Verse 1, "Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord."
• Verse 2, "Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart."

Scripture memory is a spiritual discipline that requires, well, discipline! By getting your heart focused on why you should memorize Scripture, you will be motivated to actually do it!

Here are posts that give tips on how to memorize:

• Scripture Memory "Queen of Bad" No More! from True Woman
• Scripture Memory System from Kristi at Run the Earth, Watch the Sky
• Teaching Kids Scripture, also from Kristi and Run the Earth, Watch the Sky
  
• Memorize the 10 Commandments (for you and the kids!) with help from Sarah Mae
  

*This post is the 4th in a series of posts this week on Starting Fresh in Your Spiritual Walk. If you missed them be sure to visit Brooke, Teri Lynne, and Kristi to read their posts for Fresh Year, Fresh Start. And, tomorrow you will have the opportunity to link up on Kristi's blog and tell us your ideas for spiritual growth in the new year.  There will be a linky at Run the Earth, Watch the Sky  and Jo-Ann (@dcrmom) of DCR Design is giving away a FRESH BLOG MAKEOVER as a grand prize at the end of the series... link up each Friday for extra entries!!*

You can follow all the contributors on Twitter: @BrookeLMcG @kristi_runwatch @TeriLynneU @erinclosingtime @WisdomBegun @sarahmaeblogs @MutheringHeight @lorizimbardi @HeartforHim