7 Benefits of Memory Work

There are many benefits of regular memorization.

I want to encourage you to begin or renew a focus on memorization. It may be difficult for you to do. (It is difficult for me too.) Some people think it is impossible for them to do it. But most of us are wrong about that. We can do it. And there are good reasons to do it. Consider a few of these few good reasons.

1. It improves your overall mental ability. A sharp brain is one that is used. It is like a muscle, and the rule for muscles is “Use it or lose it.” Memorization will help you even in the latter years of life.
2. It gives you clarity. When you memorize passages you see them with much more clarity. You notice things in the verse you never saw before.
3. It gives you perspective. When you memorize passages from different contexts and places you begin to notice connections you missed previously. It could be that you notice certain words used in different ways. It might be a particular phrase you notice, or even the style of the writers that you notice. You will be amazed at the subtle yet powerfully moving associations you will make.
4. You will grow in your awe of God’s Word. You will see the complete masterfulness of the holy text. It will leave a lasting impression upon you and draw you closer to God as a result.
5. It “cleans your mind”. You will be putting purity into your mind. As a result you will flush out bad thoughts and ideas and find that you are thinking about spiritual things much more often as you repeat your memory work throughout the day.
6. You will find connections between the Word and the world around you. You will see the world more clearly from God’s perspective. Applications of the text will leap at you from different contexts of life. For example, you will be in a situation and a verse will  come to mind and you will notice that the Word of God has something to say about that situation.
7. You will be more prepared to answer questions from others. There is nothing wrong with telling people you do not know the answer to a question. We all do that from time to time because no one knows everything. But when you can not only have an answer but quote a verse to show that answer, you will certainly make a powerful impact on the one asking the question.

I hope these reasons convince you to start memory work! Even if you memorize one verse a week, you are better off if you do. For more tips and encouragement in memorization, visit our group on Facebook called “Bible Memorization”.

Do you have any tips and tricks for memory work? Can you think of other benefits of memory work? Let's discuss them below!