At SMF, we believe the treasure of God's Word hidden in your heart is the best reward for memorizing it. But sometimes tangible rewards are a helpful way of staying motivated. They can also be a powerful motivator for memorizing Scripture—especially for children. From time to time people ask us whether it’s wise to offer external motivations (e.g., prizes) for a spiritual discipline. After all, shouldn’t Christians memorize Scripture out of an internal motivation—love for God? Continue reading →

Memorizing Scripture can seem like a daunting task. Many people feel like they are just too busy to memorize. Others don’t understand its importance, or they simply don't know how to get started. The good news is that these obstacles can be overcome!

Here are three common obstacles to memorizing Scripture and tips to help you overcome them:

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If you’re anything like me, memorizing can be hard and sometimes frustrating. Sometimes it seems as if I almost have a verse memorized, and then the next day I feel like I’ve forgotten it and am right back where I started! Over the years, however, I have discovered several tips and tricks that have proven helpful in hiding God’s Word in my heart (Psa. 119:11). Here are three of them:

1: Be Consistent
A dedicated musician practices his instrument every day. The same should be true for memorizers of Scripture. It's important to devote time on a regular basis to your memory work. If you don’t, it will be much harder to internalize the Word, and you will spend more time trying to remember old verses than learning new ones.

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In nearly every area of life, doing something well requires a certain amount of homework. Successfully installing a new light fixture, assembling a bookshelf, or changing the oil in your car is unlikely to go smoothly if you don’t at least read the instructions. Depending on the size and significance of the job, you might even get advice from a friend or watch a YouTube tutorial. Your goal, of course, is not to prepare endlessly—only as long as it takes to become adequately familiar with the proper tools and methods. When at last you feel qualified for the task at hand, you have every intention of putting what you’ve learned into practice. Continue reading →

Memorizing Scripture is one of the most worthwhile ways to spend time. By hiding God’s Word in your heart, you will be well-prepared for the day of adversity (Psa. 119:92), well-equipped to share the Gospel (Rom. 10:17), and well-guarded against sin (Psa. 119:11).

But what do you do when the fire has gone out? Perhaps you can remember a time when memorizing Scripture was the highlight of your day. Your zeal for God’s Word was a bright flame that consumed your heart. But now, for some unexplainable reason, that flame has been reduced to an ember. The sad and simple truth is that you just don’t feel like memorizing anymore. Continue reading →

In the classic Christmas movie, It’s a Wonderful Life, George Bailey gives up his dream of traveling the world. He instead stays in the small town of Bedford Falls where he manages a small building and loan company. After years of selfless service to his friends and neighbors, George finds himself depressed and in great financial straits. As he ponders whether his life is worth living, news of George’s predicament spreads throughout the community. In a touching display of generosity, the entire community rallies around their friend and helps the one who has so often helped them. Ultimately, George Bailey enjoys a happy, musical ending surrounded by his family and friends.

In some ways, George Bailey’s life looks a lot like the apostle Paul’s. Paul gave up what promised to be a successful career in Judaism, counting it “loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:8). His life was spent serving others “in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling” (1 Cor. 2:3). And like George Bailey, Paul eventually encountered his own time of great need.

As he sat in a Roman prison writing what would be his last epistle, Paul sensed that the time of his departure was at hand (2 Tim. 4:6). If Paul’s life was a movie, this is when you might expect an entourage of close friends to suddenly appear and break into song. Instead, Paul writes that “all those in Asia have turned away from me” (1:15). Demas, a former partner in ministry, “loved this present world” and went his own way (4:10). Meanwhile, Crescens headed “for Galatia, Titus for Dalmatia” (4:10). Alone and needing to be “filled with joy,” Paul urged young Timothy to come quickly and visit him (1:4; 4:21).

The Christian life rarely resembles a Hollywood movie. Believers are not called to ease and relaxation, but to “endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ” (2:3). Just like a “hardworking farmer” (2:6), our lives are not lived for today’s pleasures, but for tomorrow’s harvest. The work may at times be difficult and unglamorous, but in the end, we’ll be able to say with confidence, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing” (4:7-8).

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.” (John 14:1)

John Bunyan’s little book, Heart’s Ease for Heart Trouble, begins with a chapter entitled “The Sovereign Cure for Heart Trouble.” There, Bunyan leads the reader to think deeply about Jesus’ words in John 14:1, “Let not your heart be troubled….” Jesus wanted His disciples’ hearts—our hearts—to be without care, to be untroubled (Matt. 6:34). But too often, the cares of this world weigh down our hearts. Even when we’ve captured Scripture in memory, we experience fainting fits and turbulence as our anxiety level rises, along with our blood pressure.

At those moments, it’s time to take our own medicine. When my dad began to experience heart disease later in life, one doctor gave him a little vial of nitroglycerin tablets to take when he felt chest pains. Nitroglycerin, used in liquid form in explosives, has long been known to prevent chest pain and cardiac arrest when placed under the tongue. So Dad kept these tiny tablets in his pocket everywhere he went and used them as directed for years. But he had to take them out of his pocket and put them under his tongue for them to work!

In the same way, memorizing Scripture is a fantastic discipline for everyone, but many times we need Jesus and His people to remind us to “take the medicine.” When fear or anxiety strike next, what biblical “pill” will you place under your tongue? What “key” of promise will you use to escape Doubting Castle and Giant Despair? Jesus said, “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.”

Life can be stressful. As the alarm sounds each morning, you wake up to find work, school, meal prep, and soccer practice all headed your way at top speed. Another day, another 16 hours of chaos.

In the midst of this daily struggle, peace often feels like an idealistic fantasy. That's why the word "peace" often draws one's imagination to some secluded lake house or mountainside cabin. If peace exists, it must be far away from the reality that rules our ever-hectic lives. At least, that's what we tell ourselves. Yet in the midst of life's busyness, Scripture invites you to "let the peace of God rule in your hearts" (Col. 3:15).

If you need a fresh dose of "the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding" (Phil. 4:7), consider getting a copy of our Peace memory verse booklet (ESV, KJV, or NKJV). Over the course of 15 weeks, you'll memorize 32 verses to help you understand and enjoy the perfect peace of God. Devotionals and study questions are included for each verse, and an optional Scripture song CD is available for NKJV memorizers.

Few things in life are more unnerving than a check engine light. Isn't it amazing how a single light bulb carries the potential to ruin your whole day? Suddenly, a peaceful drive to the grocery store is replaced by a nerve-racking trip to the mechanic. What will they say? How much will it cost? Will I even make it there? These questions and more rush through your mind as you hope for the best. "After all," you tell yourself, "maybe it's just a bad sensor."

As much as we all dread our car's check engine light, we all do the same thing when it comes on: go to the mechanic. You might be able to ignore a cracked mirror or a dented hood, but not engine issues. To ignore that warning on your dashboard is to risk making things worse or even breaking down.

Just like the engine of a car, your heart is the driving force behind your thoughts, words, and actions.  Continue reading →