More Than a Memory

Life is filled with memories. Some we forget, some we don't. One memory I'll never forget is from when I was just three years old. I remember listening from the backseat of the car as my mom would play Scripture songs on the CD player.  

Each verse I heard was essential in developing a new love for God's Word. I soon realized that although these songs were great pastimes, the verses attached to them couldn't afford to remain as such. They needed to be more than a distant memory in my life.   

For this positive outcome, I had to exercise intentionality and consistency. I had to set my mind on memorization—not just observation. As with most things in life that we retain, my Scripture memory journey began with an intentional desire to remember. 

In Psalm 119, the psalmist states seven times his resolve never to forget the Word of God. He delighted in Scripture to such a degree that he restated his commitment to it repeatedly:   

Psalm 119:16 - "I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word."  

Psalm 119:61 - "Though the cords of the wicked ensnare me, I do not forget your law."  

Psalm 119:93 - "I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have given me life."  

Psalm 119:109 - "I hold my life in my hand continually, but I do not forget your law."  

Psalm 119:141 - "I am small and despised, yet I do not forget your precepts."  

Psalm 119:153 - "Look on my affliction and deliver me, for I do not forget your law."  

Psalm 119:176 - "I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek your servant, for I do not forget your commandments."  

Through the ups and downs of life, the psalmist refused to forget the precepts of the Lord. Instead, he hoped and delighted in them. The position of the psalmist's heart is similar to the words of Job in Job 23:12: "I have not departed from the commandment of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my portion of food."  

What if we, too, had this resolve to remember God’s words? What if they became more than a distant memory in our past and more than our portion of food? Just as eating daily meals is necessary for our health, being in God's Word daily is essential for our spiritual well-being (1 Peter 2:2-3). 

A great way to accomplish this is by memorizing verses through music. Scripture Memory Fellowship has developed several Scripture song albums to help you hide God's Word in your heart. Consider listening to them on your commute to work or playing them for your kids to inspire generational memorization. Tap here to learn more about these memorization resources. 

As great as memories are, they will always remain in our past. May Scripture be more than just a memory, but something you actively carry with you for the rest of your life. May it be a treasure that you never forget.