The Power of Memorizing Bible Verses
When I was about 10 years old, my dad began urging my siblings and I to memorize Bible verses on a weekly basis. We weren’t really motivated to do so on our own so he would always attach a prize to it. “You get your own pint of Haagen-Daz ice cream this week if you memorize this Bible verse.” That was enough to draw me into the habit and over time I didn’t actually need an incentive to memorize Bible verses. I could see how proud my Dad would be after I quoted scripture from memory so I began memorizing verses solely so I would be able to answer him if he needed a Bible reference. However, I never really understood the meaning of the Bible verses itself so even though I had an arsenal of Bible verses in my head, it didn’t seem meaningful or useful. After my dad died when I was 15, I stopped memorizing Bible verses and haven’t really thought much of the habit as an adult until recently.
While I was in my morning prayer one day, I felt something move in my spirit that I was about to experience a great deal of sorrow, frustration, and disappointment. Unlike the other trials in my life, which happened quite unexpectedly with no warning, this insight was paired with a sudden urge to memorize a bunch of Bible verses. I immediately set a goal of memorizing a new Bible verse every day for 30 days. Ten days into my Bible verse memorizing journey, I found out some news that was deeply frustrating and disappointing. The news itself wasn’t just bad, but it was really demoralizing. I felt betrayed by God. This whole time, I was living right, doing random acts of kindness, tithing consistently, and being faithful yet it seems like people that are living recklessly and immorally continue to win in life, and get ahead. I was most concerned that maybe I had been hearing wrong from God this WHOLE time. Maybe the promises I thought He had placed on my heart weren’t from God, but from satan. In those moments of doubt, the Bible verses that I had been memorizing for the last 10 days came to life. Any time my mind began to fill up with thoughts of comparison, envy, or rage, I would recite the Bible verses. At first I don’t think I really even believed the words I was saying. I was just repeating them to give me something else to think about besides the destructive thoughts I wanted to focus on. However, the more I recited these Bible verses, the more I believed them and soon the destructive thoughts were a quiet whisper. The destructive thoughts still pop into my mind quite frequently, but it seems to have no effect. I don’t feel the need to react. I don’t become consumed with negative thoughts and emotions. I don’t act on the feelings. Instead, I replace the thought with my Bible verses and recite them quietly to myself. I focus on the promises these scriptures convey, and this gives me so much peace. I now understand the phrase “peace that surpasses all understanding” because it’s amazing how calm, joyful, and content I feel in my spirit after reciting a few words of scripture.
I want to share the 10 Bible verses that have really helped me get through a season of my life that was marked with disappointment. I memorized them, and then wrote out a paragraph for each Bible verse on what it means to me. I found that this has helped me better remember these verses. In hard times, when my mind begins to fill up with destructive thoughts, I just recite these verses and feel a complete peace over my life. I feel joy and have renewed hope in the future. I pray it does the same for you!
My go to Bible Verses for Difficult Seasons
1. Isaiah 43:19 - Forget the former things. Do not dwell on the past. See I am doing a new thing. Now it springs up. Do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert, and streams in the wasteland.
What it means to me: Sometimes I hold my past against me and think that maybe if I had made better decisions, my life would be completely different right now. Maybe I would have more money, a great love, a happy marriage, and this mega successful company if I wasn’t so prideful, was more forgiving, smarter with my time and resources. This verse reminds me to not look backwards, and not feel guilty about the decisions I made previously. My story is still being written. I am living the life God wanted for me at this exact moment. God is doing something new in my life despite my past. It also reminds me to live in the present and keep watch because God is doing miracles in the areas of my life that seem dry (ie. a desert).
2. Romans 8:28 - And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him who have been called according to His purpose.
What it means to me: No matter what happens in my life, whether its good or bad, God is working. I like to emphasize the words “all things” in this verse because it reminds me that God allows ALL things to happen in my life because it is part of the purpose for my life. If something good or bad happens to me, it’s because God wanted it to and that means He has a plan for it.
3. Galatians 6:9 – Let us not become weary in doing good for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
What it means to me: Don’t stop doing the right thing even if you don’t see change in your situation or people around you. Sometimes it’s really hard to be nice to mean people, or be patient with unkind people. Continue to be loving, peaceful, kind anyways because you will reap the benefit of it. Don’t let other people change who you are. If it’s in your nature to be generous, helpful, and patient, don’t let other people’s actions change that.
4. Ecclesiastes 3:1 - There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under heaven.
What it means to me: Every event and activity, good or bad, is ordained by God. It is all part of the plan for my life. Just like seasons change every 4 months, your situation will change eventually. We endure snow in the winters, and hot temperatures in the summers. Changing seasons are not anything we can avoid, and we shouldn’t want to. Seasons are required for agriculture and food. In the same way, the seasons of our lives are not things we can avoid. They are required for growth, healing, and character building in our lives. Embrace them.
5. Psalm 51:10 – Create in me a pure heart O, God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
What it means to me: A steadfast spirit means to be “fixed in purpose, direction, and resolution.” It’s someone that is unwavering in their Faith in God. This verse reminds me that King David, one of the greatest kings in history, had trouble having a pure heart and needed to constantly call on God to keep him in perfect peace. And he had EVERYTHING. If King David needed help, then I shouldn’t feel bad about constantly needing God’s help to change my heart too.
6. Matthew 6:33-34 – But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
What it means to me: Stop trying to control your destiny or future. Stop worrying about the future. Instead, live in gratitude for the blessings and opportunities you have today. Spend your time in prayer and thanksgiving, and God will take care of the rest. If you put God first in your life, He will see to it that you always have what you need in life.
7. James 1:6-8 – But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord. He is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.
What it means to me: When you ask God for something, you must believe that He can do it for you. Faith is believing in what we can’t see. Just because something isn’t happening doesn’t mean God isn’t working. If something you prayed for hasn’t happened, it is because God doesn’t want it to. Be steadfast in your faith that God will do it for you when it’s the right time and good for you.
8. 1 Corinthians 2:9 – That is what the Scripture means when they say, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.”
What it means to me: God’s ways are not our ways. Don’t even bother trying to figure out how God is going to solve a certain problem for you, or give you something that you’ve asked for. If you can imagine it, it’s likely not God’s way because the Bible is clear on this. No mind can imagine God’s plan for our lives.
9. Deuteronomy 31:8 - The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you. He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged.
What it means to me: God formed me and knew everything that was going to happen in my life before it did. He goes before me means He prepared the way for me. For whatever reason, He lets certain things happen in my life because it is necessary for my life. God makes no mistakes. Even in the messy and toxic situations of my life, He is with me. God let the devil tempt Jesus. Even God let Judas betray Jesus. God knew the other side of it was glory for Him.
10. Psalm 27:14 - Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.
What it means to me: Don’t try to take action on your own. Stop doing things that you think you should do. Ask God first. In all things, ask God first and wait for Him to answer you. Wait for God to make a move on your behalf. Wait for God’s guidance. Listen when He talks to you. Be strong and courageous means to stop doubting Him or yourself. Stop compromising. Hold steadfast to your morals and values. Don’t act out of fear. Be patient and wait for God.