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I will take pleasure in your laws and remember your words (Psalm 119:16, CEV).
Ottawa River Sunset – photo by David Kitz
Reflection
This week’s I Love the Psalms theme is remembering.
It seems that Bible memorization is a thing of the past. There was a time when both children and adults routinely committed large portions of the scriptures to memory. For the most part this practice has gone into decline. Memorization has fallen out of favor in the educational realm as well. There is so much information so readily available through handheld devices, why bother memorizing anything?
Today’s verse from the Psalms reminds us that memorization is an important skill.
I will take pleasure in your laws and remember your words (Psalm 119:16, CEV).
Remembering God’s word should be more than a skill. It should be a pleasure—a pleasure because God’s word has transformative power. It changes our thinking and our lives.
Joshua, the great conqueror, succeeded because he meditated on God’s word. It’s hard to meditate on something you haven’t committed to memory. Joshua conquered God’s word as he conquered the Promised Land. Perhaps we should follow his example.
Response: LORD God, I want to know your word far better. Help me to memorize and meditate on your precious word. You have the words of life. Amen.
Your Turn: Have you memorized portions of God’s word?
I love the Psalms 
As a student of a Lutheran parochial grade school and high school, I was required to memorize Bible verses as well as hymn verses. They’ve been a blessing ever since. When things seem hopeless or fearful or unknown, I have a pocketful of memories to draw on.
That’s beautiful, Kathy. One summer at VBS at our Lutheran Church I was given Proverbs 1:10 to memorize and recite before the congregation. ” My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.” I was about 10 at the time. Throughout my teen years that verse would echo through my mind as friends would ask me to join in various forms of sin. Proverbs 1:10 kept me safe.
We memorized chunks of Scripture with our children when they were growing up. I also memorized many verses from Psalms and Proverbs when I was a young believer. I am so grateful for the Scripture verses I have memorized. I find that they continue to be used by the Holy Spirit as key insights at important moments.
I agree Peter. The Holy Spirit brings those verses back to our remembrance when needed most.
Reblogged this on Talmidimblogging.
As a child, one of the verses I memorized that has been a go to through out the years is: trust in the Lord and lean not on your own understanding…
That is a great verse.
I agree!
Praise God for His word.
Thank you David. As a person with a terrible memory for Scripture, I am guilty as charged. However, your post gave me renewed vigour to try again, in Him!
Bless you!
Heather
My first large block of memorization was a Psalm. They stick with me over time.