The Discovery
DAY TWO
DAY TWO: SCRIPTURE MEMORY
Review:
- True Bible study is seeking the heart of God for yourself within the pages
of the Bible, going first to the Bible itself, reading and listening and taking
in what the Holy Spirit has to say to you as an individual rather than to the
masses. - Only by studying the Bible on your own will you be able to search out God’s
individualized plan for your life. - If you do not have a working knowledge of the truth and are not working
toward attaining that knowledge, then you limit your own ability to connect
others with God’s truth. - Knowing your Bible and knowing how to find the answers to difficult
questions in the Bible even when no one is available to help you will help you
to defend yourself against the enemy. - God can create in you the desire to study His Word.
Scripture memory is another very important spiritual discipline. Scripture
memory is important to the life of a believer because we don’t always have our
Bibles handy, and the enemy doesn’t take a break. We need to be consistently
“downloading” the Word of God onto our mental and spiritual “hard drives” so
that the Word of God becomes a part of our own “operating system.” Only by doing
so can we expect to be obedient to this command that God has given us:
2 Timothy 4:2 “Proclaim the message; persist in it whether
convenient or not; rebuke, correct, and encourage with great patience and
teaching.”
Only by memorizing scripture can we expect to be able to make God-honoring
choices when we are in a split-second moment of decision.
Psalm 119:11 “I have treasured Your word in my heart so that I may
not sin against You.”
If Jesus used scripture memory to battle the enemy, it would be ridiculous
for us to ignore this weapon that we have at our disposal as we fight our
individual battles.
See the “Scripture Memory Starter Pack” on this CD
for a list of verses essential to your progress as you carry out the ministry of
Jesus Christ. Use the tips for scripture memory included to begin memorizing
them today. Make realistic goals for your scripture memory. You may begin
memorizing one verse a month and then progress to one every two weeks. You may
memorize from the Scripture Memory Starter Pack or
select key verses that God is showing you through your private worship times or
a sermon that you hear.
Take a few moments and write your thoughts, concerns, and questions in your
journal. Allow the following thought suggestions to guide you.
Do you memorize scripture? Why or why not? If not, what are some reasons for
your habits to change?
Can you think of a time that you were able to use memorized scripture to help
a friend or to fight off temptation? Write it down.
Can you think of a time that you needed scripture and didn’t have it? What
were the results of not having it?
What can you do today to begin making scripture memory a part of the
Spiritual Disciplines that you practice?
What is God teaching you?