An Anchor for Your Heart: The Power of Scripture Memory
Have you ever heard the saying, “Predominant thought determines present action”? Dawson Trotman used to say that, and it’s a powerful reminder of how our thoughts shape our actions. Our hearts, described in Jeremiah 17:9 as “desperately wicked,” need to be filled with something pure. What better than the flawless word of God? Proverbs 30:5 tells us, “Every word of God is flawless,” and when we fill our hearts with His word, our thoughts and actions begin to change. God knows our needs, and He has given us a simple yet profound program for victory: His Word.
One reason we often struggle to find victory in our lives is that we don’t make prior commitments about our actions in challenging situations. When those situations arise, we’re caught off guard and have to decide what to do on the spot. That’s when the devil likes to intervene, making it even harder to make the right choice. But if we’ve already anchored our convictions in Scripture, we can recall those verses in times of need, giving us stability and confidence. Let’s explore how this works in three key areas of life: inner purity, our view of money and possessions, and victory over pride.
Inner purity is a significant struggle for many. Proverbs 6 and 7 give warnings against adultery and urge us to bind God’s words on our hearts and write them on the tablets of our hearts (Proverbs 6:21; 7:3). While memorizing Scripture alone doesn’t guarantee victory over lust, applying those verses does. Job made a covenant with his eyes not to look lustfully at a woman (Job 31:1). In a world filled with temptations, memorizing verses like Proverbs 4:25, which says, “Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you,” can help us control our thoughts and actions. By internalizing these scriptures, we anchor our hearts and minds in God’s truth, giving us the strength to resist temptation.
When it comes to money and possessions, our attitudes and actions are often influenced by our surroundings. When I was in the Navy, a game called the anchor pool was popular. Sailors would put money in and guess when the ship would drop anchor, with the closest guess winning the pool. While it seemed harmless, I realized it was a form of gambling, and I decided not to participate. To strengthen my conviction, I memorized Proverbs 13:11, which says, “Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished; but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.” I also held onto Proverbs 23:5: “Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? For riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away, as an eagle toward heaven.” These verses reminded me that gambling was not only wrong, but even if I won, the money wouldn’t bring lasting value.
To avoid extremes in thinking about money, I also memorized 1 Timothy 6:10, which clarifies that it’s the love of money, not money itself, that is the root of all evil. And Luke 16:9, where Jesus teaches us to use money to make friends for God’s glory. Since I committed these passages to memory, they’ve helped me develop strong convictions about money: avoiding games of chance, being honest in all business dealings, and being frugal with my income while being generous to others. These principles have guided me throughout my life, bringing a sense of peace and purpose in how I handle finances.
Pride is another area where Scripture memory has been incredibly helpful. Proverbs speaks extensively about pride and humility, stating that pride brings a person low, while humility brings honor (Proverbs 29:23; 15:33). Throughout my life, pride has often led to conflict and embarrassment, as highlighted in Proverbs 13:10, “Pride only breeds quarrels.” Despite my prayers, humility didn’t come easily until I realized that the Bible instructs us to humble ourselves (1 Peter 5:6; James 4:10).
A turning point came during my time as a missionary in New Zealand. An incident triggered my anger, and I unjustly took it out on my wife. That night, while reflecting on 2 Corinthians 3:5, which states, “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God,” I recognized my inability to conquer my temper alone. Through this verse, God reminded me that I couldn’t overcome my anger on my own, but He could. That night, I surrendered my temper to God, and since then, He has been faithful in helping me manage my pride. Each time anger surfaces, 2 Corinthians 3:5 reassures me that my sufficiency comes from God, not myself.
Memorizing Scripture is hard work, and it’s important to accept that. Many people fail at it because they look for an easy way out. Concentrating on God’s word takes effort, but the rewards are worth it. Over the years, I’ve accumulated hundreds of verses on cards, and reviewing them can be time-consuming. To manage this, I’ve developed a system to reclaim and review my memory work effectively. By organizing verses by books of the Bible and focusing on the ones I know best, I’ve been able to maintain and even increase my Scripture knowledge.
If you’re struggling with Scripture memory, start by arranging your verse cards by books of the Bible and work with the book you know the best. Separate the verses you can quote perfectly from those you can’t and focus on reviewing and relearning the ones that need work. It helps to review particularly tough verses at night and in the morning. Keep your standards high and aim to quote verses accurately. Over time, you’ll notice that you can recall a large number of verses, which will be invaluable in your life and ministry. Remember, the purpose of memorizing Scripture is to have it readily available in our hearts for use in every situation we encounter.
Ultimately, the goal of Scripture memory is to have God’s word embedded in our hearts, guiding our thoughts, actions, and decisions. As Psalm 119:103 and 127 beautifully state, “How sweet are your promises to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!… I love your commands more than gold, more than pure gold.” By committing Scripture to memory, we anchor our hearts in God’s truth, equipping ourselves to live victorious and purposeful lives.
John W. Crawford
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