Memorizing Scripture!

As young children, our mother would read a chapter from the Bible each morning before school and before we enjoyed our breakfast.

Mother also gave us a memory verse to learn by the end of the week. We started out with John 3:16 and went on to the 23rd Psalm. Other than the 23rd Psalm, we did not memorize entire chapters, but only verses connected together to give us assurance, confidence and peace.

I should have done better with my own children. The Bible was read to them, and stories told, and they did learn verses at Sunday School and Bible Club, but I failed to emphasize memorization at home.
There are some of the verses with words that in my young age, I did not understand, but they are very real to me now.

Romans 8:1 - 2 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

As time went on and my walk with the Lord deepened, I could understand the security in those words. First being IN Christ and then Walking daily in His spirit, then I did not need to worry about condemnation!

These scriptures taught us the importance of presenting our bodies and minds to the Lord.

Romans 12:1 -2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

These scriptures assured us that Jesus (the Word) is truly God. And that He was with God the Father and the Holy Spirit when together they created the World.

John 1:1 -5 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

Other Scriptures taught us how to become a Christian.
Romans 10:9 - 10 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

We understood that Jesus paid for our healing.
Isaiah 53:5 -6 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

There were many others that Mother had us memorize, some single verses, others two or three verses together with a positive input into our spirits to sustain our faith.

It is good to memorize scripture as David said in - - -

Psalms 119:11: Thy Word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee.

This Post has been entered with Ann Kroeker who is hosting a Memory Month at http://annkroeker.com/2011/01/03/mmm-2011-progress-report-1/ 
Please check out other entries found there.