Memorizing Scripture has been practiced for millennia. But is it really necessary these days? If you have a smartphone, you have access to different translations of Scripture. You can pull up any passage of Scripture quickly. Why go through the difficult process of memorization? We have also added AI to our tool belt—where you can simply prompt it with awkward questions like, “there is a verse somewhere that say something about a guy being morbidly obese and someone stabbing him, where is that?” And it will immediately point me to Judges 3:20-22.
If we don’t need to memorize Scripture to access the Bible or even to know where a verse is placed, what is the benefit? There are several reasons. For one, it helps us in our battle to put off sin and put on righteousness. We need that little voice in our head to be deeply informed by Scripture. If it has been saturated by Scripture, then we’ll have a fighting chance against the lies of the enemy. If you’re in the throes of temptation, you’ll be less prone to pull out a Bible, but having Scripture already in your mind will be a welcome partner in your battle.
Memorizing Scripture is also a way to internalize it. It becomes part of us. We are shaped by our memories. There are spaces in my brain that still hold onto lyrics from ’90s rap and alternative music. I hear one little note, and I can recall almost the entire song. How beneficial would it be to have one little word in a sentence that someone immediately calls to mind passages of Scripture?
Lastly, memorizing Scripture—especially Scriptural prayers—can help us to pray more effectively. It’s a good practice to pray the Bible. We know if we’re praying God’s Word that we are, so long as we are wielding it correctly, praying in accordance with God’s will. Memorizing and praying through some of the prayers in the New Testament can be a powerful and rewarding spiritual discipline.
I will offer a few of these New Testament prayers to memorize. But first, here are a few tips for memorization.
5 Tips for Bible Memorization
I am far from an expert on Bible memorization. If I’m being honest, most of my memory comes from a steady diet of reading and re-reading Scripture. God has blessed me with the ability to quickly recall things that I have read. I’ve not had to be as intentional as some. Yet, there are some seasons where I’ve attempted to intentionally memorize sections of Scripture. When I’ve done this, here are a few quick tips:
1. Repetition
Repetition is key to memorization. Recite the prayer several times a day until it becomes second nature. Write it out, say it aloud, and meditate on its meaning.
2. Break it Down
If I can get the meaning of a text, it’s easier to memorize for me. It helps me to really think about why each word follows the next. Breaking it into smaller sections and memorizing those helps to gather larger chunks.
3. Use Mnemonics
As a new believer, I could never remember the order of Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians. Then someone said God Eats PopCorn. Now I’ll never forget them. Sometimes, creating these little mnemonic devices can help with the prayer—by associating it with images, acronyms, or rhymes.
4. Pray it Daily
An old adage I learned when taking Greek is that if you don’t use it, you lose it. It was true. I’ve regressed in my ability to read Greek because I don’t do it as often. Memorizing Scripture is the same way. Use it and you’ll keep it. Neglect it, and you’ll lose it. (Unless it’s obscure lyrics to 90’s music—and for some reason, those stay even if neglected for years).
5. Write it Down
Writing by hand (sorry, typing won’t do the same) aids us in memorization. There is something about the process of writing something down which will aid our brains in keeping something.
Here, now, are five prayers you can somewhat easily memorize.
10 Easy-to-Memorize New Testament Prayers
1. The Lord’s Prayer
“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” - Matthew 6:9-13
Why not begin with one that many people have already memorized? This is what Jesus said when he taught the disciples how to pray. It is foundational to prayer. This one is also easy to memorize in small chunks at a time. Take each section of the prayer and meditate upon the words. Consider reading through it several times and each morning focus on each individual word or phrase.
2. Prayer for Boldness
“Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” - Acts 4:29-30
In the midst of persecution, the early Christians prayed for boldness to continue proclaiming the gospel. Perhaps we can pray something similar when we need encouragement to be bold for Christ.
3. Prayer for Love to Abound
“And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.” - Philippians 1:9-11
Paul prays that the Philippians will have a grounded love that will give them the ability to choose that which is vital. Love is what helps us determine the choices to make. This is great to pray when we face decisions and when we need to increase our love.
4. Prayer for Love and Strength
“May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.” - 1 Thessalonians 3:12-13
While Philippians connects decision making with love in his prayer for the church at Philippi, here in Thessalonians he connects love with strength. Love strengthens our hearts. This prayer underscores the importance of love and holiness as we prepare for the return of Christ.
5. Prayer for Sanctification
“May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.”- 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24
Paul prayed for the Thessalonians that God’s sanctifying work would be made complete in their life. We can adapt this prayer for our own battle to become more like Christ. We can also pray it for others that God would give them growth in the gospel.
6. Prayer of Praise
“And they sang a new song, saying: ‘You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.’” - Revelation 5:9-10
It seems that this will be a prayer that we pray in heaven. It is the prayer of all the redeemed as we praise Christ for His victory. But why not start now? Have it memorized even today as we begin our eternal call to praise?
7. Prayer for Joy, Peace, and Hope
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” - Romans 15:13
This is Paul’s benediction at the closing of the book of Romans. It is a prayer that we can pray over others (echoing the priestly benediction of Numbers 6:24-26) as well as ourselves. It is mercifully short and easy to memorize as an added bonus.
8. Jesus’ Prayer for Forgiveness on the Cross
“Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.’ And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.” - Luke 23:34
This is a short one to memorize, but it packs a mighty punch. In one sense this isn’t ours to pray. This was prayed for us. You and I are forgiven today because of what Christ cried out to the Father here. But we are also told in Scripture to forgive as God in Christ has forgiven us. In that sense, we can make this our own prayer.
9. Benediction Prayer
“Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” - Hebrews 13:20-21
The author of Hebrews ends this lengthy sermon with a prayer for the congregation. It is a prayer asking for God’s peace and strength. The church seems to be in the midst of persecution and will need God’s strength to do God’s will. This benediction is encouraging. It’s a little lengthy and might we one of the more difficult to memorize but it has a type of cadence to it that makes it doable for even beginning memorizers.
10. Prayer for Love and Perseverance
“May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.” - 2 Thessalonians 3:5
Perhaps this would be a good one to memorize as you begin your journey. It’s about persevering in God’s love and doing it with Christ’s very own perseverance. Maybe if we can get this one down deep in our bones, it will empower us to complete this journey of Scripture memorization.
Photo Credit: Ben White/Unsplash
Mike Leake is husband to Nikki and father to Isaiah and Hannah. He is also the lead pastor at Calvary of Neosho, MO. Mike is the author of Torn to Heal and Jesus Is All You Need. His writing home is http://mikeleake.net and you can connect with him on Twitter @mikeleake. Mike has a new writing project at Proverbs4Today.
