Colossians 3:16: Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly

I really wanted to lash out with all the anger that was in me. But then I remembered His words, “let us not grow weary of doing good.” (Gal. 6:9) I also remembered that He said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Heb. 13:5) The occasion was the appearance of one more frustrating complication as the details of my divorce were being worked out.

I have no doubt that the Spirit brought these verses to mind, to comfort me, and to keep me from sinning in my anger. But the reason the Spirit was able to bring them out was because years ago I had committed these verse to memory.

Decades prior, I had heard a pastor (on a thing called radio) say that the best advice he ever received was to memorize the Word of God. I took that thought to heart and began to memorize Scripture. One verse at a time.

I picked groups of verses on various topics: verses that told the story of salvation, verses that demonstrated the deity of Christ, verses about fulfilled prophecy, and the like. Over the following decades the number of verses grew, like single drops that eventually fill a bucket. Obviously, the effort to memorize those verses is paying off in my new role as pastor, but those verses were ready to help me on that difficult day long before.

Perhaps my favorite group of memorized verses come from the Psalms, and were chosen to be used as prayers throughout the day:

Upon Waking
Psalm 118:24
This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

During Your Shower
Psalm 51:10
Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Getting Dressed
Psalm 104:1-2
Praise the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, you are very great; you are clothed with splendor and majesty. He wraps himself in light as with a garment; he stretches out the heavens like a tent

Commuting
Psalm 25:4
Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths;

Beginning the Day’s Work
Psalm 90:17
May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us-- yes, establish the work of our hands.

Thankfulness
Psalm 72:18
Praise be to the LORD God, the God of Israel, who alone does

During a Difficult Day
Psalm 121:1-2
I lift up my eyes to the hills—where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.

When You Regret Doing Something
Psalm 25:11
For the sake of your name, O LORD, forgive my iniquity, though it is great.

At the End of Work
Psalm 145:10
All you have made will praise you, O LORD; your saints will extol you.

At Bedtime
Psalm 16:7
I will praise the LORD, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me.

I started by memorizing the first Psalm, and I didn’t move to the next until I naturally prayed it when I woke up. Then I memorized the second Psalm. Rince and Repeat. Before long I found I was praying throughout the day, which helped me keep my mind on God, and it often led to longer times of prayer as the day allowed.

The benefits of memorizing God’s Word are innumerable. As another Psalm says, “I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” (Psalm 119:11)

If you’d like to give this a try, but don’t know where to start, you could try the Psalms above. I would also be happy to help you select other verses if you have another area of interest or concern.

God’s Word carries the wonderful news of the gospel, but it also teaches, encourages, and comforts. And it does this through the very words of Scripture. Give memorization a try and “let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.” (Col. 3:16)

✝️ Pastor Deming

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