Don’t Just Hear the Bible. Remember It.

by Rick Warren — December 3, 2021
From God’s Vision for the Rest of Your Life

“Listen carefully to my words. Don’t lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart, for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body.”

Proverbs 4:20-22 (NLT)

You can’t just hear something and become wiser; you’ve got to remember it. And you can’t just remember it; you’ve got to reinforce it. Because if you don’t remember and reinforce it, you end up having to learn the same lesson over and over.

The Bible says this about wisdom in Proverbs 22:17-18: “Listen, and I will teach you what the wise have said. Study their teachings, and you will be glad if you remember them and can quote them” (GNT). Notice the four verbs in that sentence: listen, study, remember, quote. Those are marks of wisdom.

People say, “I can’t remember anything!” Oh, yes you can. You remember what’s important to you. You remember what you love. You remember what matters to you.

For instance, you might say, “I can’t memorize the Bible.” But you remember baseball or football statistics from the last season. You can quote lyrics to popular songs or every step to a favorite recipe. You remember what’s important to you.

The Bible says, “Listen carefully to my words. Don’t lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart, for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body” (Proverbs 4:20-22 NLT).

When you develop a passion for God’s Word, the truth becomes important to you. You will remember it, rehearse it, reinforce it, and review it. Then, it can change your life.

Talk It Over

  • Why is it important to memorize Scripture?
  • Why do you suppose it is easier to remember a sport statistic or your favorite recipe than it is to remember God’s Word?
  • How might your view of God affect your desire to study and remember his Word?
  • If you find that you don’t have much desire for the Bible, ask God to cultivate in you a deeper love for him and for his Word.

Give hope, prayer, and encouragement below. Post a comment & talk about it.