Scripture memory is a vital part of both meditation and prayer. Here are five ways scripture memory will aid your prayers:

1. The memorized Word is our best weapon against the enemy. When Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness, each time Jesus countered the temptation with, “it is written” (Matt. 4:4-10). To say back to Satan “it is written,” and then to quote an appropriate verse, will bring unbelievable power to your prayers. It will leave Satan speechless (read 2 Corinthians 10:4-5).

2. Scripture memory is our best defense against all evil. If you memorize a verse for every lie Satan tells you, you will build for yourself a huge stronghold of truth, and your prayers will be greatly empowered.

3. When we memorize God’s Word it helps us to know Him, love Him and have faith in Him. Whenever we commit scripture to memory it forces us to think about it and dwell on it and keep it with us always. When we memorize scripture, instead of just reading it and leaving it, there is a much better chance that we will abide in it, and thus abide in Him—giving prayer its ultimate power. John 15:7 says, “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.”

4. The memorized Word makes us pure. Psalms 119:9 and 11 says, “How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word. 11 Your word I have hidden in my heart that I might not sin against You.”

Here we see that when we hide God’s Word in our heart, it will serve to keep us from sin (v. 11). But if we do sin, the memorized Word (when we obey it) also serves as a cleansing agent (v. 9).  Thus the Word makes us pure and keeps us pure.  And when we are pure our prayers will be unhindered.

5. The memorized Word will bring form to our prayers. Have you ever prayed but just couldn’t find the right words? That is common for us all. But scripture memory can be helpful for that problem, because the Holy Spirit will put those passages you have memorized into your prayers. In fact, He will use the memorized Word (especially from the Psalms) to show you what is really on your heart so that you will be able to pray a scripture passage back to God that expresses exactly how you feel.  And He will also bring verses up from your memory banks to show you how He feels and what He wants you to pray; that is, He will bring His thoughts from His heart to your heart through verses you have memorized. The memorized Word actually becomes spontaneous prayer!  What a powerful way to pray!

 If you want to follow my progress, here are the nine prayer aids that I have been writing on. In my last post I wrote on meditation; next time it will be on fasting—a very valuable aid to prayer, one we often ignore and don’t like to think about for obvious reasons.

1. Meditation
2. Scripture memory
3. Fasting
4. Holiness
5. Biblical (inspired) prayers
6. Forgiving others
7. Serving others
8. Witnessing
9. Praise