By Briana Bass, Christian Romance Author, Devotional Writer & Certified Professional Coach

Every day when I turn on my computer, a sticky note pops up with two lines from scripture. I read both verses as a way to center myself for my work day. To reiterate, I read these same verses every. Single. Day.

If you asked me to tell you the verses verbatim, I couldn’t do it. Paraphrase? Sure. Explain how they influence my life? Totally. But rattle them off word for word? Nope, not happening.

So many Christian influencers and leaders harp on memorizing the Word of God, to the point that it makes you feel like a failure if you don’t or can’t do it. Encouraging you to know the Bible is one thing; belittling you because you can’t recite John 14:2 off the top of your head is not what Jesus would do.

I’m not saying memorizing scripture is bad. If that’s your thing, or you’re really good at it, or it comes easily to you, then more power to you. The concern I have is when we make memorization the goal at the expense of wisdom. There’s value in knowing your Bible but it’s merely pride talking when you can brag about reciting the exact book, chapter, and verse. It’s the application of the scriptures that truly matters.

Let It Go

Maybe you’re like me and memorization isn’t your thing. I struggled for a long time to accept that memorizing scripture isn’t going to happen and that it’s okay if I don’t do it. What’s important is that I regularly read the Bible, studying God’s Word to discover what the Holy Spirit wants me to learn. I then apply what I learn to my life. That’s key. It doesn’t matter how much you think you know about the Bible if you’re not living it out:

“This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success” (Joshua 1:8 KJV).

As the Lord commanded Joshua, so does the Lord command us. Read scripture. Study it. Memorize it if you can but don’t pressure yourself. Take a breath, friend. Release that weight from on your shoulders. God never said that to be a Christian you have to memorize every word of the Bible. Many scholars know the text intellectually but have not let God into their hearts. God cares far more about your heart posture than about your ability to recite scripture.

Read the scripture from Joshua again. The most important word is “do.” We are to “do according to all that is written.” Love your neighbor. Love God. Care for the less fortunate. Advocate for those who cannot advocate for themselves. That’s doing. That’s what matters.

Live it Out

Remember these words from Psalm 119:105: “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (KJV). Don’t worry, I’m not asking you to memorize it! Remember it in your heart, not necessarily your mind. Hold on to how it makes you feel, what it makes you consider in your life, why it’s important to you. Scripture should you feed your mind, body, heart, and soul. As a lamp shines in the darkness, so should the Word shine in your life.

How does God’s Word illuminate your path? For me, it gives me a direction and makes decision making easier. I don’t worry about getting the text right. I focus instead on the big picture. Am I acting in a way that pleases God? Am I loving in a way that reflects Jesus? If I can answer “yes” to both questions, then I’m doing something right.

Keeping the Word in your heart does require you to read the Bible. I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to read the Bible for yourself and not just take scholars and faith leaders at their word (or even what I say!). But there is such a difference between memorizing scripture and knowing scripture. And you shouldn’t feel bad or let someone else belittle you because you don’t memorize scripture. What a petty thing to judge people about. Who cares if you memorize it? Living it out is what truly matters.

Knowing and Doing

Give yourself grace when it comes to knowing scripture. It’s not about head knowledge; it’s about heart knowledge. Memorize scripture if possible. Write it in your journal. Hang prints on your walls. Surround yourself with the Word. But keep in mind that none of it matters if you aren’t living out your faith.

If you’re interested, here are the two verses I read every morning:

Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity (1 Timothy 4:12 KJV)

And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; (Colossians 3:23 KJV)