3 Ways Scripture Memorization Can Transform Your Marriage
I’ll never forget the day I heard these words, “There is no heartbeat.” It’s almost as if I was in an altered state of mind; one where time stood still and sadness prevailed. The room seemed to grow dark and cold, sterile, if you will. I will never forget the date, June 8, 2004, as it was just 7 days before Mike’s first year-long deployment to Iraq. A separation that we were both dreading.
Tears were rolling down my face as I was trying to process what the ultrasound technician had just said. An overwhelming sorrow filled the room and then I remember saying these words, “God, no matter what the circumstance, I will praise you.”
As soon as these words were spoken, something broke. There was a peace that filled the room that day. A peace that truly surpassed any type of human understanding. A peace that could only come through faith in the Son of God. After all, I was just told that our baby was no more, how could I be okay?
This peace was all born out of the verse we had memorized many years before:
Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
[1 Thessalonians 5:18 NLT]
Had my husband and I not purposed to hide God’s Word in our heart all those years ago, this day would have likely gone a whole lot differently. But because of His good grace, I was able to use His Word to speak life into a very difficult circumstance.
My husband and I have experienced so many transformations due to memorizing God’s Word. Today I am excited to share three ways memorizing God’s Word can transform your marriage, too!
3 Ways Scripture Memorization Can Transform Your Marriage
- It draws you closer to God and each other. This is so very important. Anyone who has been married longer than 10 minutes can tell you that it is not easy to become “one flesh”. As a matter of fact, it is hard enough to control our own flesh, let alone dealing with anyone else’s. God’s Word makes becoming one in spirit, body, and soul doable. It gives you a closeness to Jesus and your spouse that could never be experienced outside of knowing His Word.
- It gives you hope in hard times. While life is a blessing and God has amazing plans for each of us, sometimes curveballs come that we alone are not equipped to handle. When we memorize God’s Word, it gives us the ability to speak life and stand strong in our faith when circumstances would seek to destroy us.
- It reminds you that you are His. It can be so easy to forget that we are on this earth to glorify His name. When bills need to be paid and bad news comes, having His Word hidden in our heart reminds us that He always has our best interest in mind. It reminds us that we are His children and He loves us with an unconditional love. It reminds us of His promises to us that He has so beautifully hidden in His Word.
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Memorizing Scripture doesn’t have to be a daunting task. It can be a simple as writing it down on a 3×5 card or listening to a Bible app. The important thing is that you create the habit and stick to it. I created a year-long Scripture memorization challenge for women to help them hide God’s Word in their heart. Since it’s first publication in 2012, this challenge has been taken by over 500,000 women around the world! It’s a wonderful place to start (or continue) your memorization journey.
Scripture memorization is a major tool that God has used to help us to create and maintain an amazing Christ-focused marriage. The past 19 years of marriage has brought many ups and downs. We know with certainty that without the strong foundation of memorizing God’s Word, we likely wouldn’t have made it. But we are standing here today, by His grace, with a testimony that is changing lives. And we know He will do it for you, too!
Carlie Kercheval is a blessed wife to Michael and proud mom to their three precious children. She and her husband are the co-authors of the best-selling couples devotional, Consecrated Conversations™. Together they founded Christian Marriage Adventures™ to help couples discover and walk out their God-given purpose. When she is not busy homeschooling or working on marriage ministry, you can find her exploring the great outdoors, or curled up in a blanket with a good book.