I have long wanted to memorize scripture. Before the days of Smart Phones and Bible Apps, I would write verses on index cards and tape them to the wall in my bedroom so I could see them as I got ready for work. This method was not as successful as I hoped.
I then bought a package of pre-printed scriptures on 2”x 3” cards. I kept them in my pockets to seize brief opportunities while walking to work, or riding the bus. The simple practice of reciting scripture out loud with merciless repetition did result in a memorized verse or two, but they didn’t always stick with me.
Out of frustration, I took an extended break from my efforts. But my desire to memorize verses only grew deeper and more resolute. So, a few years later, when I rediscovered the stack of small scripture cards, I dusted them off and tucked them into my pockets once again. This time I earnestly prayed, asking God to help me get past the point where I previously got stuck and gave up.
In retrospect, a valuable outcome of my past failures is I now know that scripture is an indispensable part of my spiritual armor. And that people with an active faith in Christ are subjected to spiritual warfare far more often than they realize.
At this earlier time in my life, the adversary’s fiery darts of condemnatory thoughts were so common, they snuck under the wire of my defenses by convincing me they were true. My thought life was exhausting.
On the day I needed to drive to an appointment in a neighboring town, I thumbed through the stack of cards and placed this verse in the cupholder next to me:
Galatians 2:20 NASB
“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.”
While waiting at a red light, I unexpectedly said “No!” to the thoughts telling me I did not have enough time to work on this verse. I picked up the card and read the verse over and over until the light turned green. And as I drove to my destination I stubbornly recited it very loudly, as if to drown out the silent inner discouragement. I quickened the pace of my recitation and felt the unwelcome inner critic go silent. I felt as if the words of the scripture were being absorbed by my spirit, energizing my faith and determination.
Post Script: three decades have passed since these events and last year, I was diagnosed with ADHD. This explains my difficulty with focus and with completing a goal. But more importantly, it makes the events that occurred even more significant. God mercifully interceded and gifted me with the ability to memorize this verse! I still have it in my memory.
And this verse has become one of my most effective spiritual weapons. The truth of Galatians 2:20 enables me to defend my boundaries and to feel safe in the fortress of my faith. The adversary no longer invades my thoughts unchallenged. This scripture marks a turning point in my faith and has served me very well for many years. I am so thankful to God for changing me from glory to glory!
Sara has attended CitySalt Church since 2004, the year it was founded. She studied Journalism, wrote for her college newspaper, and is a member of Oregon Christian Writers. Sara also enjoys singing hymns with friends: “there is a sermon in every hymn waiting to be discovered and enjoyed.”