Are You Sure You Can’t Memorize?

Can you remember when you first memorized the ABCs? Or how about the times tables, the Pledge of Allegiance, or the Lord’s Prayer? Over time, we’ve memorized songs, poems, and famous movie quotes. With occasional review, these memories stay with us for a lifetime.

Research shows that memorization benefits cognitive function in many ways—it improves focus, lays the foundation for higher-level thinking, enhances recall speed, boosts confidence, and even helps delay cognitive decline in older adults. The more you memorize, the better your brain becomes at recalling information across various contexts.

I often hear people claim their brains just aren’t wired for memorization. That’s when I ask if they can recite the ABCs or recall what 7 x 8 equals. Sure, memorization might take longer as we get older. According to Harvard Health, most people begin to notice memory changes in their 50s and 60s when processing speed slows down. But that doesn’t mean memorization is impossible—it just takes longer, and that’s okay. We have more time at seventy than we did at thirty!

Memorization isn’t just helpful in the physical world, but in the spiritual one as well. In Ephesians 6, we are urged to put on the armor of God so that we can stand firm against the devil. Verse 12 reminds us that our struggle isn’t against flesh and blood, but against the evil forces in the unseen world. And in verse 17, we are told to take up the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. When Satan attacks, one of our best defenses is to use Scripture in response—just as Jesus did when tempted by Satan in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11).

How beneficial it is to have Scripture stored in our hearts so we can speak it immediately in times of need. As Max Lucado says, “Load your pistol with scriptures and keep your finger on the trigger.”

Until next time, keep your ammo ready. Keep on readin’, and I’ll keep on writin’.