This information is taken from Strive: The Bible for Men (published 2005 by Zondervan, copyright 2005 by The Zondervan Corporation).

Remember the last time you heard a song you couldn’t get out of your head? You know, one of those insidious melodies that lodges in the deepest recesses of your cerebral cortex and refuses to leave, no matter how hard you try to get rid of it. Annoying, isn’t it?

Now imagine that, instead of a song fragment, you had something really useful tattooed on your brain. Something that could come in handy in any setting or situation. Something that could change not only your life but also the lives of people around you. Imagine having the wisdom of God himself at your disposal every day, 24/7. That’s the tantalizing prospect that memorizing Bible verses offers. Here are three prime benefits of learning God’s Word by heart:

• Prevention:
  The author of Psalm 119 wrote, “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:11). Apparently the psalmist had experience in using God’s Word as a sin deterrent. This makes perfect sense. After all, every sinful temptation starts with a thought, an idea that seems enjoyable or satisfying. The longer the thought goes unchallenged, the more likely it is to be acted on. That’s where memorized Bible verses come in handy. The more nuggets of God’s truth you have stored away in your brain, the more ammunition you have to challenge temptation and reveal it for what it is.
  
  
• Protection:
  When Jesus faced Satan in the wilderness, he relied on one weapon: Scripture. Three times Satan threw everything he had at Jesus. Three times Jesus responded with a Bible quote. Three times Satan was stopped cold. That’s the power of God’s Word. That same power is available to us, too. Check out the apostle Paul’s battle strategy for withstanding the devil’s attacks. In Ephesians 6:17, he urges Christian warriors to arm ourselves with “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” You can’t prevent Satan from attacking you, but you can counter his attacks with God’s all-powerful truth—if you’re properly armed.
  
  
• Preparation:
  First Peter 3:15 says, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” Always be prepared. Now that’s a challenge. It’s also an awesome opportunity. If you live your Christian faith as God intends, people will question you. Some may challenge your beliefs; others may look to you for advice. If you’re ready with solid answers—answers from God’s Word—you may change lives.

How/What to memorize?

If you’re ready to make Bible memorization part of your spiritual growth plan, here are a few tips to get you started.

• Start with passages that are especially meaningful to you.
  Look for verses that offer encouragement for a situation you’re currently facing. Or commands that address a sin you’re struggling with. Or words of praise that echo your feelings about God. In other words, start with passages that offer immediate application.
  
  
• Get the message down first.
  Being able to recite a string of Bible words in order doesn’t mean much if you don’t know the context or purpose of the message. What’s more, understanding the gist of a Bible verse gives you a great starting point for memorizing the wording of the message.
  
  
• Make it a natural part of your daily routine.
  Don’t think in terms of memorizing a certain number of passages every week. That’s too much like homework. Remember, you’re not trying to finish an assignment or meet a quota. You’re trying to fill your brain with God’s wisdom. The best way to do that is the same way you learn those annoying songs and jingles that get stuck in your brain: through sheer repetition. Recite passages to yourself in the shower . . . in the car on the way to work . . . while you’re working out. Anytime is a good time to memorize God’s Word.
  
  
  Growth in Your Spiritual Life.
  Few events in life involve more striving and stamina than running a marathon. Living the Christian life is one of them. The parallels between the athletic effort and the spiritual life seem obvious. The Bible backs up our comparisons. We’re told to “run the race” (Hebrews 12:1). Paul instructed us to “Run in such a way as to get the prize” (1 Corinthians 9:24). He also pointed out that “physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things” (1 Timothy 4:8). The parallels between growing spiritually and running a marathon may be apparent, but they are not simple. No one decides to run a marathon and shows up at the starting line the next day. An extended period of training is required between the decision to run and the starter’s pistol. The decision to trust Christ takes a moment, but the consequences take a lifetime to work out. The difference between trying to run a marathon and actually running a marathon usually boils down to training.

  Likewise, those who “try” to live the Christian life may get stuck in failure, while those who enter training to live the Christian life survive failures and actually live! The trying mentality can’t handle failure, and usually ends when failure happens. The training mentality expects a certain amount of failure and uses it to measure progress. The training way of life strives, endures and perseveres. Jesus didn’t say, “Try to follow me.” He said, “Follow me.” Training is a combination of diet, exercise and time. Spiritual training that leads to growth has the same components.

  • Diet - Meet with God in as many ways as possible, pursuing worship as a lifestyle. Ask God to meet your deepest hunger. Experience God’s presence through worship. Take in spiritual nourishment by reflecting on God’s Word and biblical teaching from qualified teachers. Spiritual food needs to be as regular as physical food, not just when you’re hungry. This kind of diet offers ultimate satisfaction.
    
    
  • Exercise - Prayer is to spiritual life what breathing exercises are to correct performance. Attentive Bible reading is like weightlifting for strength and physical development. Relationships with other believers and participation in the local church are your running partners to enhance your endurance. Application and obedience to God’s Word are the fundamentals you practice to run the race.
    
    
  • Time - You need a commitment of time, exposing yourself to the fundamentals listed above for the long-term. You need a commitment to time, faithfully waiting and expecting God to do his part (the biggest part!) in bringing about spiritual maturity. It’s God who makes things grow (1 Corinthians 3:6-7).

  In a nutshell, lasting spiritual growth comes from trusting what God will do, waiting for God to do it, and doing our part faithfully in the meantime.

  “For it is God who works in you to will and to act to fulfill his good purpose.” (Philippians 2:13)

  “Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.” (2 Timothy 1:12)

  “Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.” (Hebrews 12:1-2)

  “Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation.” (1 Peter 2:2)