Finding Value in ‘Refrigerator Verses’

Almost like it was yesterday, I remember memorizing my first Scripture verse. (Actually, it was more than 40 years ago.) I’d been familiar with several Bible passages for years, but the first one I learned word for word, including its ‘address’ – where it’s found in the Bible – was 1 Thessalonians 5:17, “Pray without ceasing.” Another translation says, “Pray continually.”

 

If you want to have early success in the skill of Scripture memorization, that’s a great verse to start with. The one that precedes it is even shorter – “Rejoice always.” There you go, two verses you can commit to memory, consisting of five words in all.

 

Depending on which Bible translation you use, the only that’s shorter is John 11:35, “Jesus wept.” But that’s not a verse people cite a lot. The ones about always rejoicing and praying continually are simple, yet practical and profound, the perfect starting point for novice verse memorizers.

 

A while back I heard a speaker refer to “refrigerator verses,” brief Bible passages sometimes printed on refrigerator magnets. These can also serve as handy reminders of truths that are foundational for our faith. 

 

Consider one we occasionally see displayed on a sign someone’s holding up in the end zone bleachers at a football game – John 3:16. It might be the most well-known verse of all: “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” 

 

That one sentence encapsulates the limitless extent of God’s love; what Jesus Christ did on our behalf; and what we must do in response. It’s not as short – more than 20 words – but I’ve known quite a few kindergarten-age youngsters who can recite it by heart.

 

Many other Scripture passages could be good “refrigerator verse” candidates. Maybe a few come to your mind immediately. But someone might ask, “Why bother?”

 

Think of it this way: Whether we’re aware of it or not, we memorize lots of stuff – phone numbers, birthdates and anniversaries, addresses, the Pledge of Allegiance (at least we used to), song lyrics, times when our favorite shows are on TV.  If we can do all that, why’s it so hard to store some meaningful Bible verses into our memory banks? 

 

In striving to grow in our faith, whether we’re new believers or have been followers of Jesus for decades, wouldn’t it make sense to “hide God’s word in our hearts,” as King David declared in Psalm 119:11?

 

I remember a story about Dawson Trotman, founder of The Navigators and an enthusiastic advocate of Scripture memory. A frequent traveler, sometimes it wasn’t convenient for him to pull out his Bible, or it wasn’t readily available. Especially in parts of the world hostile to Christianity. However, having “hidden God’s word in his heart,” Trotman could readily recall the passages he’d committed to memory.

 

Many of the verses in my blog posts are ones I have memorized over the years, not only through rote repetition but also by often referring to them when circumstances dictated. For instance, when I find myself fretting over something that’s beyond my control, the admonition of 1 Peter 5:7 might come to mind: “Casting all your cares upon Him, because He cares for you.”

 

If I’m particularly concerned and need more to lower my anxiety level, I also consider Philippians 4:6-7, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Admittedly, that might be a bit long for a refrigerator magnet, but it’s an amazing assurance.

 

I’ll never forget the time a friend of mine, Pete George, who’s now with the Lord, gave the evening message at a conference. During his talk he cited at least 50 Scripture verses, not to show off his keen memory but to undergird the principles he sought to convey. Not once did he glance at his Bible or notes. Those verses had become part of the spiritual fabric of his being. Quoting them was as natural as breathing.

 

Have you ever tried Scripture memory? There are numerous plans available. However, I’ve found the best approach is when you read a particular verse that resonates with you, especially one that seems to address a situation you’re facing, take a few moments to write it down on an index card. (They still have those, right?) Then review it every day, whether you’re in your car (stopped at a light, not while you’re driving); at your desk at work, or even taped to the mirror in your bathroom.

As the apostle Paul exhorted his protégé, Timothy, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). When we memorize Scripture, we can file those verses in our spiritual filing cabinet and God through His Spirit can enable us to access them when needed. Even without a refrigerator. 

Hiding the Truth Where You Can Find It

How good are you at remembering things? Many people are quick to complain, “I have such a terrible memory.” But in many cases, our memories aren’t nearly as bad as we claim. For instance, do you know your home address? Social Security number? Your phone number, or those of friends, close family members, or where you work? How about lines from movies, or lyrics of favorite songs or hymns?

Virtually all of us succeed at memorizing information that’s important to us. Maybe we can’t recite the Declaration of Independence verbatim or the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution, but we usually can manage committing to memory those things dear to our hearts.

Meeting with men I’m mentoring or discipling, I often suggest they try memorizing key verses of Scripture. If they reply, “Oh, I can’t memorize things,” I’m apt to raise a skeptical eyebrow. I sometimes tell them point-blank, “You can if you want to.”

But why bother? What’s the big deal about memorizing some verses from the Bible? We’re not trying to win a contest at church, or show off during a Sunday school class, are we? Not at all. In the Scriptures, however, God makes it clear He desires for us to make His inspired Word integral to our lives. The Bible shouldn’t be some reference book we consult every once in a while.

A profound statement about this is found in Psalm 119:9-11. King David wrote, “How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your word…. Your word I have treasured in my heart that I may not sin against You.” The NIV translates it, “I have hidden in my heart.”

Both terms convey a strong commitment to embracing God’s truth, appreciating its great value for everyday living. The apostle Paul affirmed this in writing to Timothy, whom he had been discipling: “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

This tells us the Lord inspired men to put into writing His truth for everyday application. It’s not to be confined to a worship center’s sanctified halls.

An example is Dawson Trotman, founder of The Navigators, a ministry that has made Scripture memory an important part of its discipling strategies. Trotman traveled all around the world, and often didn’t have a Bible readily available. But, having been diligent to memorize and meditate on the Scriptures, he could always access them from memory whenever needed.

How do we go about “treasuring” or “hiding” the Word of God in our hearts? There’s not just one way, but I’ve learned a few helpful tips over the years.

Years ago, my wife and I were attending a marriage conference when the speaker suggested making a commitment to memorize verses from the Bible. I had learned the 23^rd Psalm from hearing it repeated when I was in grade school. (The supposed total “separation of church and state” hadn’t been discovered yet. How scandalous was that?) But I’d never thought of making a conscious effort to commit to memory passages from the Bible.

The speaker suggested starting with a verse that’s easy to remember, such as 1 Thessalonians 5:17, “Pray without ceasing.” Only three words? That would be easy enough. Then he added, “If that seems too difficult, try the verse that precedes it: 1 Thessalonians 5:16, ‘Rejoice always.””

Wow! Suddenly I had two Bible verses committed to my “remembery.” Later I discovered other short verses, most notably John 11:35, which states, “Jesus wept.” Eventually, however, I realized the key for effective Scripture memory was not picking out simple passages, but finding ones that had special meaning or importance. Those are the ones most easily hidden or treasured in our hearts.

Before long I took on a little more ambitious challenge and memorized Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”

This passage became my life verse that to this day serves as a foundation for my faith and trust in God, no matter what circumstances I face. Looking over the course of my life, I’ve been able to see that even when I didn’t understand what was happening, I could trust Him – and He truly has directed my paths.

At times, I’ve tried to learn a new verse that seemed too difficult. The solution was not only to try learning the words and their context, but also put the passage into use. One of those was 1 Corinthians 10:13, “No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.”

I was trying to learn it unsuccessfully until I decided to share it with a friend as we were riding in his car to a meeting. He wasn’t a follower of Christ, but I asked if he’d mind if I recited the verse since I was trying to learn it, and he didn’t object.

Without realizing it at the time, I was applying the principle from another verse, James 1:22, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” Soon I had “hidden” the verse in my heart – and many times, when confronted by temptation, I’ve brought it to mind for help in making the right decisions. I guess it’s okay to hide the Word of God – as long as you know where to find it.