13: SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES TO REWIRE YOUR BRAIN
SPIRITUAL WARFARE IS A BATTLE for your mind, or more specifically, your thoughts. John MacArthur calls it “a battle for the minds of people who are captive to lies that are exalted in opposition to Scripture.”[1] Paul uses battle imagery in 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 (NLT):
We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.
The “strongholds” to which Paul refers include the lies and distortions we choose to believe about God and ourselves that promote spiritual/emotional conflicts. Certain spiritual disciplines—Bible study, biblical meditation, and memorizing Scripture—challenge those strongholds by rewiring our brains with the truths of God’s Word. Many believers struggle with the idea of spiritual disciplines because it seems to contradict their understanding of salvation by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9). The concern is this: If grace is a gift and salvation is not the result of works, how can any effort on my part be biblical? The answer to this question is important, so let me explain.
Christ-Formation and Personal Effort
Grace is God’s unmerited favor unto salvation, as well as God’s unmerited power unto Christ-formation. In other words, grace is both the gift of salvation and the power of God that fuels Christ-formation. Consider the biblical evidence in Figure 13.1 below.
FIGURE 13.1
As you can see, grace is the gift of salvation, specifically the forgiveness of sin that gives birth to new life in Christ and a home in heaven (Ephesians 1:13-14). Salvation encompasses so much more, however: In fact, it involves specific stages and phases, each of which offers an incredible benefit. The stages of salvation include regeneration (2 Corinthians 5:17), justification (Romans 10:9-10; 2 Corinthians 5:21), sanctification (1 Peter 2:9-10), and glorification (1 John 3:2). Sanctification includes its own three phases: positional sanctification (Hebrews 10:10), progressive sanctification (2 Corinthians 3:18), and complete sanctification (1 John 3:2). Progressive sanctification, or Christ-formation, is the only aspect of salvation that involves our direct participation. It involves becoming more and more like Jesus Christ in his character and quality of life and is completed in heaven.
And yet, even our direct participation in progressive sanctification is the result of God’s grace. Consider Figure 13.2 below.
FIGURE 13.2
Our direct participation with the Holy Spirit in the process of progressive sanctification is important, as the Scriptures demonstrate.
- “Walk by the Spirit . . . let us also keep in step with the Spirit” (Galatians 5:16, 25).
- “Be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18).
- “Put off your old self . . . be renewed in the spirit of your minds . . . put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:22-24).
- “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12).
- “What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things” (Philippians 4:9).
- “Spend your time and energy in the exercise of keeping spiritually fit. Bodily exercise is all right, but spiritual exercise is much more important and is a tonic for all you do. So exercise yourself spiritually” (1 Timothy 4:7-8, TLB).
- “Make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:5-8, NIV).
- “Put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk” (1 Peter 2:1-2).
- “Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18).
Our direct participation in progressive sanctification is an important yet often missing ingredient in much of our discipleship literature and programs today. Let’s explore how spiritual disciplines facilitate the Christ-formation process.
Grace-Sustained Spiritual Disciplines
Our direct participation in Christ-formation, or progressive sanctification, includes grace-sustained spiritual disciplines. Any spiritual discipline carried out in our own strength cannot facilitate progress in Christ-formation, nor can it lead to a greater experience of the abundant life. And yet, direct participation—empowered by God’s grace and carried out in partnership with the Holy Spirit—becomes a powerful catalyst for change. Dallas Willard wrote,
Christ-likeness of the inner being is not a merely human attainment. It is, finally, a gift of grace. The resources for it are not human, but come from the interactive presence of the Holy Spirit in the lives of those who place their confidence in Christ.[2]
All direct participation that applies to the Christ-formation process must be grace-sustained if it is to produce spiritual/emotional growth and abundant living in Christ. A grace-sustained spiritual discipline cultivates new thoughts that promote healthy emotions and new intentions that affect the will and drive obedience, which together promote a greater experience of the abundant life.
I like to use a farming analogy to describe our part in Christ-formation. A farmer cannot make a crop grow, but he can create an environment conducive to growth. For example, as the farmer plows the soil and plants, waters, and fertilizes the seed, he creates an environment for growth. Similarly, grace-sustained spiritual disciplines create an environment where spiritual/emotional growth can take place.
For example, we know the Scripture to be God’s Word, and we know that the Holy Spirit uses Scripture to transform us into the likeness of Christ. This gracious work of Christ-formation, therefore, necessarily involves making time to read and study the Bible; God does not read the Bible for us.
Let’s look now at the grace-sustained spiritual disciplines that can rewire the brain—that is, replace lies and distortions with God’s truth.
Bible Study
The English Protestant Bible is composed of 66 books containing 1,189 chapters, 31,102 verses, and roughly 800,000 words.[3] The Bible is a supernatural document inspired by God (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21), so it can be trusted as the definitive source for Christ-formation. The Holy Spirit is our guide—as the Spirit of truth (John 16:13)—who helps us understand and apply Scripture to our lives. In order to replace the lies and distorted thoughts in our brains and experience the abundant life that Jesus offers, it’s imperative that we cultivate a robust understanding of Scripture. Robert Saucy wrote,
Spiritual life and growth in all of its aspects thus flows from the knowledge of truth found in the revelation of God. . . . To seek spiritual transformation apart from a steady diet of God’s Word is like trying to gain physical strength without eating. Both are impossible.[4]
Studying Scripture enables us to focus our thinking on what God says is true; in this way, God’s Word can literally rewire your brain. This rewiring process doesn’t happen by accident, nor can it take place overnight, but if you commit to a regular practice of Bible study, the Holy Spirit can use God’s Word to renovate your heart.
God’s Word is not simply information but revelation and helps us not only to know about God but also to know God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Eugene Peterson’s favorite metaphor for Bible study was “Eat this book,” which relates the Word of God to spiritual food that feeds the soul and informs the mind. Peterson maintained that “the Holy Spirit uses them [the Scriptures] to form Christ in us,” and that “We are not interested in knowing more but in becoming more.”[5] As we study the Bible, we are literally hearing God speak to us, revealing aspects of his nature and character and instructing us in how to live as the people of God.
The Bible informs us on everything we need for faith and practice. Therefore, we must approach Bible study with eagerness, not only to hear what God wants to say to us but to then put his words into action. Obedience is a catalyst for Christ-formation and the abundant life. James 1:22-25 (NLT) says,
Don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.
There are a variety of ways to study the Bible, but one I find helpful is to read a commentary. Commentaries will help you understand the historical context, the theology inherent in the text, and the meanings of words in the original languages. Many commentaries also offer practical ways to apply the truths of Scripture to your life. All Scripture is instructive for Christ-formation (2 Timothy 3:16-17), but two specific categories of biblical truth are especially helpful: the nature and character of God and your identity in Christ. Let’s look at these two categories and a few related topics.
Knowing God by His Attributes and Names
How does God work in us to move us toward the abundant life? It’s partly a function of his attributes, which reinforce the benefits of his lordship (specifically, the limitations of our circumstances to override God’s power and authority). When we reflect regularly on God’s attributes, we find ourselves in and moving toward joyful hope and the abundant life that is ours, now, in Christ.
Of God’s many attributes, I am especially drawn to his independence, that is, God is completely self-sufficient, in need of nothing (Psalm 50:10-12; Acts 17:24-25); his unchangeableness, that God remains constant and consistent, the same throughout eternity (Psalm 90:2; 1 Peter 1:24-25); his eternality, that God has no beginning and no end (Job 36:26; Revelation 1:8); his omnipresence, that God is not limited to time and space (Psalm 139:7-10); his unity, that no attribute of God is more important than another—God is both just (Acts 17:31) and compassionate (Exodus 34:6); and his omnipotence, that God is all-powerful (Isaiah 44:24; Jude 1:24-25). Theologian Wayne Grudem refers to God’s attributes as “different ways of looking at the totality of God’s character.”[6]
We also discover various aspects of God’s character by studying his names. Throughout the Bible, you will find different names for God that refer to different aspects of his character. Consider the following: Elohim: God is creator (Genesis 1:1), Elohim Chayim: the living God (Joshua 3:10), Abba: God is Father (Romans 8:15), Jehovah-jireh: the Lord provides (Genesis 22:9-14), Jehovah-shalom: the Lord is peace (Judges 6:22-24), El Elyon: God is your sovereign (Psalm 147:5), El Kanna: the jealous God (Exodus 34:14), El Roi: the God who sees (Genesis 16:13), Jehovah Rói: God is your shepherd (Psalm 23:1), Jehovah Nissi: God is your banner (Exodus 17:15).[7] There are many other names for God in the Bible, but these ten provide a place to begin a Bible study to help correct any distortions you might have about God.
Knowing God by Biblical Symbolism and Metaphors
Symbols and metaphors are used in the Bible to characterize God. Some of these symbols include the Tabernacle and its furnishings (Exodus 25–31; 35–40; John 2:19-21), the bronze serpent (Numbers 21:6-9; John 3:14-15), and the Old Testament sacrificial system (Leviticus 1–7; Hebrews 10:5-9). These symbols inform an accurate knowledge of God.
In addition, the Bible contains hundreds of metaphors that reveal various aspects of God’s character. For example, God is referred to as an eagle (Exodus 19:4), a husband (Isaiah 54:5), a shepherd (Psalm 80:1), a loving father (1 John 3:1), a rock (Psalm 18:2), a fortress (Psalm 91:1-4), a potter (Jeremiah 18:6), a king (Psalm 47:7), light (1 John 1:5), a great physician (Psalm 103:2-3), fire (Deuteronomy 4:24), and a vinedresser (John 15:1).
Biblical symbols and metaphors enable us to know God in a deeply personal way and can help us rewire our brain using biblical truth.
Knowing God through Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit
Perhaps one of the best ways to inform our knowledge of God is to study the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, who is the physical manifestation of God: “The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God” (Hebrews 1:3, NLT). Jesus stated plainly that if you see him, you see the Father (John 14:9). Studying the life and teachings of Jesus in the Scriptures, therefore, will accurately inform our knowledge of God.
The Holy Spirit is the one who guides us into all truth (John 16:13), including the truth about God. Paul writes, “The Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image” (2 Corinthians 3:18, NLT). Numerous symbols and metaphors in the Bible inform us about the Holy Spirit. For example, the Holy Spirit is the deposit (Ephesians 1:14) and seal (2 Corinthians 1:22) who guarantees our inheritance in Christ. The Holy Spirit is the author of Scripture (2 Peter 1:21; 2 Timothy 3:16). The Holy Spirit is the comforter, counselor, and advocate who comes alongside all those who belong to Christ (Isaiah 11:2; John 14:16; 15:26; 16:7). The Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin (John 16:7-11), lives in the heart of every believer (Romans 8:9-11; Ephesians 2:21-22; 1 Corinthians 6:19), intercedes for all who belong to Christ (Romans 8:26), is our teacher (John 14:26; 1 Corinthians 2:13), confirms in our hearts that we are God’s children (Romans 8:16), and pours God’s love into us (Romans 5:5).
In the Bible, the Holy Spirit is referred to as water (Isaiah 44:3; John 7:37-39), oil (Isaiah 61:1; Acts 10:38), fire (Isaiah 4:4; Matthew 3:11-12), and wind (Ezekiel 37:9-14; Acts 2:3). The Holy Spirit generously distributes spiritual gifts to God’s people (Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12:8-10) to build up the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:11-13) and to serve others (1 Peter 4:11). It is the Holy Spirit who cultivates Christlike character in the heart of every believer (Galatians 5:22-23).
As you study the truth about God in Scripture—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—you create neuropathways in your brain that will help you replace distortions about God with the truth.
Knowing My Identity in Christ
In Christ, you are a child of God (John 1:12), the salt of the earth (Matthew 5:13), the light of the world (Matthew 5:14), and part of the true vine—that is, Christ (John 15:1). In Christ, you are Jesus’ friend (John 15:15), a son or daughter of God (Romans 8:14), and a joint heir with Christ, who shares everything that is his (Romans 8:17). Your body is a temple where the Holy Spirit dwells (1 Corinthians 3:16). In Christ, you are a member of Christ’s own body (1 Corinthians 12:27), a “new creation” (2 Corinthians 5:17), a minister of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18-19), a saint (1 Corinthians 1:2; Ephesians 1:1), God’s workmanship, “created in Christ Jesus for good works” (Ephesians 2:10), and a partaker of the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4). In Christ, you are declared righteous and holy (Ephesians 4:24), “hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3), chosen by God and precious to him (1 Peter 2:4). In Christ, you are a son or daughter of light (1 Thessalonians 5:5), seated with Christ in heaven (Ephesians 2:6), one of God’s “living stones” (1 Peter 2:5), and a member of “a royal priesthood, a holy nation,” a people belonging to God (1 Peter 2:9-10). In Christ, you are an alien and stranger in this world (1 Peter 2:11) and a citizen of heaven (Philippians 3:20). Each aspect of your identity in Christ became true at the moment of salvation.[8]
If you allow the truth of your identity in Christ to replace the lies and distorted thoughts that play on repeat in your mind, you will be able to break free from feelings of shame that keep you stuck. Neil Anderson writes,
People cannot consistently behave in ways that are inconsistent with the way they perceive themselves. . . . If, however, you see yourself as a child of God who is spiritually alive in Christ, you will begin to live accordingly. Next to a knowledge of God, a knowledge of who you are is by far the most important truth you can possess.[9]
As you study what the Bible says about who you are in Christ, the Holy Spirit will use those truths to replace the lies that drive the spiritual/emotional conflicts that hinder your Christ-formation.
Biblical Meditation
The second grace-sustained spiritual discipline that reinforces God’s truth in your heart is meditating on Scripture. Meditation is an important way to wire God’s truth in your brain. One of the main Hebrew words used in the Old Testament for meditation is sikah (or the verb form siakh). Saucy defines siakh as
rehearsing or going over something in one’s mind, either outwardly talking or musing silently . . . siakh refers to pondering on God’s Word so that it dominates our mind and heart and becomes the perspective through which we view all of life and the world around us.[10]
Meditating on Scripture has been a biblically sound practice for centuries.
Many Christians are afraid of the word meditation, so let’s be clear about what I mean. Biblical meditation is a “conscious, continuous engagement of the mind with God.”[11] You practice biblical meditation as you ponder God’s Word. Old Testament scholars Edward Curtis and John Brugaletta explain the importance of meditating on God’s Word for transformation:
What a person regularly thinks about strongly influences what he or she does and, in many instances, also determines what the person becomes. . . .
Meditation helps focus the attention on things that are consistent with God’s order and thus helps to produce behavior and character that are consistent with God’s truth.[12]
We see this understanding of meditation throughout Scripture, especially in the Psalms of David and the book of Joshua. Consider the following:
- “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it” (Joshua 1:8).
- “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night” (Psalm 1:1-2).
- “I will meditate on your precepts” (Psalm 119:15, 78).
- “I will meditate on your wondrous works” (Psalm 119:27).
- “I will meditate on your statutes” (Psalm 119:48).
- “Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day” (Psalm 119:97).
- “Your testimonies are my meditation” (Psalm 119:99).
- “My eyes are awake before the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promise” (Psalm 119:148).
We find different ways to practice biblical meditation in the pages of Scripture. Moses said to the Israelites,
You must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
DEUTERONOMY 6:6-9, NLT
The Lord commanded every king of Israel to write out God’s law by his own hand and keep this written record with him to read every day:
When he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself in a book a copy of this law, approved by the Levitical priests. And it shall be with him, and he shall read in it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God by keeping all the words of this law and these statutes, and doing them.
DEUTERONOMY 17:18-19
David wrote in Psalm 1:1-2 that meditating on God’s Word produces an abundant life:
Oh, the joys of those who do not
follow the advice of the wicked,
or stand around with sinners,
or join in with mockers.
But they delight in the law of the LORD,
meditating on it day and night.
They are like trees planted along the riverbank,
bearing fruit each season.
Their leaves never wither,
and they prosper in all they do.
PSALM 1:1-2, NLT
Having studied passages about the attributes of God, consider just sitting with the text, reading it over and over—even out loud—taking note of any words or phrases that jump out to you and considering those words to be God speaking directly to you (John 10:27-28; Romans 10:17). Think of biblical meditation as another way to ingest God’s Word: “When your words showed up, I ate them—swallowed them whole. What a feast!” (Jeremiah 15:16, MSG).
Memorizing Scripture
As important and helpful as both Bible study and biblical meditation are to Christ-formation, memorizing Scripture might be the single most effective way to rewire your brain. Dallas Willard wrote,
Bible memorization is absolutely fundamental to spiritual formation. If I had to choose between all the disciplines of the spiritual life, I would choose Bible memorization, because it is a fundamental way of filling our minds with what it needs.[13]
Most people I coach in Christ-formation are intimidated to memorize Scripture. When I suggest it as a spiritual discipline, the automatic response is to say, “Oh, I could never do that.” I have often wondered if this resistance is due to the fact that memorizing Scripture will produce the greatest results and is therefore susceptible to greater spiritual attack.
A few years ago, my wife decided to memorize the entire book of Ephesians. Yes, you read that right—all 6 chapters, 155 verses, and roughly 2,422 words. It took her two years, but she did it, and the transformation I saw in her life as a result was profound. She developed a greater sense of security in her identity in Christ, a greater confidence in God’s love and presence, and an increased capacity to challenge the lies and distortions about God and herself that resulted from abuse she experienced in childhood.
Frankly, I was so inspired by the changes I saw in Susan that I decided to start memorizing more Scripture too. Over the last five years, I have memorized Colossians 3:1-17, Ephesians 1:18-19 and 3:14-19, 2 Peter 1:3-11, Psalm 23, and Isaiah 40:28-31. These have become my go-to passages when I find myself stuck in a loop of negative thinking, doubt, and worry.
Today, I have quick access to God’s truth whenever I feel afraid. The Holy Spirit affirms the truth of God’s Word that I have hidden in my heart and brings from it both comfort and strength. Even presently, when I wake up in the middle of the night gripped by fear, I have trained myself to immediately recite the passages of Scripture I have memorized. Before I know it, I’m waking up the next morning.
It is an amazing phenomenon that the brain can only focus on one thought at a time. That means you cannot be afraid and at peace at the same time; you can only experience one or the other in the present moment. I often remind people that multitasking is a myth. It’s true that you can shift between thoughts very quickly, but it is not possible to think a negative thought and a positive thought at the same time. If you choose to think about whatever is true, noble, right, pure, admirable, and praiseworthy (Philippians 4:8), you can’t also be thinking about the many terrible things that could happen to you. I have discovered that when I focus my attention on Scripture, I find that peace and hope quickly replace any fear and dread. I love Isaiah 26:3: “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you” (NLT, emphasis added).
Even though I’m extolling the benefits of memorizing Scripture, my guess is, it might still intimidate you. That’s why I have come up with a way to memorize Scripture by accident.
How to Memorize Scripture by Accident
Full disclosure: You can’t memorize Scripture by accident; it does take effort. But if you put the following steps into practice, you will discover that it’s a lot easier than you think. These are the steps that I use to memorize Scripture, so I know they work and can help you.
Memorize Passages Rather Than Single Verses
Memorizing a long passage helps you keep what you’re memorizing in its context. The flow of the text aides the memorizing process. Many Scripture memorization plans are organized topically, which is fine, but it can also be more difficult, since the memorized verses don’t flow together naturally. Also, context is important for rightly interpreting Scripture, so memorizing a verse in isolation from its context can lead to misunderstanding and misapplication of the truth in it. By memorizing passages, you are much less likely to misapply the verse because you retain the context.
Study the Passage You Are Memorizing
Study tools like commentaries or study Bibles can help you understand a passage of Scripture. Moreover, additional concentration on the passage anchors it in your memory. Remember Hebb’s law: “Neurons that fire together, wire together.” In other words, the more ways you concentrate on a Bible passage, the more thoroughly that truth will be etched into your brain and the more direct access you will have to it.
Write Out the Passage
Handwriting passages further reinforces the memorization process. As you write, you continue to strengthen neuropathways that facilitate long-term memory. You may be tempted to type the text on a computer, but I advise against that because the physical experience of handwriting is more impactful on the memorization process than typing.
When I begin memorizing a new passage, I like to write down each verse on a separate 3 × 5 card. On one side of the card, I write down the reference, and on the other side, I write the verse. I know this sounds old school, but it works. The cards are easy to carry around in my pocket, put in the glove box in my truck, or tape to the mirror in my bathroom. When Susan was memorizing Ephesians, she taped dozens of these note cards to our bathroom mirror (so many, in fact, that at times, I could hardly see my reflection).
Especially if I’m memorizing a longer passage like Colossians 3:1-17, I sit down every few days and write out as much of the passage as I can remember. This reinforces what I have already memorized but also helps me to identify words that I have forgotten.
Because 3 × 5 cards are easy to misplace, I also like to type the verses into an app on my cell phone. This keeps everything in one place and makes reviewing the passage easy.[14] Once I have a passage memorized, I like to review it periodically to keep it fresh.
Review the Passage Three Times a Day
The more often you review a passage, the more deeply you encode it to memory. I recommend reviewing your 3 × 5 cards a minimum of three times a day. You might even want to write out multiple copies of your note cards so you can keep them handy in different places—next to your bed so you can review them the first thing in the morning and right before you go to sleep, at your workspace so you can review them throughout the day, and in your purse or backpack so you can review them during your lunch break. If you read through your 3 × 5 cards three times a day for thirty days, you will have reviewed the passage over ninety times; the repetition alone will help you memorize the passage.
Recite the Passage Out Loud
I’m often surprised at how hard it is to recite a passage out loud, especially in front of others, even when I have it memorized. It’s easy to get distracted when I’m looking at people or when I hear myself repeat the verses out loud. But I recommend making this part of your memorizing strategy. Say the verses out loud when you’re driving in your car. People might look at you funny when you pull up to a stoplight, but who cares—it works.
Record Yourself Reading the Passage
I recommend recording yourself reading your notecards and listening to them when you’re driving or exercising. Make sure you read the passage slowly, so you can concentrate on specific words and phrases.
Expect Resistance
Memorizing Scripture takes effort because it requires focused attention. But whatever effort it takes, it’s worth it. Memorizing Scripture might be the most important spiritual discipline you can practice for Christ-formation.
Satan doesn’t want you to renew your mind (Romans 12:1-2); he wants you to continue believing lies and rehearsing negative and distorted thoughts in your mind, so expect resistance. Satan will throw everything at you to discourage you from memorizing Scripture. But don’t give in to him. Try it for the next thirty days—work on memorizing a passage that is important to you. I think you will discover that if you put these steps into practice, you will memorize Scripture by accident (well, almost).
In this chapter, we discussed three spiritual disciplines the Holy Spirit can use to rewire your brain toward Christ-formation and abundant living. Grace-sustained spiritual disciplines such as Bible study, biblical meditation, and memorizing Scripture will help you “take every thought captive to obey Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5). In the next chapter, we’ll explore four additional spiritual disciplines that can help your Christ-formation.
Restoring My Soul with God
Because memorizing Scripture is so intimidating, let’s just take the bull by the horns and go after it. Colossians 3:1-17 has been an important passage for me over the last five years. As you memorize it, consider the following suggestions:
- Use a more literal translation such as the English Standard Version (ESV); the New King James Version (NKJV); the New International Version (NIV); the New American Standard Version (NASB), or the New Living Translation (NLT). If you prefer to use a paraphrase like The Passion (TPT), The Voice (VOICE), or The Living Bible (TLB), that’s fine too. Bible Gateway is a free online tool that includes dozens of different translations and paraphrases you can use: http://www.biblegateway.com.
- If you don’t have a study Bible, I encourage you to buy one. The introduction for each book, the notes at the bottom of the page, and other tools are invaluable. I recommend a Life Application Study Bible (in the translation of your choice) or The Renovaré Spiritual Formation Study Bible.
- Study the passage using a commentary. For Colossians, I recommend Warren Wiersbe’s BE Complete.[15] Dr. Wiersbe’s commentaries are excellent—and easy to follow and understand.
- I also encourage you to read James Bryan Smith’s book Hidden in Christ,[16] which is focused on the various aspects of Colossians 3:1-17. It will help you understand various nuances in the text that will assist you in the memorizing process.
Follow my “How to Memorize Scripture by Accident” process in this chapter. You can do this!
Restoring My Soul with Others
- Share about your experience so far in memorizing Colossians 3:1-17. What steps in the section “How to Memorize Scripture by Accident” are you finding most helpful?
- After reading this chapter, does it make sense that there is no conflict between grace and direct effort for our part in Christ-formation?
- Review the salvation diagram (Figure 13.2). Why is it important to understand that salvation is about so much more than forgiveness of sin and going to heaven when you die?
- Why is progressive sanctification the only phase that requires our direct participation?
- What has been your experience with spiritual disciplines? How would you explain to someone that they are not legalistic? (Consider the farming analogy in this chapter.)
- Which of the three spiritual disciplines in this chapter—Bible study, biblical meditation, Scripture memorization—are you most interested in pursuing? Why? Which discipline are you most intimidated to try? Discuss.
- Do you know Christians who think all forms of meditation are wrong? Based on the information in this chapter, how could you help them understand a biblical definition of this discipline?
- Based on your growing understanding of the brain, why do you think Dallas Willard believed that memorizing Scripture was the most important spiritual discipline? What do you think?
- Which biblical symbol or metaphor resonates with you the most? Why? Which are you curious about? Are there other metaphors in Scripture you can think of that were not listed?
- We have talked a lot about the importance of understanding our identity in Christ. Why do you think that is so important to Christ-formation?