Scripture memorization is a key component to defending yourself against Satan's temptations. Jesus set this example when he was tempted by Satan in the desert following His forty day fast. We find this account in Matthew chapter 4.

When Satan came to Jesus, he said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread." Satan's tactic here was to get Jesus to doubt who He was. He was trying to take advantage of Jesus' time of weakness with hunger that He was feeling in His physical body after fasting for forty days. Satan will do this with us as well, he will wait on our weakest moments and tempt us in that area and in that time of weakness.

We need to be keenly aware of Satan's tactics and know that he is always there, waiting for us to lower our guard so he can take advantage of our weaknesses. We need to follow Jesus' example and rebut any offense or temptation from Satan. How did Jesus answer Satan's temptation? He counter by reciting Deuteronomy 8:3, "...man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the LORD."

As we continue on here, we find even Satan knows Scripture, and tries to use it against Jesus to trip Him up. This time, he takes Jesus to the highest point of the temple and says to Jesus, "If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: ‘He shall give His angels charge over you,’ and, ‘In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone." Jesus replies, "You shall not tempt the LORD your God."

You see, we are dealing with a master deceiver, and an intelligent deceiver at that. Satan knows Scripture very well, He knew the Scripture that Jesus rebutted him with, but his hope was that he could out-smart Jesus and make Jesus say, "I'll show him," and hope that Jesus would jump. Satan was one hundred percent right when he quoted Psalm 91:11-12, " 11) For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways. 12) In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone."

But, Satan also knows that that Scripture will not apply when it is used to test God and His Word. If Jesus would have jumped to prove who He was, Satan would have won, because Jesus does not need to prove anything to Satan, it would have been an act of testing God's truth. So, Jesus' reply was the proper reply to rebut Satan.

Satan tries one time to deceive Jesus in verse 9, he says, "All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me." Jesus replies, "Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve." Again, Jesus responds with Scripture, reciting Deuteronomy 6:13. Jesus also shows the authority He has over Satan by saying, "Away with you, Satan!" Because after saying that, verse 11 says, "Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him."

By the angels coming to minister to Jesus, is the fulfillment of Psalm 91:11-12 that Satan himself quoted and tempted Jesus with. But, they came to Him not because He was testing God like Satan wanted Him to do, but because He upheld God's command by not testing the Lord your God.

So, by following Jesus' example, we should make it a point to memorize Scripture as well. I think I just heard some groans out there? I know I use to feel the same way. I tried memorizing Scripture, but just couldn't seem to do it. Then I found that the reason I couldn't do it was because God's Word wasn't as important to me and making money, or watching sports and knowing all my teams statistics. Knowing my teams statistics was easy for me. Why was that? Because, I wouldn't have admitted that at the time, but that's what was important to me, I watched all the games and read all the articles. I still watch sports, but now, the difference is, it does not come before God, where at one time it did.

I'm not into celebrites, but many people are. We have magazines, TV shows, news broadcasts dedicate time to celebraties, just so we know every movement of our favorite celebrities. Why is that? I guess we are just fascinated by success.

We need to get our priorities in order. Proverbs 27:19, says, "As water reflects a face, so a man's heart reflects the man." What's inside your heart, is what is going to show on the outside. If you truly have God in your heart, it will be reflected in your life. If you truly have God in your heart, you will find Scripture memorization is not so difficult, because you will make God's Word a part of you, and your everyday life. It's like anything else in life, if you dedicate the time to something and put your mind to it, you will catch on.

One slogan that has been popular for some time now and started by a sneaker company is, "Just Do It!" When people take that to heart, they get themselves into trouble. There is no limitations to that saying. Whatever it is you want to do, "DO IT!" That's one of the reasons why God flooded the earth back in the days of Noah, because of that attitude. Don't worry, God promised He will never flood the earth again (Genesis 9:14-15 ). That's the problem with human beings, God gave us too much freedom. If you don't believe me, just take a look around our society.

If people would just pay a little more attention to what God tells us is good for us, rather than some sneaker company who just wants to make a profit at any expense, we would be a lot better off. Scripture memorization is the first step and an important one at that.

The following Scriptures are just the tip of the iceberg. In no way am I telling you just to read and memorize these Scriptures and that will be enough. No, not at all. These Scriptures are for you to jump start your defense against Satan's temptation. You should be reading your Bible and developing and memorizing Scriptures that you find that will be helpful to your personal situation. You should look for Scriptures that are directly related to your weaknesses where Satan attacks you most. Be honest with yourself, you know the areas that you're weakest in, develop a Scripture base the protects that area of your life.

Have no doubts about what you read in God's Word. God's Word is perfect and powerful and is sharper than a two edged sword (Hebrews 4:12 ). If you abide by God's Word, Satan will have to succumb to your commands (James 4:7 ). If you tell him, as Jesus did, to go away, he has too! Because, you have authority over him.

We will start off with the very same Scriptures that Jesus used. The are short and easy to remember.

Deuteronomy 8:3... (God is life) - 3) So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the LORD.

Deuteronomy 6:16... (Trust in God, do not tempt Him in any way to prove to you or anyone else that He is God) - 16) You shall not tempt the LORD your God as you tempted Him in Massah.

Deuteronomy 6:13... (Serve God only!) - 13) You shall fear the LORD your God and serve Him, and shall take oaths in His name.

It is OK to personalize certain Scriptures to accommodate your personal situation, just as long as you do not change the intended meaning. For example: the following verse I put into parenthesis what you can personalize.

Ephesians 3:20... (You've got the power!) - 20) Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we (I) ask or think, according to the power that works in us (me).

Keep in mind you may also do what Jesus did when He recited Deuteronomy 8:3, above. He just used a portion of it to make His point.

2 Corinthians 10:5... (Take every thought captive in your mind to determined whether it is from God or Satan) - 5) ...casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.

James 1:5-7... (Ask God, don't doubt or you will not receive) - 5) If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6) But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7) For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord.

Colossians 2:9-10... (Through Christ, you have authority over all, including Satan and his demonic realm, unless you succumb to their temtation) - 9) For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; 10) and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.

Matthew 7:7-8... (Seek God for spiritual understanding, He will not let you down) - 7) Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8) For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.

Luke 1:37... (God is all-powerful) - 37) For with God nothing will be impossible.

Romans 8:28... (All God does works for good) - 28) And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

In the following verse, "mountain" refers to problems in your life. If you believe and receive the authority that Christ has given to you, you will still have problems, but God will make them easier to deal with.

Mark 11:23... (Speak to your mountain) - 23) For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.

1 Corinthians 10:13... (God will give you a way of escape. Also anything you come up against is nothing new to mankind, God has dealt with it all!) - 13) No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

Galatians 2:20... (Christ lives through you by your faith) - 20) I have been crucified with Christ; 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 for me.

John 3:16... (God's faithful & unconditional love) - 16) For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Jeremiah 29:11... (God's faithful & unconditional love) - 11) "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Psalm 18:30... (God is perfect, loyal, and trustworthy) - 30) As for God, His way is perfect; The word of the LORD is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him.

1 Peter 5:8... (Always watch for Satan) - 8) Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

Ephesians 6:11... (The full armor of God) - 11) Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

This is just a very small sampling of some verses that can be applied to your everyday life. Read through Proverbs and Psalms, what are known as the wisdom books. Also, Ecclessiates, Job, Song of Solomon. There is so much wisdom that God has given us through these books. But, not just those books, the whole Bible is a treasure chest of wisdom and knowledge. I'm sure you've heard this, probably many times, but for those who haven't— the Bible is like an instruction manual for man. Just as a new car comes with an owners manual, so do you come with one. Read it, you will see that in the end, WE WIN!

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