Memorizing Scripture ~ Part Two

"I have hidden Your word in my heart"

Psalm 119:11

Okay, so today is the "how" and the "how much" of memorizing Scripture.

HOW

Entire books have been written on how to improve one’s ability to memorize.  Some suggestions will follow.  But it’s been said, if you are able to memorize several phone numbers, and a couple of social security numbers, then you are capable of memorizing 1 & 2 Timothy.

No matter what method you choose, memorize this first: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13

Remember: it is almost impossible for someone to memorize a passage of Scripture without deepening your understanding of those verses. 

“…whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” Philippians 4:8

God does not intend for scripture memory to be either easy or difficult;

He only intends for it to be time consuming. 

I once heard a speaker at a conference who has memorized whole books of Scripture.  So if that's possible, you know it's possible to memorize individual verses.  It's not just a gift that some people have.  It's something God expects of us.

So I thought I'd share some of my favorite tricks for memorizing Scripture.

~ Write out the passage.  Put pictures in the margin to help spark your memory, or the first letter of each word.  "If you love Me, obey My command" as I Y L M, O M C

~ Write out the verse, passage or chapter in word groups.  When faced with FBIPHDTWAIBM, people are able to remember only a few items.  But if the same information is presented the following way:  FBI PHD TWA IBM, then people can remember a great deal more.  Our brains are good at grouping information into meaningful groups, even if it's only meaningful to us!  And FYI, the ideal size for grouping letters, numbers or words, meaningful or not, is three.

~ Write out the passage in C O L O R

~ If it's a longer passage that you once knew but have forgotten, trying writing just the first word of each verse or phrase.

~ Another way to help yourself remember a forgotten passage is to say it out loud and write the words or phrase at which you stumble.  Keep reciting it, prompting yourself only if you need to.  Gradually, you'll need your cheat sheet less.

~ Use a "Chain".  Memorize the first segment.  Then memorize the second segment.  Then recite them together.  Then add the third, and so on.

~ Use a "Reverse Chain".  This is good for pairs or groups.  One person reads the entire verse over and over again.  The listeners jump and finish the verse whenever they can.  They should be able to jump in sooner and sooner.  We used to do this when I taught kids at Bible Study, and pretty soon, all of them had it memorized.

~ Use hand or body motions.  It's good exercise, too!  :)

~ Put the passage to music.  Music empowers the memory.  The words to "The Star Spangled Banner" were set to a tune already familiar to Americans.  And "Amazing Grace", written in 1772, didn't find it's "permanent" tune until the 1830s.  People just sang it to a tune they already knew.  Twinkle, Twinkle?  Happy Birthday?  Jingle Bells?  Mary Had a Little Lamb?  Sing your verse to one of these.

~ Use the passage for penmanship and/or typing practice.  Repetition of the same words is a good technique for building fast and neat handwriting, or fast, accurate typing.  And the passage used will be memorized during these repetitions.

~ Make sure you understand the point of the passage.  It's not just a series of words, and the flow of thought will aid in the memorizing.

~ Text elimination:  Put the passage on a dry erase or chalkboard, or on a computer screen.  Read the passage, then erase a word.  Now try to recite it, filling in the missing part from memory.  Keep reading, eliminating another word each time.

Also, you might be wondering: should you memorize on your own, or with a partner or a group?  The answer is "Yes."

Finally, some thoughts on how much Scripture we should memorize:

“HOW MUCH?!”

There is absolutely nothing stopping you from memorizing entire passages, chapters, and even books of Scripture.  It was done by the Israelites, it was done by the early Christians, and it is being done today, by people just as busy as you are.

But no one who wants to finish a marathon begins by stepping out the door and running 26 miles.  Work up to that level.  Memorize a verse at a time.  Then add to it. Keep going, and memorize a whole passage or chapter.   Or, choose a passage you already love so much that you know it by heart, and memorize the verses before and after it.  Then keep going.

Should you memorize Scripture?

What else would you do??  It is the very words of God.

Memorize Scripture, until there is nothing left to memorize.