Scripture Memory Part 2 - How to Memorize

Last Monday I shared about why it's important to memorize Scripture. If you missed that post you can check it out here.

Today we are going to talk about practical ways to memorize Scripture. I know, it sounds daunting, overwhelming and sometimes impossible but I promise it isn't as difficult as it sounds.  What I share is what has worked for me. I also shared some of my 'memorization experiences' to hopefully make it practical. Let's get to it.

1. Commit to Memorize - Sounds simple but it's the first step. You have to draw a line in the sand and tell yourself you are going to memorize.

2. Pick Your Verses

• 1 verse - If memorizing verses is overwhelming to you then pick 1 verse. When you get that one down pick another one. 
• Topical - Pick a topic and get a list of verses on that specific topic. You can usually find topics in in your Bible index or 'google' works great too. 
• Chapter / Passage - You can memorize a whole passage or chapter. This gives you the bigger picture of everything. 

3. Find an Accountability Partner - This is so helpful. I memorized lots of verses growing up thanks to Awana's. We would meet each Wednesday and I had an Awana leader listen to my verses, holding me accountable. When I lived in Korea last year, our women's Bible study group studied the book of James through a Beth Moore study. One of Beth's challenges was to memorize the whole book of James. I knew it would be a big challenge but I committed to it and I had my roommate Alisha as well as the women at my Bible study group help me stay accountable.

4. Say your verses outloud to your accountability partner - This might be a given but I thought I'd restate it. If you are memorizing one verse or a whole chapter make sure you say your verses to your accountability partner. It helps you memorize. Even if you botch it up and don't say it perfectly, say it. Alisha (my roommate in Korea) and I would often say our verses to each other.

5. Pretty it Up - Whatever verses you are memorizing make them pretty. Write them on note cards with fun pens, print them with fancy font, put stickers beside them, etc. Make sure they are appealing to your eyes. When I was memorizing the book of James I took each chapter and put it in a pretty font that I liked. I then put it in a clear sheet protector so I could take it everywhere.

8. Take it With You - Take your pretty verses with you. Are you standing in a grocery line annoyed that you have to wait? Well, pull out those verses. Waiting for a movie to start? Pull out the verses. On a stationary bike at the gym? Pull out the verses. Riding in a car? Pull out the verses. Driving in a car? Please, please don't pull out the verses. You get the gist though. If you have them with you, every 1 or 2 minutes of meditating on God's Word will get it in your heart / memory. In Korea, I took the verses with me when I walked and when I would ride the bus. Those 15 minute walks and 15 minute bus rides made great Bible memory time.

7. The first phrase - When you begin to memorize a passage really get that first phrase memorized. Beth Moore recommended this and it was really helpful. If you can nail down the reference and the first phrase it makes the rest a bit easier.

8. Listen to it - When you are getting ready in the morning I find it helpful to play out loud the verses I am memorizing. I often have to play it 3 or 4 times because my brain wanders, but it eventually helps. You can also say the verses out loud as you listen. This shows you where you forgot and gives you some good practice. Riding in the car? This is a great time to listen to the Bible. If you don't have a smart phone you can buy the Bible on CD or I bet your library will have it.

9. Make up Weird Actions - As silly as it sounds - silly actions help. If you can't get a phrase think of some ridiculous action to help you. For example, at our Wednesday night church program, we are memorizing a verse about being dead in the flesh but alive in the spirit. To show the word 'flesh' we pinch our arms/flesh. We lower our arms for 'death' and raise them really high for 'life'.

10. Slowly but Surely - Remember that memorization comes slowly. It's kind of like running; you start by running for 3 minutes and over 6 months you build up to running 4-5 miles. It takes some time to really really memorize Bible verses. Set a date that you want to memorize, work hard to meet that goal but also give yourself grace too.

Okay friends - I feel like I just inundated you with a lot of information but I hope it is helpful. If you have questions please ask me, anytime.

Do you have any other good tips for memorizing Scripture? If so please share in the comments so we can all learn.

Scripture Memory Part 1 - Five Reasons to Memorize Bible Verses

Have you ever written an e-mail or a blog post, saved it but ... it didn't save? Yeah, well this is what happened with this one. So, I'm back writing this post for the second time. A while back I posted that I was working on memorizing some Scripture. I had several people ask me how I go about that and I'm happy to share what I know. I think memorizing Scripture is a key to our walk with Christ.

I'm going to break this up into a two post blog series. One will be today and the other will be on January 27th next Monday. Today's topic will be why you should memorize Scripture. I think if we realize the value and importance of it we will be more apt to hide God's Word in our heart.

5 Reasons to Memorize Bible Verses

1. It's Profitable 

II Timothy 3:16 - All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction for instruction in righteousness. 

Lately, I've noticed a big trend of everyone focusing on "God is only love". By all means, yes that is true but when you look into The Word it isn't always going to be the 'warm fuzzy love feelings'. Notice in what ways the verse says Scripture is profitable: for doctrine (knowing the truth of the Bible, for reproof (conviction), for correction (don't we all love a big correction?), for instruction in righteousness. I don't know about you but those sound like difficult things. However, to live holy and in close fellowship with God we need those things. That's why it's profitable. 

      2. It's Delightful

Psalm 119:35 - Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight. 

       3. To Fight & Win

In Matthew 4 the temptations of Christ. Jesus was led into the wilderness where Satan tempted him. Guess what Jesus answered back with? "It is written, man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God". He didn't use his powers to kill of Satan (although He could have) but He used the Word of God. If He used it how much more do we need to use it?

That isn't the only thing about chapter 4 that needs to be noticed. If you keep reading (and I highly recommend you read Matthew 4 for yourself) you will notice that in verse 6 someone else used The Bible, he even quoted it, hmmm ... that would be Satan. Isn't that kind of scary? Satan used Scripture to tempt Jesus? My husband recently told me of a sermon where it talked about how people use the Bible to condone and justify sin but he said we shouldn't be surprised because Satan has been doing that all along. If Satan is going to use the Bible against us we better get to studying and memorizing so we can rightfully discern it.

       4. To Stop From Sinning

Psalm 119:11 - They Word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against thee.

Bottom line - the Bible keeps us from sinning. I can remember arguing with my husband about a board game (yeah, we sometimes do that...) and I just had to prove my point. You know what I heard softly in my heart ... "Be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath". It was the book of James I memorized last year and although my flesh did not want to hear that I'm so glad God told me to be quiet.


      5. To be Transformed

Romans 12:2 - And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.

If you are looking to change something in your life spiritually it starts in your mind. If you get the Word of God in your mind it will eventually get into your heart and transform your life. That's why God tells us to think on 'whatsoever is true, lovely....". Your mind is a big battlefield and to win it you gotta put truth in it. 

 What about you? Do you memorize Scripture? Is there anything that could be added to this list? 

fall goals and upcoming blog posts

October is here.

I decided that this fall I need to set some goals for myself. There are some things I want to get done and I think writing them down and figuring out a plan of action on how to complete them is beneficial. I'm not a natural planner by any means. I have to work at it, really hard! I thought I'd share with all of you lovely readers what is on my list:

prayer life - I am going to make a point to set aside 5 minutes a day for uninterrupted prayer. I know it doesn't sound like much, I'm kind of even embarrassed to post '5 minutes' as a goal but I get distracted so easily. I have a prayer list and I want to go through it more and pray specifically for people intentionally and fervently.

Bible memorization - last fall several women in our Bible study took the big task of memorizing the book of James. If someone told me I would memorize a whole book of the Bible I probably would of thought "yeah, that would be great, but I'm not disciplined enough". Well you know what? I did it! I memorized a chapter a month. I want to get back into that. I don't know if I will memorize a book or a few chapters but I know I need to memorize something from the Word. I want to have these passages picked out and ready by Thursday, October 3rd so I can take them when I travel to Albuquerque.

TESOL certification - I purchased an on-line class to get a certification to teach English as a second language. Let's just say I have put that class off for ahem...months now. It is due in February but I want it done by the beginning of December before Christmas rolls around.

Etsy Shop - I'm wanting going to open an Etsy shop! I made cute burlap bags and clutches and I'm in the process of setting up shop. wahoo! I need to take pictures and finish setting up and I'll be ready to go. My goal is to have photographs uploaded and ready so I can open shop when I return from Albuquerque next week! 

blog - I want to do some organization with this little 'ole blog I have. I have some things lined up for October so here is a little preview

• share about Dave and I's trip to Palo Duro Canyon in Texas
• recipes - I am going to share 4 total - two healthy recipes and two unhealthy ones. They are some new recent finds I discovered and are so tasty. I'll also be sharing a vegetarian option for those who prefer no meat. 
• things I've learned from the Bible - oh man! I don't know why but I have a hard time posting about what God teaches me during my quiet time. It's not that I'm ashamed I just have a hard time sharing all that BUT I think it's good to share what God is teaching me. 
• Albuquerque Balloon Festival - Dave, my parents and I are headed to Albuquerque this Thursday! We are going to see some amazing friends, eat a massive amount of Hatch green chilis and go to the Balloon Fiesta. 
• Never Have I Ever - a link up on 10/10 hosted by one of my favorite blogs 'The Ladie Okie. 
• How to run a half marathon without training - yes, it's true. I am running a half marathon in two weeks and my longest run has been 5 miles. I have managed to do cross-fit and hike a half marathon with Dave. Wish me luck.
• cows - that's right. I went around town today in Woodward and took some pictures of the cows...mooooo! I'll be sharing about those weird big animals too. 
• Missionary profiles - It will be a new series about missions so stick around! 
• Why the blog and the history behind 'Sunshine to the Square Inch' 

If you stuck around this long ... Thanks! What are your fall goals? Do you have any suggestion for blog posts? Want to memorize some Bible verses with me?