One of the many benefits of the technological advancements that we have seen in the last 20 years is that many of us have near-constant access to a Bible. No matter where we are or what we are doing, we can pull up Scripture passages on our phone or other electronic devise. Because of this ready access, we may not see the necessity of committing verses to memory. Much like the practice of memorizing phone numbers is unnecessary, we may think the same is true for Scripture.
However, as any seasoned Christian who has memorized Scripture can attest, God uses His Word stored in our hearts to lead and guide us, and to conform our thoughts and feelings to His ways, even when we may not be intentionally meditating on a given passage. It is a privilege to have ready access to God’s Word electronically; it is a joy to have it impressed upon our minds and impressed upon our hearts for God to use to direct our lives.
If you are committed to learning more of God’s Word, and I hope that you are, here are some handy tips that may make the process more effective and fruitful:
- Use an App – I use Bible Memory to review Scripture as well as to commit new verses to memory. I have also heard good things about Fighter Verses. I love having an app dedicated to this purpose on my phone because when I am tempted to waste time scrolling through useless stuff, I can instead open my Bible verse app and focus my thoughts on God’s Word. I also have a reminder set to alert me to the verse that is up next for review. Even if I don’t open the app and go over the verse right then, it is a joy to have a passage of Scripture pop up on my phone or watch in the middle of the day to remind me of what is eternally important.
- Review with Notecards or Paper – Another method I have used is to have verses I am learning on 3×5 cards with the reference on one side and the verse written out on the other. I attached the notecards with a binder clip and slipped it into my purse. When I am waiting in line or in between appointments, I can review the verses I know and learn new ones. My dad used a similar method by folding a piece of paper in half vertically, and then writing Bible verses in a column on one side of the paper, and the references on the other. He then put the review sheet in his planner. Although electronic apps are convenient, research demonstrates that the more senses you involve in the learning process, the more likely you are to learn. If you find that you are struggling to commit a passage to memory, one of these methods may be especially helpful.
- Post Verses – If you want to commit God’s Word to memory, it helps if you see it more often. Post verses in places you frequently look – on the steering wheel, kitchen cabinet, or atop your daily schedule. Normally, I use Post-It notes for this, but I have also used dry erase markers to write out the verse my kids are studying on their bathroom mirror. You are more likely to memorize a verse if you have seen it multiple times in different places throughout the day. You can also be strategic and post verses that will help put your mind on things of God in places where you may be tempted to focus on other things. For example, I have a sign in my kitchen that says “Love is patient” (I Cor 13:4) because while I am busy prepping meals, I have a tendency to be short-tempered with what seems like the frequent interruptions by my kids. Seeing this verse reminds me that one of the ways I can honor God and show His love to my children is by being patient towards them just as He is patient towards me. As God uses the verse to convict me, He is also reinforcing its place in my memory bank helping to ensure that is not just a sign I see, but a verse I know.
- Pray through a Verse – One of the most effective and most meaningful ways of hiding God’s Word in your heart is to incorporate your memory verses into your time of prayer. Not only will this help ensure that you are frequently reviewing the verse, but your prayer life will be enhanced by using God’s words to converse to Him. Praying through the verses you are committing to memory also has the added benefit of ensuring that you are mediating on Scripture, not just learning the words by rote. Use your memory verses to pray for yourself, for loved ones, for unbelievers, and for government or social concerns. The specific subject of your prayer will depend on what the verse is, and the prayer needs of people you know. Another benefit is that the more you use Scripture in prayer, the more confidence you can have that your prayers are aligning with God’s will.
While all of the above methods for memorizing verses can be done by oneself, some of the most effective memorization strategies will include others in the process. In a future post, I will plan to provide some suggestions on how to do just that.
