Last week I was reading through a book with one of the young ladies I get the pleasure of mentoring each week. The chapter in our book ended up being really challenging for me personally because it had to do with scripture memory. Bam! Yep, that topic. You either love it or cringe every time you hear about it. Before you ignore this post I have a surprise for you at the end!
As a child my sweet mom had me learn lots of bible verses. I’m so thankful she did! As I got older though (and went through being really sick for four years) my memory went downhill fast. I stopped memorizing scripture because I had one big excuse: “I can’t remember things well.”
Here’s the thing though. If I really believe that the bible is the Word of God and that it’s living and active (I do) then shouldn’t I care about storing it up in my heart? While I read my bible faithfully it’s still not the same as being able to recall portions of it to mind at any time.
What is so beautiful is when I’m talking with someone or going through something and a verse I learned years ago (but might not even remember learning…) will pop into my head and be perfect for that moment. “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” (Isa. 55:10-11, emphasis added)
So friends, this isn’t to make us feel bad about not memorizing (if you’re like me and you haven’t been) but more of an encouragement for you to join me in at least trying. I read a while ago that if we were given a thousand dollars for every verse we learned in 30 days we would certainly be motivated! Yet learning scripture and the very words of God for the sake of knowing His heart is infinitely more valuable.
Will you join me in trying? I’ve made a few FREE gorgeous scripture memory cards for you to print out HERE! Place them inside your bible, on your fridge, or on your mirror. You could even slip them in a card to encourage a friend. Let’s do this! 🙂
Do you have a hard time memorizing things? Is scripture memory a challenge for you? What tips help you memorize? Let me know in the comments below!
Love your card idea. I’ve tried using cards but I guess their not the tool for me. I do some memorization, but it’s mostly from reading verses days on end and letting it sink into my heart fully. The cards you created are beautiful (I have a weakness for watercolor) and worth putting in a frame even. Great idea. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Patty! Memorization IS hard. Different things certainly work better for different people. For the last few years my memorization has come from reading a passage over and over and letting it sink in.
I too have a weakness for watercolor! Thanks for your encouraging words. 🙂
Personally, I’ve always had an issue with word for word rote memorisation as a discipline. Yet, once I’ve read something, particularly multiple times, I will have the ability to recall the heart or intent of a matter, even years later. Guess I’m just “wired” wierdly. Then, there is the issue of “which version/translation”? But, since I rarely have trouble recalling the heart or intent of a given verse when needed, I don’t worry much. There is the verse that PROMISES us that, when we don’t worry about what we will say in response, God will put into our minds what HE wants us to speak into the situation. If His Word is well hidden in our hearts (and I believe it is) it will come out when needed to advance God’s working in the moment. Sort of like all the tools I have in my toolboxes… I almost never think about them, some I have even forgotten I have. But then, whcn confronted with this one specific task I will be prompted to recall that ONE CERTAIN TOOL that is the perfect answer to the problem.. and (wonder of wonders) remember exactly where it is. Until that time, it “does not exist” in my mind. That way, my brain is not cluttered with concern over the whole mess of toolls, but when focussed on a specific problem makes the association and brings the needed tool into play to answer the need.
Others (and I respect them greatly for this) have huge passages word perfect ready for instant recall. Isn’t it fascinating how our God has made each of us differently, so that together we can do all things thorough that Christ who strengthens us?
OH my yes about the different translations. Yes, we all learn differently for sure! The important thing is being in the Word and dwelling on it. 🙂 That certainly comes in a variety of forms.
Last year I set myself a goal of memorizing Romans 1-8, but I’m still less than halfway there. I haven’t been doing well at all with memorizing over the past few weeks, and I’ve been thinking I need to get back to it, so this post is a timely one! In some ways, memorizing longer passages is a little easier for me than memorizing a lot of disconnected, shorter pieces, because when you’re memorizing a more lengthy passage you have the overall context to aid your memory. If I can, I also like to memorize verses from whatever book I’m studying at the time. I like to do inductive Bible studies, and with those you get so familiar with the text when you read it over so many times that you already have half the memory work done. One new tool I’m trying is an app called Scripture Typer. It has a lot of different options to help make memorizing easier!
That’s a really awesome goal! And it’s okay that you’re halfway through. YOU’RE HALFWAY THROUGH! YAY! That’s something to celebrate. 🙂 Sounds like you have some really great ways of going about scripture memory/being in the words. Thanks for sharing about that app! 🙂