No other single exercise pays greater spiritual dividends than memorizing Scripture! Your prayer life will be strengthened. Your witnessing will be sharper and much more effective. Your counselling will be in demand. Your attitudes and outlook will begin to change. Your faith will be solidified.
Scripture memory gives you a firm grasp of the Word—and allows the Word to get a firm grasp of you! Don’t learn just isolated verses here and there. Bite off whole chunks of Scripture. That way you can get the flow of thought God had in mind.
Here are seven things I have found helpful:
- Choose a time when your mind is free from outside distractions…perhaps soon after getting up in the morning.
- Learn the reference by repeating it every time you say the verse(s). Numbers are more difficult to remember than words.
- Read each verse through several time—both in a whisper and aloud. Hearing yourself say the words helps cement them into your mind.
- Break the passage into its natural phrases. Learn the reference and then the first phrase. Then repeat the reference and first phrase as you go to the second phrase. Continue adding phrases on by one.
- Learn a little bit perfectly rather than a great deal poorly. Do not go on to the next verse until you can say the previous one(s) perfectly, without a glance at your Bible.
- Review the verse(s) immediately after you have gone through this process. Twenty to 30 minutes later, repeat what you’ve memorized. Before the day has ended, firmly fix the verse(s) in your mind by going over it 15 to 20 times. (You can do this as you drive or do your job.)
- use the verse(s) orally as soon as possible. Use the verses in conversation, in correspondence, in teaching, in counselling, in everyday opportunities. Relate what you̵ve learned to your daily situation. You’ll be thrilled with the results.
