Why
As we study the Word of God, memorizing scripture becomes a way of storing the treasures of God’s words in our heart and mind. As a result, we have a ready fund of truth from God’s Word for use by His Spirit at any time. We can mediate and feast upon Him at any time.
Although memorizing scripture may sound like a tedious, mechanical process, it is a way of life that leads to discovery of hidden insights in God’s Word. The discipline of memorizing can lead to a transformed life. “Take my instruction, and not silver, and knowledge rather than choicest gold. For wisdom is better than jewels; and all desirable things can not compare with her.” Proverbs 8:10,11.
What
Beyond having a desire to know God’s Word we heed two basics for success: knowledge of how our memory works (or is hindered) and a plan for learning and reviewing verses. Our goal is to memorize verses word-perfectly and to meditate on them to grasp their full meaning.
We may memorize passages we are studying in a class or that the Holy Spirit impresses upon us in personal Bible study. We may select passages that help us to pray, to witness, or to resist temptation.
Scripture memory is not an end in itself. It is a way to become conformed to the image of Christ. It does not necessarily get easier, but it does bring joy as we “let the Word of Christ dwell in us richly” (Colossians 3:16).
How
Keys to unlock memory power. The principles that apply to all learning apply to memory as well. Apply these principles to harness your brain power for effective memorization:
- Make it your intention to learn; conviction, determination, goals to accomplish aid memorization.
- Concentrate well on the particular passage you are memorizing; know it thoroughly before moving on: “Let your eye be single.”
- Use one or more of the above steps daily
- Sing the passage
- Apply meaning and application to personal life
- Share the passage with family, friends
- Illustrate the meaning in one’s notebook with copy of passage
- Practice the meaning by acting according to the meaning in life situations
- “See” yourself in the passage and in living it out
- Pray according to the meaning of the passage
- Use the passage to give guidance to others
- Review it
- Have an organized plan to review – on a weekly basis
- Have someone help you by listening, correcting
- Keep your standards high
Meditate
Yes, mutter, speak, roar, study, talk, ponder, and imagine “your scriptures” wherever and whenever you desire. “Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you” (II Timothy 1:14).
