Just like the lego man was built one piece at a time, when you engage Scripture, you are investing and building for yourself a strong life in Christ. Valerie Rumfelt
In the comments of my last article, a reader asked me a question. I decided to answer her question with another article. I told her to look for another article soon. My desire is to answer her question so all my readers will see it and that she will see the answer too.
Reader question:
I’ve done a bit of Scripture memorization in the past, but I haven’t been consistent with it. Do you have any tips for committing Scripture to memory?
5 Tips for Scripture Memory:
1. Choose Scripture that the Spirit has highlighted for you in your morning quiet time. This way, it isn’t a random scripture but one with a meaningful connection.
3. Learn a little more about the context of the Bible passage. What’s the surrounding story or teaching? That will give your brain some connectors.
4. Get a partner and encourage one another until you both get it memorized.
5. Stay away from human expectations. God wants His children to love His Word, not be frustrated with it. Know the Spirit is working in your life each time you engage His Holy Word,
Reader, I hope this encourages you to keep going in your pursuit of hiding God’s Word in your heart. To everyone reading, remember, as good as it feels to conquer a scripture, you may not be able to have instant recall later. The reward is you know it is hidden in your heart(Psalm 119:11), and it will not come back void(Isaiah 55:11).
If any readers have other tips, please share them in the comments.
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Don’t let Valentine’s Day get you down. If you are a Christian, you have the most incredible love letter in your copy of God’s Word. Any moments you choose today to spend with the Lord in His Word will pay off. I can’t tell you how He will bless you specifically, but I know He will.
Our emotions can get the better of us on days like today. God’s Word brings calm and peace, and the correct perspective. Valentine’s Day is of this world’s system. While it can be a delightful day to express our thoughts toward others, ultimately, as Christians, we live for a world yet to come, and we serve the One who loves us most. So let’s get started on reframing this day if you are struggling. Have you sometimes memorized Scripture or you’ve thought of memorizing but have yet to?
The Bible tells us that Scripture is a lamp to our feet and a light for our path(Psalm 119:105). Joshua 1:8 says to meditate on Scripture day and night. Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible. Its theme is the Word of God. The Bible advocates for a Christian to interact with Scripture as a regular part of life intentionally. So to encourage you to engage God’s Holy Word and find joy in making that choice, here are a few ideas. If you have other ideas, please leave them in the comments.
Have a morning quiet time every day – Whatever plan you choose, show up faithfully to meet God in His Word each morning.
Write Scripture – Peace will come to you while you are doing this. It doesn’t matter if you have pretty handwriting. The motion and very act of taking time to write Scripture sends a message to your brain to slow down and pay attention. And the reward is being aware of the Holy Spirit in your life, the meaning of the scripture, and a calming, pervasive peace.
Listen to a Bible app while you do anything – Driving, doing chores, on your lunch break, going to sleep. You will hear things you’ve never heard before, which might lead to further scripture engagement.
Memorize one verse – If you have a morning quiet time, then you are coming across some amazing passages. Choose one and write it in a notebook. Say it, write it, as often as you can.
Meditate on Scripture – What does this look like? Scripture writing is a meditation activity, but you can sit and read a passage. Read it aloud, read it silently, write a poem about what you’ve read, talk to God about what you read, make up a song from a passage, or just spend time in the Word.
Type out some scriptures – After this, press the read-aloud function in the review tab of your document menu- close your eyes and listen to everything you typed.
Read a Proverb every day of the month – Then write the proverb. Then choose some to memorize.
Do word studies – Find all the words in the Bible about a topic using a study Bible. This could lead to other activities interacting with Scripture.
Record your voice reading Scripture – Send it to your children, grandchildren, or a friend.
Pray Scripture – If you need some extra help in your prayer life, add scripture. This can be praise passages, repentance passages, asking God for transformation in some area of your life, reading passages that describe God, and thanking and praising Him.
Psalm 119:11 says, “I will hide God’s Word in my heart that I might not sin against thee.”
Memorization is an excellent discipline I do, have done, and would encourage for you. And memorization is what I believe the Psalmist is referencing. But there’s not a verse I know of that says one will have instant recall years later of any memorization. Hiding God’s Word means, by some supernatural means, the Holy Spirit is working the Word deep inside you. The Word is transforming you. David believes it will help him to sin less. His desire to please God is paramount.
I look at Scripture as medicine. It is healing, transforming, peace inducing, soaking me in truth, making my mind healthier, flushing old patterns of sin, digging up embedded lies, and softening my heart.
It is mental health, heart health, emotional health, and yes, I believe the one who is interacting with Scripture regularly has a fountain of youth that has nothing to do with wrinkles but with winsomeness, a sparkle in the eyes, and a general peaceful countenance.
Scripture is powerful, and this is backed up in Scripture in Hebrews 4:12, as Paul describes Scripture’s supernatural ability. But most of all, scripture is a treasure. It is God’s Word to us. He loves us, and we get to know the One who loves us through His Word.
Memorizing is an intentional way to get the scripture in your heart. But instant recall is not the goal. If you memorize a verse or passage and over time you can’t repeat it. Don’t be discouraged. Rejoice because the Bible tells us it is in you. It is hidden in your heart.
image by Unsplash
I’ve heard people say over the years that whatever you memorize will be there when you need it. That can be true; it has been for me in some cases. But often, I wonder why more scripture doesn’t pop into my mind in challenging moments or times. But whether it springs up or not, this I do know, it is in me. It is transforming me to be more like Christ and is doing all the functions I listed above and more. That I do believe.
Memorization seems like a spiritually profitable practice to me and one I believe will bring eternal change in your heart. Why not use this Valentine’s Day to spend some time with the Author of the Ultimate Love Letter. Let me hear from you in the comments. And Happy Valentines Day!
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Characteristics about God or Jesus or the Holy Spirit
Characteristics about us in our rebellion
Characteristics about us after we are redeemed
Characteristics of God’s Word
Consequences of rebellion
Results and rewards of obedience
A promise from God
The words IF, THEN, THEREFORE, ALWAYS, BUT
Things God will do and things we are to do
Place your name where there are personal pronouns.
Diagramming Scripture is another way to interact with scripture to make it come alive for you personally. It’s a partner with Scripture Writing. Use your favorite pens and circle, underline, draw arrows, or squiggly lines in your scripture writing. Have fun highlighting truths, and enjoy the colorful results of finding all that you can in your scripture writing for that day. Then apply the scripture to you, making it personal, acknowledging how the truths impact your life. Pray the scripture back to God and thank Him for the power of His Word.
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Scripture Writing was a newly discovered discipline that I added to my journey with Jesus years ago. Amazement filled my heart when I discovered people who combined their creativity with intentionality to produce countless options of monthly guides for writing the holy scripture.
Every day is a new day, a new beginning. You can start new practices and routines any day. Do you need a new spiritual habit that promises to yield instant results? Scripture writing is for you!
Here are 8 reasons why you will love scripture writing:
1. Interacting and writing God’s Word is supernatural and transformative.
2. Writing God’s Word gives your brain time to capture the meaning.
3. Writing God’s word is inspiring and encouraging.
4. Reproducing the scripture in your handwriting makes them personal, helping you own the verses.
5. Focus is put on God at the beginning of the day, and you sense His presence.
6. Peace comes as writing slows you down to think and let His Word absorb in your mind.
7. Order and focus are added to your quiet time as you write that day’s scripture.
8. Anticipating the next set of scriptures each morning keeps you coming back for more.
Before you begin, you will want to find a notebook and pens designated for this spiritual practice. Find a scripture writing for the month here. Print it. Find a favorite spot in your home where you can practice this uninterrupted.
Now you are ready to begin:
Set your alarm to add this to your schedule
Get your coffee or tea or breakfast
Go to your special place
Locate the passage in the Bible
Look at the passage for that day
Read it silently
Write it
Read it aloud to yourself
Diagram the passage (see blog above)
Ponder what God is saying and begin your prayer time
By the time you take these steps, insight comes.
Before you leave to get busy with your day, take time to write a few thoughts or a prayer to God. You may have questions, a prayer of thanks, confession, or a commitment to obedience. Photo by Unsplash
Other tips:
Capitalize the pronouns related to God or Jesus.
Place your name in the verses where there are personal pronouns. Look for action words or commands, promises.
Minimize phone usage. What’s the point of quiet time? This is your intentional time with God, the Lover of your Soul. Make your adjustments and make your time with Him a priority.
WARNING:
If you haven’t had a very intentional quiet time with Jesus, expect obstacles and opposition, but don’t allow those to discourage you. Hearing from the Lord through His Word, and praying to Him are the most important things a Christian does to grow and abide in Him. It is the essence of who we are as His people. It develops us into who we can be for His Kingdom’s use. Don’t give up.
BLESSING:
You will feel accomplished and have new freedom in your spirit as you put this practice in your life. Interacting with God’s Word is a good practice. Even if He convicts you of sin, just confess it. Ask Him to help you be more like Him. Jim Elliot said, “Why do you need a voice when you have a verse.”
“the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12
If you have a Bible that’s falling apart, you’ll have a life that’s not.
Thanks for taking the time to read my article. If you aren’t signed up already, please add your email below, and hit subscribe. Each time I publish, you will receive Winning Ways to Follow Jesus in your email first. Blessings.