4 Simple Ways to Memorize Scripture

Last week I finished memorizing 1 Peter 1 with the great ladies at Do Not Depart. Wanting to keep this this wonderful reminder of my heavenly inheritance  fresh in my memory,  

I have found doing four things helps to solidify my memory verses in my mind and heart, so I don’t easily forget them. Whether you have already memorized a passage, are memorizing a passage now, or are gearing up for your next memory project: here are four simple ways to make learning and recalling your verses even easier.  

1. Read it 

I like to start my day just reading aloud my memory passage. Why aloud? For me, when I simply read silently, it’s only a matter of time before my mind begins to wander to other things. By reading the passage aloud, I am forced to focus on the words before me and meditate on their meaning. It also helps me recognize what verses I am familiar with, which ones I know, and which ones I need to review more. Considering I memorized 1 Peter 1 over a thirteen week period, learning two verses a week, by reading through 1 Peter 1 each day that’s 91 times reading through 1 Peter.  

Not only does doing that help me solidify the verses I was currently memorizing, but it was great to prep me for the verses to come. By the time we got to the later verses, just by reading 1 Peter 1 once a day, I already had some of the phrasing down from just this simple, daily discipline. If you have just finished the 1 Peter 1 memory challenge, this is a great way to review the chapter. If you’re gearing up for your next memory project, this is a great way to get a strong start when you do begin memorizing. 

2. Write it    

I recently learned about this idea of handwriting out my memory verses.  Like reading aloud, handwriting my verse forces me to focus on the words and phrases, but even more so because I am copying the passage word for word, and don’t want to make a mistake. Like the reading aloud, this is a great way to learn phrasing in the verses you have left to learn in a passage. Though I learned of this great memory technique at the end of the 1 Peter 1 challenge, I am writing out 1 Peter 1 now to solidify what I’ve already learned, but when the next Do Not Depart Scripture Memory Challenge starts up again in January, I will definitely write out the  entire passage at the start. 

I’ve chosen to write my verses in a beautiful blank journal that I can use for my memory verses now, and pass down to my little girl later. Can you imagine how neat it would be to have complete passages or books of the Bible written in your own parent’s hand? What a simple treasure we can leave our children, that also helps us memorize our verses.  

3. Hear it 

 I love listening to a passage I’m memorizing from my favorite audio Bible.  Since I memorize from the New King James Version (NKJV) I love hearing the passage come to life from the Word of Promise (NKJV) Dramatic Audio Bible.  Listening to a passage I’m memorizing is especially helpful if the passage contains unfamiliar names. For instance in 1 Peter 1 memorizing the names (Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia) was much easier having heard them pronounced from my audio Bible. I’ve noticed listening also allows me to recognize the flow of a passage and even patterns within a passage because I am listening to the entire passage, not just the two verses I’m working to memorize that week. 

Listening to a memory chapter is a  great addition, or alternative, to reading the text aloud. (Tip #1) If you don’t have an audio Bible in the version you memorize from, it seems more and more Bible apps are giving the option to listen and read.  I know Bible.Is does that. http://www.bible.is/resources If you memorize from the KJV or ESV check them out. If you check out the “FaithComes By Hearing” podcasts at iTunes, you could literally just download the chapter or chapters you’re memorizing (if memorizing a book of the Bible) and just listen to your memory chapter wherever you are. Nice! I love technology today!

4. Recite it 

 I make it a point to recite my memory passage once through each day. I continue to do this even after I’ve completed a memory project, just to keep it fresh in my memory. But this is especially helpful when I am currently memorizing a passage for recognizing which verses I’m familiar with, which verses I know, and which verses I need to review more. Each time I recite my verses, reciting the passage gets easier and easier. I’m still reciting John 1:1-14 daily that I memorized back in April and May this year, and let me tell you, it now flows out so easily. That encourages me since I have yet to get to that point with 1 Peter 1. But there was a time that I was clunky with 1 John, but day after day, week after week, month after month of reciting 1 John 1 once-a-day, I learned first-hand the amazing fruit that comes from the simple act of daily reciting my memory verses.  

All four of these strategies for hiding God’s Word in my heart have helped make learning and remembering my verses even easier--and they only take a few minutes a day. Such a small price to pay when I consider the fantastic fruit borne out of memorizing Scripture. Chuck Swindoll  describes this fruit, “I know of no other single practice in the Christian life more rewarding, practically speaking, than memorizing Scripture. . . . No other single exercise pays greater spiritual dividends! Your prayer life will be strengthened. Your witnessing will be sharper and much more effective. Your attitudes and outlook will begin to change. Your mind will become alert and observant. Your confidence and assurance will be enhanced. Your faith will be solidified.” 

I hope to see you at the next Do Not Depart Hide His Word challenge in January!

Question for you: What are you memorizing now or planning to memorize in the upcoming weeks?

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Copyright © 2012 Brooke Espinoza.