Memorization Tips
Methods of Memorization Hiding God’s Word in your heart is not a race; it is a lifelong habit.
- READ… the words over and over and over and PHOTOGRAPH them in your mind. Look at each word individually.
- SPEAK IT… Read the verses aloud as you study them, over and over and over.
- LISTEN… at http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/audio/ or record your own!
- WRITE… Each morning, afternoon and evening write your verse 10-20 times while looking at the verse in your Bible or on your memory card. à Erase-A-Word Method… Write verse on paper, a white board, the computer, etc. Erase words at different places in the verse until memorized.
- COMBINE METHODS… A very effective method is to read the verse, write it, say it out loud, then shut your eyes and say it until the verse is memorized.
- USE PICTURES… Form a mental picture of the verse or draw a picture on your memory card.
- MUSIC OR RHYTHM… Memorize the verse to a known song, make up your own song, or set it to a rhythm. This is VERY effective for long term retaining.
- SIGN LANGUAGE… Use sign language or hand / body motions for words in the verse.
- OVERLAP VERSES… When memorizing sections of Scripture, memorize the end of one verse and the beginning of the next verse together.
- RECITE THE CHAPTER… Recite the chapter each day for three months. You should know all or most of the chapter by then; recite until you do.
- SCRIPTURE CARDS… Carry memory cards (or a Bible) with you so you can easily learn and review.
- Say the verse slowly one syllable at a time to keep focused. “I – have – been – cru-ci-fied – with – Christ – and – I – no – lon-ger – live, – but – Christ – lives – in – me.”
Additional Help in Memorization
START NOW!
- PRAY!!! PRAY!!! PRAY!!! Pray for the Lord to bless your effort each day and for Him to open your eyes to understand His Word as you meditate on it.
- Have a partner in memorization. Find someone you can recite passages to and be accountable to.
- Always try to carry a memory project with you… Whenever you have a spare moment, work on it. This can turn less pleasant parts of the day (waiting in line at the grocery store, sitting and waiting at the doctor’s office, etc.) into the best part of the day. You may even get a witnessing opportunity if someone asks what you are doing!
- USE YOUR BIBLE… Use your own Bible when memorizing sections of Scripture (of course you can also use it for individual verses!).
- Before trying to memorize, read the verse several times to get the idea of the verse. You will find that as you practice the verse, your understanding of the verse will grow! Check the meaning of difficult words or phrases.
- Determine when and where you have windows of time to study and have the Word with you there.
- Review memorized verses on a schedule. Review, review, review! Never minimize the importance of reviewing what you have memorized.
- REDEEM THE TIME… (Ephesians 5:16) Place passages of Scripture on the mirror in the bathroom, in the kitchen by the sink, on the dash of your car, on your desk at work, in the place where you fold laundry, by your bed and so forth. There is much time which can be used to review Scripture. Do not underestimate the power of a few minutes here and there. This probably won’t impact your schedule yet is quite effective. You will doubtless find many hours per week to dedicate to God and memorizing His Word. The trick is to be creative and make the most of the time you have.
- Stay encouraged and motivated. Remember that every verse you memorize is one more than you knew before!
- Encourage others to memorize Scripture and encourage them to encourage others!
- FAMILY MEMORIZATION… Read a verse aloud twice a day at dinner until everyone can say the verse together – take as long as necessary.
- If you blow it for a week, a month or even longer – don’t worry about it (Philippians 4:6-7, 3:13-16; 1 Corinthians 9:24b)… START AGAIN!!!
- Stay connected to a group of Scripture memory enthusiasts… like ours!
What works for one person, may not work for someone else. Find a plan that works for you!
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Redeem the time! Find those pockets of time you have each day and dedicate them to scripture memorization… while getting ready in the morning, making/eating breakfast, driving to work, etc… washing dishes, while trying to fall asleep, etc…
Partner Up! Find a partner or two to memorize with or memorize with your LIFEgroup.
PRAY FIRST! Pray the Lord will show you “great and hidden things you have not known” (Jeremiah 33:3). Pray He will use His word to conform you into His image. Pray he will give you opportunity to share His word with someone.
Personalize it! Practice applying the verse you are memorizing to your own life. What does it mean to you? How can you apply it in and to YOUR life? This will assist in the memorization process. Make it a habit!
SEEK GOD! As you meditate on the Word, consider the attributes of God revealed in the verse/s you are memorizing. Does it reveal Him as Creator, Provider, Sovereign, Loving, Gracious, the God of peace, the God of hope, the God of order, Omniscient, Omnipresent, Faithful, God Almighty, etc…
PERSEVERE! For those of you who have been faithful to memorize each verse or have kept up on the section at a time memorization (1 Corinthians 13) – PRAISE THE LORD!!! KEEP GOING! If you have blown it for a week, a month or more – don’t worry about it (Philippians 4:6-7, 3:14)… START NOW!!! Each week provides a fresh start for planting God’s Word in our hearts and minds.
MEMORIZE IN THE CAR! (Safely of course) Most of us spend a certain amount of time each day in our vehicles. If you are driving children, this is an opportune time to fill their minds with God’s power – His Word!
SING YOUR VERSE! Memorize the verse to a known tune or make up your own.
INVITE THE HOLY SPIRIT! Invite Him to help your mind retain the words in the verse. Invite Him to reveal the meaning of the verse. Invite Him to use your memorization of the verse for His purposes.
USE SIGN LANGUAGE… Use sign language or make up hand / body motions for words in the verse.
DRAW PICTURES / IMAGES representing the words in the verse you are memorizing. Drawing pictures and images of verse details is a great tool for long term memory. Exaggeration, humor, color, etc… can help fix an image in your mind.
REVIEW DAILY! Reminder: continue washing with the water of the Word and practice memorized versesregularly.
EXPERIMENT WITH METHODS OF MEMORIZATION! Say the verse out loud; write it down or type it out; sing it to a tune or rhythm; create actions to go along with the verse. Determine what works best for you and use that method consistently.
ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO MEMORIZE SCRIPTURE! When you encourage others to memorize Scripture, you will be encouraged as well! You will be reminded of how important it is to hide God’s Word in YOUR heart.
MEMORIZE AT THE DINNER TABLE! Say the verse together 2-3 times each night at the dinner table until everyone is able to say it together. You’ll be surprised at how quickly everyone will learn the verse!
BE DILIGENT AND DISCIPLINED! Make memorizing God’s Word a thought-life priority! It will replace thoughts of worry, envy, bitterness, lust, hatred… anything in our mind which is not of our Lord… with life breathing truth, hope and love.
Practice speaking the verse of the week in your conversations. Make it a goal to do this each day of the week.
Pray memorized verses. Tap into the power of the Word in your prayer life! Pray Scripture over your concerns, your desires, in thanks and praise!!!
MEMORIZE WITH OTHERS. Memorize with your spouse, a friend, or your LIFEGroup! Accountability and encouragement may be key to your memorization success.
ERASE A WORD METHOD. Write the verse down and read it, then erase one word from the verse and read/recite it again. Erase another word and read/recite it again. Keep erasing one word until there are no words left and you recite the verse from memory. Do this each day until you are able to practice it from memory.
ADD A WORD METHOD. Say the first word of the verse, and then say the first and second word, then the first second and third word, adding a word each time until you’ve gone through the whole verse. Do this a few times each day until you’ve memorized the whole verse.
POST THE VERSE STRATEGICALLY. Display your memory card/s in places you will see them for the most amount of time, such as in your car, on your bathroom mirror, or above the kitchen sink. This will remind you to practice, and at times when the cards are visually available.
SEEK GOD IN THE VERSE. What does the verse reveal to you about the Lord? Seek Him and Who He is revealing Himself to be through the verse/s being memorized.
USE THE VERSE CONVERSATIONALLY. …watch for opportunities to use memory verses in conversations throughout each day this week.
USE THE VERSE CONVERSATIONALLY. …watch for opportunities to use memory verses in conversations throughout each day this week.
FOLLOW THE MEMORIZATION SCHEDULE. The suggested memorization schedule found in these emails breaks the verse into small sections each day. It doesn’t take much time to complete the daily assignment… so if you haven’t been following it – try it and see if it positively impacts memorization efforts.
WRITE THE VERSE DOWN OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN! Determine a number of times you will write the verse down each day, and make a commitment to doing it before you go to sleep each night!
MAKE MEMORIZING SCRIPTURE A PART OF DAILY LIFE! We eat, we breathe, we sleep, bathe, do laundry, cook, clean… and we memorize scripture!!
USE CADENCE, RHYTHM AND ACCENTS TO PROMOTE MEMORIZATION. Set the verse to a rhythm, use voice inflections or say it with an accent.
ENJOY MEMORIZING. Pray the Lord would increase your enjoyment in memorizing Scripture… to the point of absolute delight in memorizing the Word of God. J
SEEK OUT A COMPATIBLE MEMORIZATION PARTNER. Pray the Lord will provide a memorization partner or two, or ask your LIFEGroup to memorize with you. You will encourage one another and hold one another accountable to memorization goals.
PRAY FOR A GREATER LOVE FOR THE LORD… and that will increase our desire to hide His Word in our hearts more!
MEMORIZE WITH YOUR CHILDREN… you will so blessed and amazed at their ability to recite Scripture, and it will help you memorize as well!
ASK YOURSELF: “WHY MEMORIZE?” …is it to know our God more intimately? …to be obedient to His word? …to always be prepared to give an answer? …or to find strength when you are weak, hope when you are hopeless, peace when you are in distress? The Word of God is the source and fulfillment of all our heart desires!
ASK YOURSELF: WHAT AM I FILLING MY MIND WITH? …it doesn’t get better than being filled with Scripture. Believing this enhances the desire to memorize it and will spur us on each week.
READ IT 10 TIMES, SAY IT 10 TIMES. …each day, and see how quickly you will memorize a verse.
BREAK THE VERSE INTO SECTIONS… and memorize a small section at a time. This is what we have been doing all year!
THE BEST THING IN THE BEST PLACE… produces the best results (Charles Spurgeon)! The Word of God (Jesus) in our hearts and minds unites us with the Lord… sweet success.
CONSIDER THE BENEFITS… the word is healing, comforting and sweet as we meditate on it… but it is even sweeter when we speak it. Know the Word, and savor the benefits of speaking truth and life.
CONTINUE SEEKING THE LORD… as you memorize each verse. How does He reveal Himself to you through it? Ask Him to give you a deeper understanding of Who He Is as you meditate on His Word.
KEEP A MEMORY CARD IN ONE SPOT UNTIL YOU MEMORIZE IT… if you are struggling with a specific verse. Place it on the bathroom mirror or keep it stuck to the dash of your car. Practice on it as much as possible when you are in that location. Keep meditating on/memorizing new verses in the other places during your day.
REVIEW. REVIEW. REVIEW. Remember to go over the previous verses you have memorized on a schedule. A sample schedule may be found at http://passion.lighthousecf.org.
MEMORIZE WITH ONE OR TWO PEOPLE …or memorize with your LIFEGroup. Having a partner to hold you accountable increases your probability of success and encourages more people to fill up with the Word.
MEMORIZE WHILE EXCERCISING …while riding on a stationary bike, running or walking on a treadmill, etc…