Memory Verse?! NNnnnooooooooooo!

“I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” (Psalm 119:11)

I remember memorizing scripture! I remember that I didn't want to do it. I don't remember what I memorized - but I remember the pain I felt that it was. Of course that is during a time when spiritual living was the least of my concerns and youth thought that there were better things in life to do than that. Many of us, have never memorized a scripture. 

Memorizing Scripture can be and is powerful tool for growing spiritually, even helping us to avoid committing sin. Psalm 119:11 says, “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” However, to say that this can be intimidating is an understatement. It seems daunting to have the Bible before us....all those chapters....all those words and to think I am trying to memorize some of them. It makes us want to shudder with trepidation. 

Memory is a unique thing, because there are 3 things required for you to remember something - 1.) Imagination - This is what leads to powerful memories when there is something spectacular that associates itself with that memory.  2.) Association - your mind remembers things by association. That is why when we ask for directions, we use landmarks. Landmarks are easy to remember and we associate them with what is being said.  3.) Location - This is like a file folder in a file drawer. Location often becomes a familiar file tab within our memory, allowing us to remember WHERE we learned a particular item.

But you can do this - Anyone can do this.Here are some helpful suggestions that you might consider: 

1) Pick a verse that means something personal to you. This utilizes the Imagination to put a powerful association on that particular verse with an emotion, setting, event, etc that has happened so that whenever the memory of the event, dream, etc comes up - so will the scripture. Don't choose a verse because you just think you should memorize it. Memorize a verse because it will make a difference in your life.

2) State WHERE it is at before you quote it and after. This will give you a location tab for your memory.  For Example: (you talking) Heb.1:1 "God who in sundry times and in divers manners spoke in times past unto the fathers by the prophets. But in these last days He has spoken unto us by His Son."  Heb.1:1   Make it easier to remember by saying this aloud before and after the verse you quote.

3) Read it aloud many times, and write it down as you say it and Memorize it exactly. Don’t try to manipulate the Scripture before you learn it. Learn it as it is in the Bible.. We remember what we say and what we write - not what we read. 

4) Use ALL of your senses. This will help you associate the verse and its meaning.  This includes sounds, smells, tastes, touch, movements and feelings as well as pictures.  Try using highlighters in your bible to mark and identify the text in the books. We remember colors!  Try imagining smells or tastes when reading certain texts such as the smell of a caravan, or incense burning, etc.  Draw small stick figures in the margins of certain texts such as a dove for the Holy Spirit, a snake for the Devil, or fish symbol for fishermen, etc. 

5) Just one verse a week.  The most intimidating thing about memorizing, is the fear that we will forget. Don't try to remember too much at once..it will only confuse and frustrate you. Take things slow and easy.  If you're afraid that you'll forget, pick one of the blank pages in the back or front of your bible and write up at the top REMEMBER...then list the scriptures you want to remember beneath it.  It is not so much as remembering what it says, as to where it is at. If you can remember just that, then you have the majority of what you need.

Give it a try. You won't be any worse off for doing it, and you may just find out that it is not as hard as you think it is.

Jim