Q&A.003.THE BIBLE – HOW TO MEMORIZE SCRIPTURE.

I always wonder how other people spend their time with the Word of God and do they take the time also to memorize Bible verses. I think it is pure laziness that very good children of God go so easy-go-lucky with the Word of God. Read a few verses, say a little water-downed prayer, jump into bed and think GOD must be satisfied with the time He is giving you. You are just wasting your own time by being so like luke water. God is doing HIS best for you, HE gave His only Son for you, and what do you do with it? It is shameful how so-called Christians are conducting and spending their daily life and wasting it watching movies and TV and doing all other worldly things that lead to nothing.
Blowing In The Wind – as Bob Dylan sang in one of his most radio-played songs.
I know of no other single practice in the Christian life more rewarding, practically speaking than memorizing Scripture. That’s right. No other single discipline is more useful and rewarding than this. No other single exercise pays greater spiritual dividends! Your prayer life will be strengthened. Your witnessing will be sharper and more effective. Your counseling will be in demand. 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.
The benefits are endless for your spiritual life. Think about it.
God’s Word is filled with exhortations to implant His truth in our hearts. David says that a young man can keep his way pure by treasuring God’s Word in his heart. We must have a longing in our hearts to do the same.
Psalm 37:31, “The law of his God is in his heart; his steps do not slip.”
Psalm 119:9-11, “How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.”
Solomon refers to this in Proverbs 4:4, “Let your heart hold fast my words; keep my commandments, and live.”
The words “hold fast” come from a single Hebrew term, meaning “to grasp, seize, lay hold of.” Scripture memory gives you a firm grasp of the Word—and allows the Word to get a firm grasp of you! Solomon also mentions writing the Word “on the tablet of your heart” and having Scriptures kept within you so “they may be on your lips” (Proverbs 7:3 & 22:18).
Now, I know you’ve been challenged to do this before. But is it happening? Perhaps you have procrastinated because you have mental blocks against it. Maybe you tried, but you either did not see the value or could not get beyond the method that was demanded by some memory program—little cards, booklets, check-up techniques, hearers, etc. Perhaps that seemed elementary and insulted your intelligence, I understand. I went through that myself before I accepted Jesus Christ in my life many years ago. Even though I was brought up in a Christian home I did not know anything about to repent of my sins or being filled with the Holy Spirit. I did not even know there was something like prophecies in the Bible. What a waste of good healthy time – I wish I can have that time over. It is an ongoing daily struggle in every Christian life and must be a daily practice to seek God and His will with you. As Paul said – You need to run the race till the end. What end? Until He makes His glorious appearance with His second coming. We must live with that blessed hope in our hearts every day and think about the things above and not what is on earth.[Refer to my favorite verses Titus 2 v 11-14 and Col.3 v 1 onwards – read it, please]
Okay…forget the methods…but don’t throw the baby out with the bath water. Take your Bible, turn to a passage that’s been especially helpful…and commit that passage to memory—all on your own. Don’t learn just isolated verses here and there. Bite off whole chunks of Scripture. That way you can get the flow of thoughts God had in mind. There are many books available dealing with this subject – get one and see if it works for you. Remember these will be the best times spent in your life, and nobody can take that away from you. The WORD is a mighty weapon (I will write more about this issue later.)
Here are seven things I have found helpful:
(1) Choose a time when your mind is free from outside distractions…perhaps soon after getting up in the morning.
(2) Learn the reference by repeating it every time you say the verse(s). Numbers are more difficult to remember than words.
(3) Read each verse through several times—both whisper and aloud. Hearing yourself say the words help cement them into your mind.
(4) Break the passage into its natural phrases. Learn the reference and then the first phrase. Then repeat the reference and first phrase as you go to the second phrase. Continue adding phrases one by one.
(5) Learn a little bit perfectly rather than a great deal poorly. Do not go on to the next verse until you can say the previous one(s) perfectly, without a glance at your Bible.
(6) Review the verse(s) immediately after you have gone through this process. Twenty to thirty minutes later, repeat what you’ve memorized. Before the day has ended, firmly fix the verse(s) in your mind by going over it fifteen to twenty times. (You can do this as you drive or do your job.)
(7) Use the verse(s) orally as soon as possible. After all, the purpose of Scripture memory is a practical one, not academic. Use the verses in conversation, correspondence, teaching, counseling, and in everyday opportunities. Relate what you’ve learned to your daily situation. You’ll be thrilled with the results.
Well, guys, I leave it here for now. God bless and I trust that you will find great joy in knowing your bible better. The main thing is – go and live it out there in the dark world – be the light of the world and the salt of the earth. Start now, not tomorrow.
God bless.