6 Scripture Memorization Tips to Help You Abide In God's Word

Many of us begin the New Year with high hopes and big plans. Often, one of those plans is to draw nearer to God throughout the year through Bible reading, Scripture memorization, or a variety of other ways.

All this month at Do Not Depart, we have given you suggestions and resources to help. Today, I want to share some tips that might help you with Bible memorization.

6 Scripture Memorization Tips to Help You Abide in God’s Word:

Start slow.

I love how Beth Moore puts it: “Think marathon. Not sprint.”

The goal is not to have a ton of verses memorized, just so you can say you have a ton of verses memorized. The goal is to get God’s Word inside of you.

Begin slow, and consistently add more verses as the ones you have already learned sink in further.

Write it down.

Once you have found a verse you would like to memorize, write it down. Consider using post-it notes or index cards and then displaying the verse somewhere you are sure to see it often.

Some people I know use spiral-bound index cards so they can quickly flip through the verses they have recently memorized.

Say it aloud.

Along with writing down the verse, try saying it aloud each day. This also helps the verse sink deeper into your mind.

Act it out.

When I’m trying to teach my kids a new Bible verse, I often add hand motions or actions. It helps SO much! When we put actions to the verses, we are better able to recall what comes next in the verse.

Use an app.

Some popular ones include Scripture Typer (free), Verses (free), Fighter Verses (2.99), Bible Memory – To God Be The Glory (free), Bible Memory: Remember Me (2.99), Bible Memory Verses (free), and others.

Simply google “Bible Memory” or “Scripture Memorization” or something similar in your app store on your iPhone or similar device and then choose one that best meets your needs.

Repeat.

Scripture memorization is a lot like exercise. The more we do it, the easier it becomes. It’s also a lot like exercise in that if we stop practicing, we are likely to lose what we have worked so hard to gain.

Once you have a verse memorized well, don’t just forget about it and move on to the next verse. Continue practicing it on a regular basis even while you begin memorizing another verse.

If you’re not sure where to start, here are some suggestions.

Note any verses that speak powerfully to you as you are reading. Choose one of these to memorize. (If you haven’t chosen a Bible reading plan yet, Ali posted some great suggestions earlier this month).
Check out this list of 25 key Bible verses for your family to memorize.
Sheila Wray Gregoire has 50 great verses listed here. You can even purchase cards to help with memorization. Ashley Pichea has a similar list here.
Courtney Joseph, over at Women Living Well, has her own list of the Top 10 Bible Verses to Memorize. She has even included a free printable for download.
Use a Scripture Memory System like this one.
Check out these Bible Memory Resources that Lisa shared a few years back.