What's your most recent memory verse? Or perhaps more to the point, when was your most recent memory verse?
Most of us grew up with "God is love" and "Jesus wept" and "In the beginning God created...". And then what? What happened after Cradle Roll, Kindergarten, Primary, and Junior Sabbath School?
Well, the sad truth is that most of us stopped memorizing new verses, and therein lies our weakness.
When the devil came to Jesus in the wilderness, he could not make Him yield no matter how he lied, prodded, or attacked. You see, Jesus was armed... with Scripture. They were not just passages memorized for the sake of memorizing, of course. They were principles committed to memory and lived out in the life. They were truths hidden in the heart and flowing out in words, deeds, affections, thoughts, desires, choices, and ambitions.
The point is that Jesus took the time to acquaint Himself with His Father's words well enough that He knew them by heart and could recite them from memory - the way a warrior spends time practicing with his sword so that when the enemy comes, he could defeat him with it. Mastery takes time.
And it's time we ought to be spending committing God's word to memory.
Most people just shrug and say "I'm too old to memorize anything." If you're one of them, there's a promise in Inspiration for you!
Here are some ways I personally find effective in memorizing Scripture.
1. Understand what the passage is saying point by point.
2. Make the passage personal by finding applications in your own life.
3. Read the passage over and over again. Out loud, too.
4. Break it down into smaller sections.
5. Write it down.
6. Cover certain parts/words as you memorize. There's also the option to write down only the first letter of each word as memory prompts.
7. Sing it. There are lots of Scripture songs out there, especially on common passages like the Beatitudes, the Ten Commandments, etc. I love Scripture songs, and I'd be happy to share my collection with you. Message me.
8. If you have a smartphone or pc, download a scripture memorization app and spend more time on it rather than on Facebook. It will be time more meaningfully spent, I guarantee it. The app I currently use is called Scripture Typer, and is available for both ios and android.
Most of us grew up with "God is love" and "Jesus wept" and "In the beginning God created...". And then what? What happened after Cradle Roll, Kindergarten, Primary, and Junior Sabbath School?
Well, the sad truth is that most of us stopped memorizing new verses, and therein lies our weakness.
Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Psalm 119:11
When the devil came to Jesus in the wilderness, he could not make Him yield no matter how he lied, prodded, or attacked. You see, Jesus was armed... with Scripture. They were not just passages memorized for the sake of memorizing, of course. They were principles committed to memory and lived out in the life. They were truths hidden in the heart and flowing out in words, deeds, affections, thoughts, desires, choices, and ambitions.
The point is that Jesus took the time to acquaint Himself with His Father's words well enough that He knew them by heart and could recite them from memory - the way a warrior spends time practicing with his sword so that when the enemy comes, he could defeat him with it. Mastery takes time.
And it's time we ought to be spending committing God's word to memory.
None but those who have fortified the mind with the truths of the Bible will stand through the last great conflict.
The Great Controversy, 593.2
Most people just shrug and say "I'm too old to memorize anything." If you're one of them, there's a promise in Inspiration for you!
Let the more important passages of Scripture connected with the lesson be committed to memory, not as a task, but as a privilege. Though at first the memory be defective, it will gain strength by exercise, so that after a time you will delight thus to treasure up the words of truth. And the habit will prove a most valuable aid to spiritual growth.
Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students, 137, 138.
Here are some ways I personally find effective in memorizing Scripture.
1. Understand what the passage is saying point by point.
2. Make the passage personal by finding applications in your own life.
3. Read the passage over and over again. Out loud, too.
4. Break it down into smaller sections.
5. Write it down.
6. Cover certain parts/words as you memorize. There's also the option to write down only the first letter of each word as memory prompts.
7. Sing it. There are lots of Scripture songs out there, especially on common passages like the Beatitudes, the Ten Commandments, etc. I love Scripture songs, and I'd be happy to share my collection with you. Message me.
8. If you have a smartphone or pc, download a scripture memorization app and spend more time on it rather than on Facebook. It will be time more meaningfully spent, I guarantee it. The app I currently use is called Scripture Typer, and is available for both ios and android.
9. Share the passage with a friend. Teach it. Discuss it.
10. One that must go with whatever method you use: PRAY. Nothing is impossible with Omnipotence.
So there. Happy memorizing!
P.S.
What methods do you use? Share them with us in the comments.
10. One that must go with whatever method you use: PRAY. Nothing is impossible with Omnipotence.
So there. Happy memorizing!
P.S.
What methods do you use? Share them with us in the comments.
