5-Steps to Memorize Any Bible Verse
In this article we’ll share a simple method for memorizing Bible verses quickly (in 15 minutes or less) that we’ve found Incredibly useful in our personal scripture memorization.
WHY MEMORIZE SCRIPTURE?
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David claims he hid Scripture in his heart to keep himself from sin (Psalm 119:11). Jesus fought the devil’s traps with God’s Word (Matthew 4). Paul labels Scripture “the sword of the Spirit,” making it the only offensive weapon in the armor of God. When temptation comes your way—temptation to worry, lie, lust, or covet—the verses you’ve memorized will help you prevail.
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Cooking. Mowing the lawn. Cleaning. Helping with homework. Commuting. Many hours of our days are not spent in front of open Bibles. But a closed Bible doesn’t mean closed access to Scripture. When you tuck God’s Word into your mind, you give yourself the opportunity to meditate on Scripture wherever you are and whatever you’re doing.
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What do you say when someone tells you about a difficult trial or challenging decision they’re facing? Do you rely on your own insight and wisdom to address the situation? Or do you turn to the storehouse of verses you’ve memorized, in order to share a comforting word from Scripture?
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Whether in private or before others, praying is something many of us do on a normal basis. Imagine being able to pray Scripture-informed prayers at the dinner table or before bed, because you’ve hidden God’s Word in your heart.
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“Bible study,” like Bible memorization,” is an investment with a long-term payoff. Rather than reading a specific text to try to meet an immediate need, give the benefits of your study [or memorization] permission to be stored away for future use.” (Women of the Word, 81). The verses you memorize today will help you face the challenges you face tomorrow.
HOW TO MEMORIZE ANY BIBLE VERSE.
Ready to begin memorizing Scripture for yourself? Follow this five-step process and you’ll be memorizing chapters of the Bible in no time.
FIND A BLANK PIECE OF PAPER.
The method begins with a blank piece of paper. We recommend using an inexpensive composition or spiral bound notebook for this exercise, since you’re going to fill up a lot of pages with notes you won’t need to keep.
WRITE THE VERSE BY HAND TEN TIMES WHILE LOOKING AT THE VERSE.
Once you have your paper, begin writing out the verse by hand while keeping your Bible open so you can see the verse.
TIP: Remember to include the verse number when writing. You’ll want to know the verse and where it’s found.
WRITE THE VERSE BY HAND TEN TIMES WHILE NOT LOOKING AT THE VERSE.
Now that you’ve written the verse ten times, it’s beginning to sink into your brain. The next step is to close your Bible and write the verse ten times without looking at it.
TIP: Use a blank piece of paper to cover the previous times you wrote the verse to avoid cheating your memory.
SAY THE VERSE OUT LOUD TEN TIMES TO YOURSELF.
You’ve now interacted with this verse twenty times with two senses (sight and touch). By interacting with the verse using a third sense (hearing), you will cement the verse’s place in your memory.
WRITING THE VERSE FROM MEMORY AND REPEAT STEP 1 WITH THE NEXT VERSE.
Memorizing single verses of Scripture is important. But memorizing entire paragraphs or chapters of the Bible will increase your ability to meditate on God’s Word throughout the day. Write the first verse by memory, and then repeat the previous four-steps with the next verse. Continue this process until you’ve memorized the entire chapter!
Memorized Scripture Will Transform Your World.
When God’s people treasure God’s Word in their hearts, it transforms the world around them. Friends are uplifted through biblical prayers and words of encouragement. Relationship-ruining sins are conquered before they cause harm. Neighbors are inspired as they see someone face a difficult season with hope. The Spirit of God uses the Word of God to make us more like the Son of God—resulting in lives transformed for the glory of God.