November 6, 2022
Charis
"Did God speak anything to you during worship time?" My fellow KidzAblazian asked.
"Oh yeah, it was really good!" I told about some pictures God had brought to mind, and things He had spoken into my life. "And it reminded me of this one passage, Isaiah 55:10-11..." I proceeded to quote a verse-and-a-half.
My friend stopped me, amused. "You just quoted that whole thing!"
I shrugged. I had been speeding through the verse so as not to highlight the fact I wasn't reading it off of something, but she still noticed. While I always hope people don't think I'm proud when I quote verses, or that I'm some super spiritual Bible scholar (far from it!), I am not ashamed that I know the verse, because those Bible verses I've memorized have changed my life. I don't know where I'd be without them.
Why Should We Memorize Bible Verses?
Have you ever met someone who seems to know the Bible inside and out? I've befriended a few teenagers like that, and at first they seemed like sub-human Bible machines. Then I tried memorizing like they did.
It worked.
God has given each of us amazing brains, and it's spectacular how much information it can hold! Each of us can memorize something. We know our address, right? How about people's names? What about those hundreds of songs we know by heart? If we can memorize all that on a daily basis, how much more will God help us memorize His Word?
That might lead to one question: why do we memorize Bible verses? Let's look at the Bible as a blueprint:
1) Knowing the Bible helps us build the foundation of our faith. It's like a blueprint. Without it, we have no firm base for our faith. It tells us of the Chief Cornerstone, Jesus, who is the Rock we should ultimately build our faith upon. It conveys everything He sacrificed for us, and why. It holds the very Gospel in a trustworthy way we can understand it. If someone asks me why I believe what I do, I want to be able to give an answer for my faith easily. If I can tell them about Jesus accurately and confidently, that shows how important He is to me. It then presents the gospel in a powerful way!
2) Knowing the Bible helps us know how to build on that foundation. "Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path." (Psalm 119:105). It teaches us not only about Jesus, but how to serve Him. It strengthens us so that when hard times come, we have truth about God's plan. I can't tell you how many times God's brought a memorized verse to mind that I needed right at that moment. And not only does it help us, but when we know the Bible we can build other up, and encourage them. When someone's going through something, it helps me to know how to comfort them, and with what to comfort them. The verses that once spoke volumes to me when I needed it, I can now use to help others!
How We Memorize Bible Verses
Then we come to how we memorize Bible verses. Before anything, pray. Ask God where to start, and then to help you learn them, as well as understand them. As for the technical side of things, here are some things I have learned that help me memorize verses:
1) Time. Yes, I know, we're all busy, but let me put it this way: if you have a panic attack, which would you appreciate coming to mind more? Philippians 3:6-7, or a crazy cat video? Or if your best friend's parents divorced, would you rather know Revelation 21 or the fact you had 5 minutes more of sleep those few days? There's always time to be had for God's Word. Work it into your devotion time. Cut off some electronics, even if for only a few minutes. Even dare to wake up a little earlier. You won't regret it!
2) Technique. Everyone learns differently. Personally, I remember them best when I first look over the verse and understand it, then repeat it over and over until I can quote it without looking. some people memorize forming pictures in their head to go with each verse, some by song, and some by writing it down. If you need ideas, look online. There's plenty out there. Experiment until you find what's best for you!
3) Review. I know, funnnn. Yet it's necessary. I rarely can learn a new verse one day and quote it the next. It's like people's names. It takes me a few times before I am confident I know someone's name. And think of how well you know Genesis 1:1 because of the thousands of times you've heard it! Take a few minutes to review the verse your learning. Each day, then maybe once a week, 2 weeks, a month, and so forth. I have verses I memorized more than a year ago and still can quote today, like Isaiah 55:10-11, because I reviewed them so many times. Review, review, review!
Yes, you can do it! Yes, it will change you and others' lives!
How can we take time to internalize God's blueprint this week?
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