Hints on Memorizing

Helpful hints to memorizing God's word:

1. Pray before you start that God will help you hide His word in your heart.

2. Read it over and over. Keep a copy of the verse in front of you all day. Tape it to your mirror, computer, or fridge, keep it in your pocket and pull it out to read it throughout the day.

3. Write it. When you think you may know the verse, write it down from memory and check the details for being word and punctuation perfect. Make flashcards of the verse with the passage on one side and the "address" of where it's found on the other.

4. Say it. Try to quote it to your spouse, friends, etc. Hearing yourself quote the verse also reinforces it in your memory.

5. Divide the verse into key phrases and memorize in sections if the verse is long. Then, memorize the first words in each phrase to help you move to the next phrase in the verse. For example John 3:16-17 says, "For God so love the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him…" Remember the words "For God", "that He", "that whoever", to help you remember what comes next in the verse.

6. Try to visualize or picture what the verse says. Using John 3:16 again, picture God in heaven looking down on earth with love and deciding to give His Son for our salvation.

7. If you are artistic, draw a picture that incorporates all the facts of the verse into one visual image.

8. If you are musical, make a song out of the verse. David in Psalms 104: 33-34 said, "I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have my being. May my meditation be sweet to Him; I will be glad in the Lord."

9. Find another person who will commit to memorize scripture as well and buddy up with them, each of you holding each other accountable for your commitment. This will not only help you memorize and grow, but also help someone else grow in their walk with God who might not have committed to memorize scripture if you hadn't have asked them.

10. Think about what the verse says, don't just memorize words. Allow God to teach you new insights as you memorize and meditate on His word. John 14:26 says "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you."