Scripture Memory:

Write Them on the Tablet of Your Heart

“My son, keep my words and store up my command within you. Keep my commands and you will live, guard my teaching as the apple of your eye. Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.”

Proverbs 7:1-3 (NIV)

Scripture Memory is:

“The process of recording Scripture on your mind and heart does have a mechanical aspect. It requires certain methods and a great deal of perseverance. But as long as the process of imprinting God's word on your heart is moving forward, these Scriptures will be continually available for life giving work,” The Navigators Topical Memory System.

Stages of Memorizing Scripture

Memorizing is generally characterized as a three-stage process: learning, retaining, and recalling

Learning

Then I give it a topic. At the top of the page or card (I use 3x5 cards), I put the topic, then the reference, then the verse text, and the reference again at the end.

It might look like this:

Thanks to Ron Hood, I recently refined this stage. The first day I repeat the verse to myself 25 times. Then I write “25” on the back of the card, in the lower left hand corner. I also write the date on the back lower right hand corner.

The second day, I repeat the verse 20 times to myself and write “20” next to the “25.”

The third day, 15 times.

The fourth day, 10 times.

The fifth day, 5 times.

At the end of the fifth day, the back of the card looks like this.

At this point, I consider the learning stage complete. On to retention.

Retaining

If I want to retain this verse, I am going to have to repeat is several times a day for several days. The number of times a day and the number of days, will depend on:

1.How well it imprinted on my mind when I first memorized it. Once a day for 36 days may be enough. Or it might take 2 or 3 times a day for 45 to 60 days.

2.How well my memory has been trained over the years. The better my memory is trained, the less repetition necessary to retain the verse.

3.How well the associations between the topic, the reference and the verse text fit together and match my thinking.

Association is the best way to develop a strong retention of the verse. That is why the topic I select is important. The topic should be one that I naturally think of when I think of that particular verse.

I can also associate that verse with a picture or some other visual stimulus. For Psalm 37:31, a picture of a mountain climber with ice crampons might be helpful. Or the visual image of me standing on stone tablets similar to those that the LORD gave Moses might make a strong association for me.

The passage can also be associated with passages that are related to the same topic.

For retaining the memorized verse, repetition is the key. Just as I learned it initially by repetition.

Eventually, reviewing the verse once a month, every month for the rest of my life should prove sufficient for retention. The retention stage never ends.

Recalling

Recalling is different than retaining. Recalling takes place when I might not be expecting it. With learning and retaining, I usually control the experience by deciding when I will learn it and when I will practice retaining it.

Recalling can be stimulated during a conversation. Perhaps I am discussing prayer with my friends. I know that the Bible has much to say about praying. What to pray for. Why praying is important. How to pray. Who should pray. When to pray. Where to pray.

In fact, I am sure I have memorized some passages related to prayer. Now, can I quote them when I need them? If I can, that is recall. Recall allows me to bring the Word of God into the conversation. God can be heard in the conversation.

This is not part of my regular review time. This is real world use of the verse I have memorized. It encourages and challenges me and my friends!

Recalling is also the term I use when the Holy Spirit brings a verse to mind to encourage, instruct, or admonish me. Again, it is not part of my regular learning or practice retaining, although it could be. Instead, I have arrived at a teachable moment in my life and the LORD steps in and He matches the scriptures I have learned to the life events I am experiencing.

These are the times when the learning and retaining pay off. I am getting the maximum benefit of memorizing scripture!

"What should I memorize first?"

"What should I memorize next?"

8 Concepts about God to Memorize




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Updated on November 29, 2008