SCRIPTURE MEMORY TIPS
A lesson about memorizing Bible verses.
Do’s and Don’ts of Memorizing Scripture
DO:
Ask God to help you memorize the verse.
Put effort into memorizing the verse.
Go over the verse many, many times.
Work on your verse every day.
Have someone keep you accountable.
Realize this takes time and effort. You can do this!
DON’T:
Just put in your time.
Be discouraged when struggling to memorize it.
Work on your verse only once daily.
Use only one method of memorizing a verse and give up.
Believe that you can’t memorize the verse.
Tips and TrickS to Memorizing Scripture
Write the verse on a note card or in your smart phone and read it out loud once each hour throughout the day.
Read the verse out loud, while using your finger to guide you as you read it.
Only work on memorizing 1-3 words of the verse at a time.
As you memorized 1-3 words, then start working on those 1-3 words plus 1-3 words more.
Try to write the verse without looking.
Consider INCLUDING a statement/question along with the verse for self-reflection.
Notice any patterns of the verse.
Here are some techniques to consider:
Remember how many words are in the verse. Do this so that when you try to quote it from memory, you’ll know if you are missing any of the words.
Write it out in a pattern of lines. Remember how many lines are in the verse.
Remember how many words are in each line.
Remember the pattern or punctuation of the verse.
Example- Romans 11:36 in the King James Version:
Romans 11:36- “For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory forever. Amen”
There are 18 words in this verse.
Here is a pattern you could use:
Romans 11:36
For of him,
And through him,
and to him,
are all things:
to whom be
glory forever. Amen.
Romans 11:36
There are 6 lines.
There are 3 words in each line.
The above pattern marks the comma after the first 3 “hims”. The verse is 3,3,3,3,3,3. The pattern is: da, da, da…..da, da, da….da, da, da…da,da,da…da,da,da,…da…da…da.
Here is an example of a self-reflection statement/question that you could use as you memorize the verse:
“I was created to glorify God in this moment.”
“How can I glorify God in this moment?”
“God, how are You using me in this moment to glorify Yourself?”
Recommended New Believer Scripture Memory Exercises
Click on one of the following verses. Record the reference, verse (in the translation you prefer), sayings, and prayers on a note card or in your smart phone. Read and pray over the verse hourly when possible for 2-4 weeks.
“For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.”
Romans 11:36 (NASB) Compare Translations
Write out the verse, Romans 11:36, and memorize it. Write “I was created to glorify God.” Then thank God for giving you purpose in life. Read and pray over it hourly when possible for 2-4 weeks.
“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;”
Romans 8:28-29 (NASB) Compare Translations
Write out the verse, Romans 8:28-29, and memorize it. Write “God is using everything in my life to make me more like Jesus.” Then ask God, “What are You using right now to make me more like Jesus?” Read and pray over it hourly when possible for 2-4 weeks.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”
Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV) Compare Translations
Write out the verse, Galatians 5:22-23, and memorize it. Write “God is using everything in my life to make me more like Jesus.” Then ask God, “What characteristic of Jesus are You growing in my life right now?” Thank God for showing you in what area you need to grow and for sending Jesus to die for your sins. Thank God for using everything in your life to make you more like Jesus. Read and pray over it hourly when possible for 2-4 weeks.
“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.”
1 John 2:15-17 (KJV) Compare Translations
Write out the verse, 1 John 2:15-17, and memorize it. Write “God wants me to love Him instead of the world.” Then ask God, “How can I show You, right now, that You are worth more than anything this world has to offer me?” Ask God to help you choose what would most glorify Him. Read and pray over it hourly when possible for 2-4 weeks.
“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”
Proverbs 4:23 (KJV) Compare Translations
Write out the verse, Proverbs 4:23, and memorize it. Write “I must follow what God’s Word tells my heart to believe and do instead of letting my heart believe and do what it wants.” Then thank God that He has given you the will and the ability to control your heart by the power of His Word and Spirit. Read and pray over it hourly when possible for 2-4 weeks.
“and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.”
2 Corinthians 5:15 (NKJV) Compare Translations
Write out the verse, 2 Corinthians 5:15, and memorize it. Write “My goal in life is to please Jesus instead of myself.” Then ask God, “What am I doing right now to please You instead of myself?” Thank God that He’s given you the ability to please Him through Christ. Read and pray over it hourly when possible for 2-4 weeks.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”
2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV) Compare Translations
Write out the verse, 2 Corinthians 5:17, and memorize it. Write “Is what I am thinking or doing right now a part of my old life or my new life in Christ?” Then thank God that He’s made you new and given you new desires to obey Him. Read and pray over it hourly when possible for 2-4 weeks.
“So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.” Romans 6:11 (ESV) Compare Translations
Write out the verse, Romans 6:11, and memorize it. Write “I don’t have to give in to temptation anymore.” Then thank God that He’s given you the ability to say no to sin. Read and pray over it hourly when possible for 2-4 weeks.
“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,”
Romans 5:1 (NKJV) Compare Translations
Write out the verse, Romans 5:1, and memorize it. Write “As a believer, I now and forever have peace with God because of the blood of Jesus.” Thank God that He sent Jesus to die for your sin. Read and pray over it hourly when possible for 2-4 weeks.
“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
Romans 12:1-2 (ESV) Compare Translations
Write out the verse, Romans 12:1-2, and memorize it. Write “In what way am I presenting my body to God right now?” Then ask God, “What would you have me to do with my body right now?” Read and pray over it hourly when possible for 2-4 weeks.
“Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.”
Philippians 2:3-4 (NASB) Compare Translations
Write out the verse, Philippians 2:3-4, and memorize it. Write “How am I serving others right now?” Then ask God, “Help me to serve you by serving others more than myself.” Thank God that He’s given you the ability to serve others instead of merely serving yourself. Read and pray over it hourly when possible for 2-4 weeks.
“giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;”
Ephesians 5:20 (KJV) Compare Translations
Write out the verse, Ephesians 5:20, and memorize it. Write “What is one thing for which I am thankful right now?” Then ask God to help you to put off complaining and to put on thankfulness. Thank God for that one thing for which you thought to be thankful. Read and pray over it hourly when possible for 2-4 weeks.
“Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.”
Colossians 4:5-6 (ESV) Compare Translations
Write out the verse, Colossians 4:5-6, and memorize it. Write “How am I making it a point to encourage others right now?” Then privately pray for someone that God brings to your mind. Say something encouraging to someone. Read and pray over it hourly when possible for 2-4 weeks.
“O God, it is You who knows my folly, And my wrongs are not hidden from You. May those who wait for You not be ashamed through me, O Lord God of hosts; May those who seek You not be dishonored through me, O God of Israel,”
Psalm 69:5-6 (NASB) Compare Translations
Write out the verse, Psalm 69:5-6, and memorize it. Write “How am I representing Christ well right now?” Then ask God to help you to reflect His image correctly. Read and pray over it hourly when possible for 2-4 weeks.
“Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”
Hebrews 13:20-21 (KJV) Compare Translations
Write out the verse, Hebrews 13:20-21, and memorize it. Write “I cannot grow any faster than what God allows.” Then ask God to help you persevere and walk by faith instead of by what you see or feel. Thank God that He definitely will change you over time as you submit to Him. Read and pray over it hourly when possible for 2-4 weeks.
“The Lord sustains all who fall And raises up all who are bowed down.”
Psalm 145:14 (NASB) Compare Translations
Write out the verse, Psalm 145:14, and memorize it. Write “God will sustain me.” Then ask God to help you believe that He will sustain you. Thank God that He has and will sustain you. Read and pray over it hourly when possible for 2-4 weeks.
Bible References
Read the Bible in your own language here courtesy of www.biblegateway.com.
Read about the Authorized King James Version (AKJV) here and its copyright here courtesy of www.biblegateway.com.
Read about the King James Version (KJV) here and its copyright here courtesy of www.biblegateway.com.
Read about the New King James Version (NKJV) here and its copyright here courtesy of www.biblegateway.com.
Read about the New American Standard Bible (NASB) here and its copyright here courtesy of www.biblegateway.com.
Read about the English Standard Version (ESV) here and its copyright here courtesy of www.biblegateway.com.
Read the Bible in its original Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek languages or Septuagint couresty of BLB www.blueletterbible.org.
The automatic reference tagger courtesy of FaithlifeReftagger www.faithlife.com/products/reftagger.