How Can You Memorize? The popular television minister, Jack Van Impe, has been called the “Walking Bible.” He said it takes “desire, discipline, and dedication.” From his website, Dr. Van Impe says he spent about “35,000 hours memorizing 14,000 verses.” Do you have the desire? Ask God to put it into your heart (Psalms 37:4). If young children can quote large portions of the Qur’an, as evidenced on YouTube, then you, I, our youth, and children can memorize God’s Word. Use it or lose it—bring the word into your life every day, throughout the day. Use verses and apply them as much as possible in your daily life. One of our pastors sold trailer parts. I would hear portions of his phone conversations where he rattled off long numbers. Being impressed with his keen memory, I asked, “How do you do that?” “I use these every day, throughout the day” he responded.
Use the Word Every Day Look for biblical principles—Consider Bruce Wilkinson’s “5 P’s of the Word”—Passage, Principle, Personalize, Persuade, and Perform (found in his book, The Seven Laws of the Learner). If you are looking for inspiration to memorize a passage, look for a principle you may have never noticed before. If it speaks to you, the Holy Spirit has personalized it. Find verses that persuade you and move you to action, to perform. Use Bibles on your mobile devices (iPad, iPhone, etc.). Use free tools to search for verses that fit your present situation. It is great to search key words or, depending on the application, you may be able to search a portion of the word. Remove distractions. Jesus said, “the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful” (Matthew 13:22). To memorize anything, the brain normally must have some time, even a few seconds of uninterrupted focus.
Use Mnemonic Devices to Remember Information. A mnemonic device is an aid that’s used as a memory tool. For me, I try to associate numbers with verses. It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3, 4. Think of some popular 1, 2, 3, 4 verses: Matthew 12:34, “. . . for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.” Luke 12:34: “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Another use of mnemonic devices might be using ABC’s. An example, the ABC’s of salvation: All have sinned (Romans 3:23). Believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead (Romans 10:9). Confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus... thou shalt be saved (Romans 10:9).
Methods
Let’s talk practical. What are some steps you might consider to get you started or help you go deeper into Scripture memorization? Memory cards—As a child, I remember seeing a plastic loaf of bread with slots for Bible memory cards. On one side would be the verse (“For God so loved the world. . .”). On the other side would be the reference (John 3:16). The idea was grab one a day, keep it with you, read, recite, repeat until you know it. It was your “Daily Bread” as it aids in Scripture memorization. You can make your own. You can also do an Internet search for “Bible memory cards.” The free iPhone/iPad application, “Bible Verses” allows you to create “flash cards” on your device. Cluster Verses—Others may call it “subject coherence.” You would “cluster” verses that speak to the same theme. You cluster the verses together and learn them in order. Using Scripture memory with our Arminian-WesleyanPentecostal tradition concerning the subject of tongues will cluster some of the following verses for memory: Acts 2:4; 10:45, 46; 19:2, 6.
By committing to memory, we move forward into the mature, anointed, Christ-followers we are called to be. Rote Memory—This is learning by repetition. During the time when Jesus walked the earth, the literacy rate was estimated to be between 1-5 percent. They would listen, repeat, recite and remember. One of the exercises I used in youth camp teaching young campers an important memory verse involved rote memory. Print a verse on a marker board, computer, whatever works. Read the verse aloud. Now, remove the last word. Read the verse aloud again relying upon memory for the last word. Repeat the process of removing the last word, relying on memory for each word removed. Repeat this process until all printed words have been removed or rather replaced, in your heart and mind. This is great for kids. Even the youngest come forward to recite even the longest of verses. Use One Version—One mistake people make is using a variety of versions. This could leave doubt when learning the verse. While you might vary in your reading, when it comes to memory, memorize only one version of the text. The Word is a firm foundation for our lives. By committing it to memory, we move forward into the mature, anointed, Christ-followers we are called to be. Don’t settle for knowing “enough to be dangerous” or to have false confidence in telling your friends just what you think “the Bible says . . .”
H. E. Cardin Cleveland, Tennessee
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