It’s important for all Christians to have the Word of God hidden in their hearts. However, just as with witnessing, we all know we should do it, but we often don’t know how. There are a number of ways to memorize the Word of God. The following is one suggestion, and is the method I use.
On a 3×5 index card, write out the memory verse. On the top left, write a topic to categorize the verse, and on the top right, record the verse reference. Place the reference again under the verse.
Read the verse two or three times out loud. Pay attention to the sound of the verse, and listen for any helpful memory aids, such as words in alphabetical order.
As you begin to memorize the verse, say the Topic > Reference > Verse > Reference, one portion at a time. Here’s an example:
God’s Love
Romans 5:8
“But God demonstrates His own love”
Romans 5:8
God’s Love
Romans 5:8
“But God demonstrates His own love for us in this:”
Romans 5:8
God’s Love
Romans 5:8
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners”
Romans 5:8
God’s Love
Romans 5:8
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8
Repeat each phrase until you can correctly quote everything up to that point. Then repeat the whole thing a few more times to get it lodged in your memory. Quote it throughout the day:
God’s Love
Romans 5:8
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8
Think about it as you lay down at night, and when you wake up in the morning.
You may also find it helpful to record, on the reverse side of the card, what the verse means to you and your meditations on the verse.
The Most Important Step: Review
It’s very easy to memorize Scripture. It’s not quite as easy, however, to remember what you memorized last week…or even three days ago—not to mention what you memorized six months ago.
To help you recall them, you may want to carry about twenty verses with you. After you have begun memorizing each new verse, add it to a keyring. Review these verses daily during your quiet time, as well as when you stand in line, eat lunch, wait at a traffic light, etc.—anytime you have a free minute, you can quickly review one or two verses.
If you purchase an index card box and dividers, it will help you greatly (of course, you can make your own storage device if these are not available). Label the dividers as follows:
Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday
Once you have about twenty cards on your keyring, remove the first one, which should now be well-memorized, and place it behind “Sunday.” With the next verse you add to your keyring, remove the oldest, and place it behind “Monday.” Do this with each new verse you add, removing the oldest, putting it in the next day of the week.
Now, every Sunday, take out the cards for “Sunday” and review them. On Monday, get the cards for “Monday.” Each day of the week, you will now be reviewing the twenty verses that you carry with you, plus a new set of verses previously memorized. This will help the verses to become firmly lodged in your memory.
You may want to find a friend to help you practice reviewing your verses. As you recite each verse, your friend can make sure you say the complete verse and reference correctly.[1]
[1] Cameron, K., & Comfort, R. (2004). The school of biblical evangelism: 101 lessons: How to share your faith simply, effectively, biblically—the way Jesus did (764–767). Gainesville, FL: Bridge-Logos Publishers.
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