For our children we think it’s a must.
For ourselves—well we probably don’t even give it a second thought.
How many times have we drilled our kids on their latest bible verses? We are so proud when they can spout off the honeyed words of scripture.
And yes I realize the older we are, the more difficult memorization gets, but you CAN do it. The brain is a muscle and if you haven’t memorized in years, it may take a little (or a lot) of massaging to get it in shape.
There is no easing in.
You just have to jump—feet first.
In the words of Nike—Just Do It!
We had a friend years ago that told stories of being a POW in Vietnam. He said that in order to keep his sanity in solitary confinement, he did push ups, marked the endless days on the walls of his cell, and recited scripture.
Others tell of keeping hope alive and sanity near, by sharing with each other, all the bible verses they knew and writing them down any way they were able. They used soup, rocks, coffee and the lead toothpaste tubes to jot down scripture on impossibly rough toilet paper, walls and the floors of their cells.
I wonder how long I would stay alive and sane if my life depended on how much scripture I could recall?
Their yearning for God and for release was a daily palpable lament. And here in my comfortable life, I am hardly conscious that I’m drowning in my own prison of busyness.
So take the challenge with me.
There is no shortcut, no golden key to make it easy,
Repetition, Repetition, Repetition.
Christy Fitzwater suggests working on one verse the first week, then adding another the next week, then another for six weeks. On the seventh week, drop the first and add a new one. Each week you will be reviewing five verses and learning a sixth. I like this!
I find notecards taped to my mirror helpful,
And having my bible app read to me while I’m driving.
Remember, it’s not a competition, it’s the building of a godly woman, one verse at a time.
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Deut 6:6 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.
-When is the last time you memorized scripture?
-Make a goal to learn at least one scripture a month. I encourage you to reply here to make yourself accountable.