If you have never tried to learn Scripture verses, or have found it difficult, then I have some great tips for you here on how to memorize Scripture! It is a good practice to develop because God’s word is the foundation of our lives. When we meditate on God’s word and store it in our hearts it becomes our shield, our protection, and our source of daily strength.
Does God Want Us To Memorize Scripture?
God’s intention has always been for His word to be known and remembered by His people. The Old Testament passage of Scripture that is known as the Shema, and is quoted as the Jewish confession of faith, is not only a call to love God but to know His word:
“Hear, O Israel: the LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 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. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.”
Deuteronomy 6:4-9 NIV
God’s word is to be on our hearts as we go about our daily life. Deuteronomy chapter eleven seems to go one step further, and in verse eighteen says, “Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds…” Both these verses give a clear indication that God wants us to memorize His word so that it becomes integral to our lives.
How to memorize Scripture, so that the word of God becomes living and active in our life is an important spiritual discipline. Scripture is meant to be read privately, as well as read aloud publicly, memorized, talked about, and even sung – many of the psalms are songs!
Did Jesus Memorize Scripture?
Jesus is always our example, and how to memorize Scripture suddenly becomes more important when we realize that even Jesus needed to know God’s word. When He was asked in the gospel of Matthew (22:36-40) which is the greatest commandment, Jesus quoted from the Old Testament Scriptures. Then Jesus added that all the law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments:
“Love the LORD your God, with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” Deuteronomy 6:5
“Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.” Leviticus 19:18
Jesus was revealing to those who regarded themselves as an authority on Scripture that He knew and understood the heart and the letter of God’s word.
Why Should We Memorize Scripture?
During His temptation in the wilderness Jesus demonstrated the main reason we need to memorize Scripture – to protect ourselves from deception. (Matt 4:1-11)
At a time when Jesus was physically weak, the devil tempted Him to use His supernatural power for His own benefit. Jesus rejected the temptation with Scripture – by quoting what God’s word declares, and what He was relying on to sustain Him.
The devil then tempted Jesus to publicly put God’s protection to the test. What we need to be aware of is that the devil quoted Scripture – he knows God’s word! He didn’t misquote, he misused Scripture, by taking the verses out of context. Jesus demolished the devil’s argument by quoting the truth of God’s word in the right context of the situation that He was in.
How to memorize Scripture has to be combined with Bible Study so that we understand fully the context of the verse that we are quoting. It is so easy for error to creep in when Scripture is taken out of context.
Finally, the devil tempted Jesus to put immediate reward and honor above the will of God, which Jesus refuted by quoting the Scripture “For it is written: Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.”
Memorizing the Word of God
Not only does learning how to memorize Scripture protect us from deception, but it also brings a clearer understanding of God’s will for our lives. This empowers our prayer life and deepens our daily relationship with our Heavenly Father, and enables us to be more effective witnesses.
“Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have, but do this with gentleness and respect.”
1 Peter 3:15
This verse challenges us to be informed and to understand who, and what, we are basing our hope on. We need to be prepared to explain the foundations of our faith, and what we believe. But you might say, we can rationalize and explain without quoting verbatim. This is true up to a point, but it is more accurate and effective to quote the word of God than our paraphrase!
Memorizing Scripture helps the word of God become a foundation in our life, in our hearts, and in our minds. The word of God becomes our protection and defence, through trials and difficulties, as the Sword of the Spirit.
Related Post: Spiritual Armor – Do We Need All Seven Pieces?
Best Way to Memorize Scripture
Finally how to memorize Scripture so that it is incorporated into our lives today, as an investment for tomorrow! Simply the best way to memorize Scripture is with prayer and application. Today is as good a time as any to start, so check out these four top tips:
How to Memorize Scripture Quickly
- Start small with just one verse. Then when you can memorize that one verse you can build on it.
- Choose a verse of Scripture that resonates with your heart. Something which has meaning to you personally. The more relevant it seems, the easier it will be to remember it.
- Be prepared to make an effort, not because you have to, but because you want to. What you learn now is laying a foundation stone. It may not benefit you today, but it will be there to sustain you when you need it.
- Find out what learning method works for you. There are several different ways in which we learn and sometimes a combination of styles works best.
There are four main different learning styles:
Visual learners learn by what they see and often use images and pictures to help them to remember – journaling Bibles, where you can draw and doodle, are popular.
Auditory learners prefer spoken instructions and learn best by listening. There are Bible apps, which have an audio option so you can listen to Scripture.
Reading and writing are for those with a preference for the written word. Those who take notes and write lists to help them remember.
Kinaesthetics, are those who learn by doing, who are tactile and like to engage all their senses in a learning experience. To memorize words for kinaesthetic learners may mean incorporating auditory and visual tools.
Bible Memory Verses for Adults
There are so many resources available to help with Scripture memorization and following our four top tips you may want to choose your own. But if you are looking for inspiration and somewhere to start we have a selection of themed Bible memory verses free to download!
Download Free Bible Memory Verses for Adults
Psalm 23 is a favorite and familiar psalm for many of us, and could be a great confidence builder. You may prefer a topic such as 10 Bible Verses for Overcoming Fear with Faith, 10 Abiding in Christ Verses, or Gratitude Flows, 10 Scriptures on thankfulness. And solely from the New Testament, you could choose The Beatitudes or The Seven ‘I Am’ Statements of Jesus. If all that seems too much, you may prefer to start with Scripture memorization cards…
Scripture Memorization Cards
Rather than having a set theme with a number of verses on one sheet, you might want to try Scripture memorization cards. These have one verse per card and may make it easier to learn. You can slip the card into your pocket or leave it on your desk or kitchen counter – somewhere obvious so you can keep repeating the verse throughout the day.
Find all these great Scripture memorization cards free to download, plus an A-Z Biblical Affirmations of 26 cards, all on our RESOURCE PAGE
Sharon, hi! I’m so grateful I grew up memorizing Scripture. I can’t begin to tell you how often those words that made their way to mind and heart come back again when I need them most.
I’m not sure how much memorizing I can do in this season of life, but I sure am grateful of that gift that has stayed with me and given me hope and peace.
That is so true, that what we learn as children, whether in song or verse of Scripture, definitely stays with us and can be such a blessing. I don’t find it so easy to memorise now but when a verse resonates with my heart I have to write it down, carry it round with me and try to store it up in my heart and mind! Blessings to you as you find and recall hope and peace in God’s word. Thanks for responding!
His Word I hid in my heart as a young girl – I am so glad because now at 70, memorization is very difficult!!!!
Blessed to have that teaching when you were younger, it certainly doesn’t get easier 🙂
Memorization has always been difficult for me. I started memorizing Psalms several years ago. It’s one of my favorite books in the Bible. But it didn’t stick with me long. I think your advice to start with verses that resonate especially well. Somehow, I realize that I can quote those verses that really hit me.
That works well for me – sometimes I feel that God has given me a verse to treasure and to hold onto!
I wrote out a verse by hand just today to put on my mirror on a sticky note. I’ve found that memorizing a chapter at a time is the best way for me to memorize. If I concentrate on just one verse a week, it’s doable. Thanks for sharing these tips. I’m going to feature your post this Friday at the Grace & Truth linkup, and will share it with my memorizing group on Facebook, Hide His Word!
Thank you Lisa, appreciated!
I love how you discuss different learning styles. While I have a lot of Biblical stories tucked away in my memory, I am not very good at memorizing verses. The one that I do have completely memorized, though, is one that I painted on a huge canvas during youth group one year. That was definitely visual and kinesthetic.
That sounds amazing, and it worked!
Sharon, it is so encouraging to read of all our different learning styles. May we each find what works for us and commit to hiding His Word in our hearts.
Great tips and I appreciate you mentioning different learning styles. We each learn differently, so it makes sense to connect this to memorizing Bible verses. For me, I always like to write the verse out on a note card and keep it with me all throughout a day. After that, I remember it and it’s locked away in memory.
That’s very similar to my method. Interestingly I have an artist friend who has to use an image, as you say, we are all so different!
Thank you very much for your inspiring thoughts! Another great help to memorise Bible verses is the app Remember Me (https://www.remem.me). It features games, images, audio, Bible flashcards and numerous Bible versions to choose from. It’s completely free. No ads, no restrictions.