The Lord is my shepherd;
I have what I need.
He lets me lie down in green pastures;
he leads me beside quiet waters.
He renews my life;
he leads me along the right paths[a]
for his name’s sake.
Even when I go through the darkest valley,[b]
I fear no danger,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff—they comfort me.
Psalm 23:1–4
I repeated these verses over and over as I felt the chemo drip through the IV lines and into my bloodstream. Again and again, these verses reminded me that God’s present in my lowest moments—even as I processed a cancer diagnosis at twenty-three. My God leads me along the right path, even when it makes no sense to me. He’s with me in the darkest valley, though I am tempted to feel like I am alone.
This is the power of memorizing Scripture. When we feel alone, defeated, or confused, God’s Word tethers us to what’s true. Scripture reminds us that we are not alone, that Christ has overcome the world, and that He will generously give us wisdom.
When you’re anxious about an upcoming meeting, Isaiah 41:10 reminds you that you have nothing to fear—that your God will help you.
When you are hurt by someone's actions, Psalm 34:18 says, “The Lord is near the brokenhearted; he saves those crushed in spirit.”
When you feel tired and burnt out, Matthew 11:28 encourages you to find rest in the Lord: “Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
Scripture is relevant to each moment of our lives. God’s Word helps us to endure, to fight against the temptation to sin, and to develop a relationship with the God who created us and loves us.
But the question is: How do we practically include memorizing Scripture in our Bible study? How do we truly embed what we’re reading into our hearts and minds?
Memorizing Scripture does take time, effort, and practice. Thankfully, there are several methods of memorizing Scripture that you can work into your personal study of God’s Word.
As you’re studying Scripture, pick a verse to focus on memorizing from the passage you are studying or a related passage and try one of the following methods to help you memorize the verse:
Write Out The Verse
One of the easiest and most effective ways to memorize Scripture is to simply write the verse on a sheet of paper over and over again. This may take several days or weeks to complete (depending on the length of the passage), so don’t be discouraged if the process is slow. Dwelling on truth from God’s Word is never wasted time.
Make Flash Cards
On one side of a flash card, write the first letter of each of the words in the verses you want to memorize. On the other side of the card, write your verse in its entirety. Use the first letters of each word as a cue to help you commit the verse to memory.
Practice Scripture Lettering
The Daily Grace Co. has a Scripture Lettering Workbook that helps you learn how to hand-letter Scripture! Not only can this practice help you to memorize verses, but it can also help you dwell and reflect upon what God’s Word says and means for your life. If you have a difficult time focusing when you are memorizing Scripture, this workbook is for you!
Say the Verse Out Lord
If you are an auditory learner, some find it helpful to also speak the verse they are memorizing out loud. This practice helps you to memorize the flow and cadence of the verse. Try repeating the verse over and over again to yourself, especially while doing mundane tasks like washing the dishes or driving your car. This repetition throughout your day will be helpful as you work to memorize it!
Make a Song
Our brains love to memorize songs! Try putting your verse to a familiar tune. For example, try to sing the verse in the rhythm of “Happy Birthday,” or “Jesus loves me,” or even “Jingle Bells.” You might be surprised by how well you can memorize Scripture when it’s put to a song.
Memorize Scripture with a Friend
Invite a friend to memorize Scripture alongside you! Text each other reminders to practice your verse, challenge each other to a contest, or encourage each other along the way! Accountability can help motivate you to continually practice committing a verse to memory.
Try A Game
Many apps are available to make memorizing Scripture both fun and accessible! These apps often have games, puzzles, and tools that can help you on your journey. Consider Verses or The Bible Memory App.
My prayer is that through these ideas for Bible memorization methods, you can be encouraged that memorizing Scripture is attainable and worth the effort. When you have God’s Word memorized, you don’t have to wait until your quiet time to gain wisdom and insight from Him. You can have His Word readily accessible—always at the ready when you need encouragement or to be reminded of truth. Scripture memorization isn’t reserved for seminary students or pastors; it’s for you! It’s for you to carry God’s Word with you wherever you go, whatever circumstance you face.
