“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”
Psalms 119:11 KJV
In the blog, I like to use my personal experience to inspire practical applications of the scriptures, most of the time using scriptures I’m familiar with.
But I can also tell you that I am guilty of googling a phrase that I remember, so that I can find the book, chapter, and verse I need/am thinking of.
This past week in Bible Class at my church, we reminisced about a time when we used to memorize and quote scripture just because.
Scripture showers anyone?
When I was younger, I really did think Scripture showers - when the congregation takes turns quoting scripture during service - were just because. Now that I’m a little older I do understand that Scripture Showers also serve to remind and encourage.
Quoting your favorite scripture in a room full of believers, reaffirms that scripture in you, while reaching out to someone else who may have needed it. Yet, Scripture showers shouldn’t just occur in these specific instances.
Here’s where Psalm 119:11 comes into play.
How many scriptures have you memorized lately?
"But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night."
Psalm 1:2
While reading our Bible and meditating on it daily certainly falls under hiding the word in our hearts, there is an extra step that we can take strengthens our relationship and walk with God.
We should be memorizing scripture!
Memorizing scriptures help us stay focused on our goals in the faith. When we memorize the verses that are the most impactful to us, and recite them to ourselves in moments of weakness, it reaffirms what we already know to be true. It helps to remind us when we're upset, hurt, angry, or frustrated who is still in control. I often find myself quoting Romans 8:28 when I don't understand my life or when something is happening that I didn't expect or plan for.
"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."
And when I'm in a trial or situation that I don't think I have it in me to endure I have to remember 1 John 4:4 which says,
"Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world."
It reminds me that God hasn't left me alone in any situation and that even though I'm going through, He is there to carry the load.
"And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."
2 Corinthians 12:9
Sometimes we have the time, or presence of mind to stop in the middle of whatever we're going through to pray and search the scriptures to seek God for help. More often than not it only takes a moment to get overwhelmed, frustrated or even angry enough to say or do the wrong thing. Yet, if you have already prepared within yourself an arsenal of scriptures, even in those moments, God can bring those scriptures back to you and it be just what you need.
In Bible Class we talked about methods we used to memorize scripture and I want to share a couple of those methods with you to help you starting building your arsenal of scriptures.
1) Write it down.
I know it kind of seems like writing lines, but writing things down helps you to remember them. This is why we take notes in class or during the sermon. It helps us to be able to recall it later. So write it down until you can write it from memory.
2) Read it Aloud and Repetitively.
If you keep reading something over and over again, it will stick after awhile. Reading it aloud will help you as well, because hearing it as well as reading it, is giving you more senses to use while retaining.
3) Make a Song out of it.
You don't have to be a songwriter or musician to use the method either. In my day job as an early childhood educator, I make up songs allllll the time. It helps the kids to remember instructions and information especially when I replace the words of a song that they're already familiar with. Encouraging the kids to clean up to the tune of "Daddy Shark" works just as well for toddlers as it will for you. It may sound silly, but I promise you it works.
What Scriptures do you lean on in times of trouble? What methods do you use to memorize Scripture on your own?